4Mile Dec1

[Tom Somers]

First time at 4mile.  8wt was maybe a bit optimistic, but the heavy leader was way overboard.  Had refusals and near misses.. Blaming the leader, or maybe the red clouser, maybe too big of flies, maybe the strip, maybe something else.  Got a couple bass so overall a good day.  All the action was during the tide change.  The bridge area was crowded with baiters so worked up the south bank.  Cheers to the TPFR dude I met in the parking lot. 

[TurbineBlade]

Hi Tom -- it was good meeting you yesterday ;).  

I don't think there's a right or wrong way to fish it most days -- you just never know what you'll run into there (dead calm, windy as heck, big fish, little fish, no fish, high water, little to no water, etc.).  Sometimes the water is VERY clear as Rob often mentions, and even the 'dumb' bluegill get selective and spooky.  

I usually use longish level leaders in the 2-4x range on light tackle (usually 4-pound maxima is my favorite) because I prefer to keep the fly line away from the fish vs. using a standard tapered leader to unroll the fly more softly, but that's just me and most people don't do it that way, and they might be right to boot.  

Take care!

Gene

[Lane Smith]

I completely agree with you that the heavy leaders might have thrown them off. I've been having a blast down there of late with a little 0 weight rod I bought online matched with a beautiful little Orvis 2-weight reel (Dan mentioned they'd been discontinued but I LOVE it) and 6x leader. It's tough to toss flies bigger than a popper or epoxy minnow but the bass don't seem to get as spooked.

On Sunday, December 1, 2013 9:21:42 PM UTC-5, Tom Somers wrote:

[MattT]

Also my first time at 4 mile run. I was fishing a 6wt from the shore with a squirmy wormy and a pheasant tail nymph dropper. Managed to land this monster... almost pulled me in, I'm lucky to be alive ;)

Ran into Gene as well who shared some great wisdom, much appreciated. There was quite a bit of activity in the water which is encouraging for the cold weather. 

On Sunday, December 1, 2013 9:21:42 PM UTC-5, Tom Somers wrote:

[TurbineBlade]

Hi Matt -- good seeding you the other day.  I've run into 3 members in the last couple of weeks actually -- which is great ;).  

I have no wisdom for fishing -- but I can quote most Simpsons episodes season 2-7 word for word.  I'm pretty proud of that.  

Gene

[Paul Kalajainen]

I was at 4MR around 3-4pm on Sunday, I'm sorry I missed you all!  Caught a small largemouth and some bluegill near the water discharge.  I've never seen a bluegill take a clouser before, but what do I know!

Paul

[Carlos V.]

About a month ago on a real windy day I decided to fish strictly streamers at 4MR. I started with a slumpbuster I tied at one of the TPFR Beer Ties and had a bluegill hit it near the warm water discharge, I then moved to the south bank and tied a size 8 clouser and had a good size bluegill hit on that too. The year of the bluegill indeed. 

I honestly think an 8wt is not overkill, I've seen some monsters in that amazing little tributary. Not to mention in some spots there is submerged brush and if you hook a good sized largemouth, you're gonna want the pulling power.

Tight Lines

Carlos V.