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Alex Lafkas Fly-Fishing
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Добавлен 23 ноя 2019
Hello, I'm Alex Lafkas and this channel is dedicated to teaching you how to become a better fisherman. There will be a big emphasis on fly fishing but not limited to fly fishing. From casting, streamer and dry fly techniques, boat fishing and everything else fly-fishing, it'll be here. I've spent over 30 years fishing and guiding for brown trout across the U.S. I base my operations out of Traverse City, MI and spend 2 months a year on the White River in Arkansas. The last 10 years more effort has been focused on fishing aggressive techniques on lakes for bass, pike and musky, on flies and gear. This has presented plenty of opportunities to learn which has helped in all angling pursuits.
Streamer Talk with Russ Maddin and Alex Lafkas
We talk about streamer fishing in general and the truth about streamer fishing in Michigan. This was filmed the evening after a day floating the Muskegon River, and the day before we floated the Pere Marquette in the video previously released. This was filmed at the Red Moose Lodge in Baldwin.
Просмотров: 628
Видео
Fly Tying Streamers: Flashtail Deceiver
Просмотров 7109 часов назад
Easy to tie baitfish pattern that can be tied large or small, heavy or light. I tied this one light for low water situations. A very productive fly for me in both Arkansas and Michigan. I use a not so flashy product from Midwest Bucktails on this fly to get similar action without all the flash of flashabou. (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission) 👍Product Links 👍 Flash...
A Few Changes Coming
Просмотров 1 тыс.16 часов назад
An explanation of a few changes to bring you more content and, hopefully, increase you knowledge and ability to catch more fish.
Fly Fishing a Small Creek
Просмотров 1,3 тыс.16 часов назад
Late summer fly fishing on a small creek in Northern Michigan. Staple summer patterns are used, including streamers, dries, and twitch bugs. We found a bunch of small fish mixed in with some decent brown and brook trout. Late August is a great time to be on the river regardless of the size of fish that are being targeted. (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission) 👍Produc...
Streamer Fishing Set Up: Rods, Reels, Lines and Leader
Просмотров 1 тыс.День назад
Beginners guide to streamer fishing for those that have questions on rods, reels, lines and leaders. Both 6wt and 8wt set ups are covered which are the most common sizes I personally use. If you've never streamer fished the different options in line and leaders might get a bit confusing and this should help cover some of the basic for those just getting in to streamer fishing. (When available, ...
Fly Fishing the Pere Marquette in Summer
Просмотров 1,4 тыс.14 дней назад
Fly fishing with grass hoppers and the wet skunk during peak summer. How to approach different summer fishing conditions. We took two mornings to fish and found a handful of nice summer brown trout. Day one was perfect hopper conditions with low clear water. A few weeks later we returned and the river was high and dirty so our plan to hopper fish had to be adjusted and we were able to succeed. ...
Fly Tying Streamers: Sparkle Deceiver
Просмотров 1,3 тыс.14 дней назад
Fly tying video that shows how to tie a fly that is a twist on a favorite summer time pattern of mine. Easy to tie and effective. Small streamers are often over looked but are very productive in low clear water for fish of all sizes. Bright sun and clear water is usually when the sparkle family of flies works best for me, and they are fun to fish. They will move lots of fish on a typical day.
How to Sharpen a Hook
Просмотров 48514 дней назад
A video on how to sharpen a hook and my 2 preferred hook sharpeners. If you are not routinely checking and sharpening your hooks it is costing you fish. (When available, I use affiliate links and may earn a commission) 👍Product Links👍 Bastard File ( amzn.to/3yXSBM7 ) TMC Hook Hone ( amzn.to/3MoIOly )
Fly Tying Streamers: Brush Head Deceiver
Просмотров 1,8 тыс.21 день назад
Fly Tying Streamers: Brush Head Deceiver
How to Streamer fish with a Floating Line
Просмотров 1,3 тыс.28 дней назад
How to Streamer fish with a Floating Line
How to SUCK less at Fly-fishing-Searching with Big Dry Flies
Просмотров 1,2 тыс.Месяц назад
How to SUCK less at Fly-fishing-Searching with Big Dry Flies
Summer Streamer Tips: Become a Better Streamer Angler
Просмотров 1,9 тыс.Месяц назад
Summer Streamer Tips: Become a Better Streamer Angler
Fly-Tying Streamers: Mini Brush Deceiver
Просмотров 2,6 тыс.Месяц назад
Fly-Tying Streamers: Mini Brush Deceiver
Spring Streamer Fishing: Michigan's Pere Marquette River
Просмотров 1,1 тыс.Месяц назад
Spring Streamer Fishing: Michigan's Pere Marquette River
Fly-Fishing Great Lakes Smallmouth Bass
Просмотров 8382 месяца назад
Fly-Fishing Great Lakes Smallmouth Bass
Streamer fishing in high, dirty water.
Просмотров 1,6 тыс.2 месяца назад
Streamer fishing in high, dirty water.
Fly-tying Streamers: Stillwater Baitfish
Просмотров 1,7 тыс.2 месяца назад
Fly-tying Streamers: Stillwater Baitfish
Lake Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Просмотров 9052 месяца назад
Lake Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Lake Streamer Fishing for Big Bass
Просмотров 1,2 тыс.3 месяца назад
Lake Streamer Fishing for Big Bass
Guide insights are fascinating, thanks for taking the time to share your observations.
You're welcome. Bunch of days on the water, guiding and fishing between us.
21:50 I like watching my flies swim. I could do it all day 👍🏻
It is fun. Especially when you are feeding them into the "perfect" spot
Thanks a lot for the great video! 👍👍👍 Please upload more of Russ Maddin videos. Fly tying videos by Russ Maddin would be awesome!
I'm trying. He's been on the IR after a couple surgeries
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 I wish him a speedy recovery.
Comment before watching. This is going to be awesome. Went out last night in the Lehigh River PA. Watched your season breakdown videos during my drive to the river. Not quite party time here in Eastern PA. This summer was brutal hot.
It started here on that last cold front. Had a bunch of opportunities with clients yesterday but....failure. Not looking like a great week but should improve once the next front hits
Brother, all men, feel your struggle. 😂
I’m trying to decide drift boat or raft. I like the raft but that noise of the vinyl drives me nuts
I'm not sure you're hearing the vinyl or the frame. I'm guessing it's the frame. I taped up where the frame comes together but might need to wd40 the joints. Two boats I use for 2 different applications. I love my raft in small water but feel it's about useless on big rivers. It really depends what you plan to do with it.
Fantastic river, I could fish that for a decade quite happily.
Yes. There are a ton of rivers in that area I'd like to spend more time on
Really appreciate guides like you taking the time to share your wisdom.
There will be more to come.
Really appreciate anything on wade fishing.
I'm planning on doing more of it. You are definitely not alone
Beautiful bit of water, very interesting retrieve. Thanks for sharing!
I've got a couple hundred miles of trout streams within 2 hours of the house. A good problem to have
Can’t blame a man for chasing 50” muskies, do what ya love.
I'm still not sure if I love it or hate, probably gotta keeping going and trying to figure it out
Exquisite river, and that wiggle retrieve is neat.
That's the key with that wet skunk. It's absolutely devastating when fished correctly
Exquisitely clear, clean river, shame there’s no fish left.
There's plenty, just had a rough day. Caught plenty the other day with a client
Absolutely exquisite water. Trippy to be fishing in the footsteps of Hemingway.
Those of us who live here are very fortunate
another awesome pattern. that matte flashabou stuff looks awesome.
Last I looked he didn't have many colors in stock but he'll reload it soon I'm sure
Killer, like a mix between the whistler and a flash monkey
Alex you're the man for sharing this info. Wish I had these videos when I first started, would have saved me hours of frustration and some dollars. Hope all is well, this is great content keep on keeping on.
Larry, good to hear from you. Everything is good on my end, hope the same is true for you
Great video per usual! Where do you like to get your buck tail from? I’ve had mixed opinions on the stuff I’ve bought in the past
It's a struggle. Best advice is to vist shops and pick through them. You might reach out to the guy at Midwest bucktail and tell him what you're looking for. Ive gotten some nice stuff from him
8:47 I like ginger when I’m trying to be more natural and yellow when I’m trying to piss them off. 🎉🎉
That yellow does piss off the males
Bring on the musky content
Might get a little before long but will definitely have some big rubber content by late November
I follow you for all the flyfishing and fly tying advise from your channel. Gear guy, until about about 5 or so years ago, my old Army buddy got me into fly fishing (Rabbit Hole). 60 years old now and having fun fishing no matter the what I have in my hands! Keep on Keeping on! I'll be watching and taking notes!
Awesome!
Great tutorial
Thank you
Nice video
Thanks
I need more of this!!! motivation speaking at its finest!!
I'm a pro!
Great video Alex, all my life, from age 6 to 50, I was a gear guy. 5 years ago, I took up fly tying and fishing. I mostly taught myself but had a few pointers along the way. Luckily, most u tube tiers and guides have been kind enough to answer questions! I can't say thank you enough to you and other content providers! Your channel and your personal touch really make a difference. Thanks again, Alex!
Sure thing Dean
Looking forward to the changes. 2 years ago I took up fly tying and fishing. This past weekend built my first balsa lure. Hopefully it will catch something this weekend. I really enjoy the different aspects of fishing. Just retired so hopefully will have a lot more time exploring more ways to fish.
It's all fun. The fly tying has led me into a bunch of lure customization. It really helps keep me going when the trout fishing isn't great
Best vid yet. I'd love to see some gear on your channel. It would be great to see more on lure customization and tuning. Species doesn't matter, I just like watching it and learning from all of it.
Good to hear. I love it all and there's a lot to each approach
So much to learn about fly fishing from gear fishing and vice versa. Especially when it comes to muskies and big browns. They're different fish, but predators are predators and sometimes how they react to lures/flies is incredibly similar. You have to trigger both of them and a lot of the time the triggers - speed or direction change, moving a bait up in the water column, vertical vs. horizontal - work on both. I spent a decade at the bottom of the muskie rabbit hole. Edited a muskie magazine, wrote books. It's a crazy angling subculture. Muskie guys make the steelhead guys seem well-adjusted sometimes. I've never understood the mentality behind measuring how passionate you are about something, whether it's a species or a method, by how much you look down on the alternatives. The 'all other fish are just bait' muskie guys and 'dry or die' trout guys are two sides of the same coin, and I think they both miss the point. It's all fishing, and there's *no* qualitative difference between fishing muskies from a Ranger or fishing bluegills off the dock with a slip bobber. (And if *that's* ever not fun, I hope someone puts a .22 behind my ear, because I'm done...) Keep up the great work, because the content is great whether it's gear or fly. Learn something every time I watch. My son just started at Northern Michigan U so I've started to poke around up there a bit. Maybe see you on the water this fall. You should come visit Minnesota to fish muskies sometime. We have a few paddling around.
I'm into all of it and sometimes the similarities shocking. Doing both (muskies and browns) has helped immensely for each species. Minnesota is one id like to visit but I am a little bit of a home body when it comes to fishing. Michigan has a lot to offer and seasons are way too short
Holy shit 😮
Exactly what I said the first time I saw her coming up to the boat. Then it was a cluster as i tried to land her solo
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 i m since 6 Days in Sweden and try to catch something like you did. I m yelous. 😁
Excited to give this guy a rip at Brook Trout Camp up North this year 🤘🏼
Should be a good one for you
Do what you do and I’ll keep watching!!!
Thanks Terry
I tend to agree on 'the seven weight' fly rod, it's not enough to do the job of an eight weight, and it's not light enough to do the job of a six weight either.
Somehow or other I ended up with enough seven weight's in my collection to have figured this out over the decades, and it's lots of different fishing situations. When you really need an eight weight, you haven't got it. Or when you need a six, the same. One thing that did shock me since I began to take readings of my different lines (first to obtain gram scale weight measurements, and later on taking more accurate measurements of distance on the grass, to try and figure out length of lines I find work, combined with weight data on the same), . . was I took the measurement of weight of a full 'seven weight' fly line. Granted one is not using the entirety of the weight forward line when casting. But still, putting a floating seven weight fly line on a scale shocked me, how much floating lines do weigh. I don't know what I had expected to happen. The point is that I had cast shortened tungsten impregnated lines for a while, where I'd used only a portion of a full Sink 3 or Sink 6 line. And I consistently ended up with something that was a lot lighter in weight than floating line would be.
Because if you think about it, if you only have the amount of sinking line material that is necessary 'to deliver a presentation' of a certain size of streamee fly, then you can step back down to a running line of your choice thereafter (at the rear end of your fly line head). That is, you don't require a colossal amount of 'fat' floating density line, or you don't require a huge amount of sinking density line material either. Only enough to deliver a said presentation of a said fly. Nothing more. And when one learns that much discipline, then a seven weight starts to make some sense (RIO gripshooter is gossamere thin running line with an orange coating for some line manipulation). It comes in a really thin-ish 20LB version, and slightly heavier 30LB, which is more suitable to seven weight. The 20LB will shoot nicely on the average six weight.
What also shocked me was the difference there is between 'seven weight rods'. One I can use to cast large dry flies, combined with a four weight floating line. Shocker. Another I can almost cast a ten weight RIO outbound with, but not quite. It's a seven weight that is almost a nine weight (the other can operate with a four weight line on it). And I've got one seven weight now, that is pretty much what I think a seven weight rod is. Or it seems to consistently produce the results in casting and fishing that you'd expect a normal seven weight to produce. So when we talk about fly rods, it's important to know that about one's rod collection. So when you pick up a rod to use it for a purpose, you know in advance what you can expect, or not.
I spent a decade and a half up in the ten to eleven weight single handed fly rod power bracket. So my knowledge of eight or nine weight is peripheral. Similarly with six weight and four weight. However, everything I said about 'seven weight' applies to 'five weight' rods too. Know what you have. In fact, number eleven weight rods are hugely dissimilar (I've a ten weight that is much stronger than my oldest eleven weight, but that old eleven weight, it's 'lack of spine' is really it's thing, and it's a valuable thing). Last week I unwrapped and cast a new 'four weight' and it's completely unlike my existing one. So now I understand, that everything I said about 'seven' and 'five' weight, does apply to 'four' weights too. Six's and eight's are too essential tools to learn, but thus far I have one single six weight in my humble possession, and I don't think I've ever had an eight weight. I did have a nine weight, which I broke, and stick to ten and eleven afterwards. But, eight to nine weight in that true weight or power bracket is a tool that I'm missing for certain jobs now.
Yes, I completely agree. Some of the rods I've cast over the years, it felt like they just put a random number on it. I've had 6wts that felt like 9s and 10s that felt like 8s. I do think that if you have an opportunity to cast a rod with multiple tapers and weight lines, each caster will find their perfect combination
I have been flyfishing and spin fishing for years and enjoy the hell out of both of them.
You're not alone. It's all fun!
Go for it! I think the channel could still do great mixing up gear and fly stuff... :)
Yeah buddy!
One thing worth considering (when it comes to your deer hair), the fly at end.
If you're at all familiar with how bass anglers add 'weed guard' in front of hook points (dragging structure jigs through vegetation under water). Behind that deer hair part, one can tie in a piece of Airflo tungsten coated monofilament leader, even the extremely heavy variety for salmon or steelhead. I'd dress it in facing forward, so that it sits in behind the deer hair head, but then curves around back towards the hook point, approximately like those weed guards look on bass casting jig lures. It's just another way to keel these buoyant types of flies, and it adds a small few grams additional weight around where the hook weight itself is located at mid-section (helps you get that side-to-side pivot).
Another place, using those tungsten coated monifilament leaders I add weight to. When I get down to the thin part of the leader. I use a short length of the thin part of leader straight out the back of the fly, sort of embedded in the tail of the fly. What does it do? If you don't overdo it, it will slow down the back end of the fly, and make it more difficult for your deer hair up front to plough into the water directly in front of it. Where would you want this? Because yeah, I get it, when you pause the fly this tail weighting causes the fly to sink backways instead of suspend. Where on is casting over large boulder structure, saltwater habitat with high kinetic energy. You want you're deer hair buoyant fly to take it's time creeping and crawling over, and up and down between them. The tail weight works so it's easier to make the fly accelerate 'up' towards water surface, and then back down again.
As you are drawing the fly up from below towards the water surface, you can change orientation of rod and fly will seem to forage and feed sideways along a boulder side, or a depth change in a river channel. What you want in this type of fly fishing is a fly line that is really easy to control and hold above the fly. The line I find operates best for me, on some of my old 'six weight' higher end sink tip lines, that had aggressive increase of diameter at the head, and a light, thin floating line behind the head. I find this sort of 'four weight' floating running line material can be salvaged as a line. I just put ten or twelve feet of 'medium' sink rate in front of it. And fish it on a four or five weight fly rod. Something that I can bend around like a noodle in terms of a rod, and I have that thin floating line as a running line that I can use for line handling.
What some don't realize is that predatory bait fish, who are forced in saltwater environments to eek out their existence inside of these areas of high kinetic energy of the saltwater. They spend a lot of their time opportunistically swimming 'up hill' along the sides of under-water structure. It's what bass anglers spend forever taking about in terms of crankbait fishing, where the use the bill on their crankbaits, with the right casting anglers to bounce their lures off of structure. Because fish recognize it as a trigger of some small predator or juvenille fish is foraging around structure. It's a pattern that as yet, I haven't seen fly anglers talk about or study. Looking at weight on the fly, line design and selection, combined with casting angle and retrieve, it's a way to pattern fish in saltwater that can improve odds.
I guess the other point is I try to get my fishing time in, by standing on dry land portions of coastline (literally I'm situated above the fish and have to cast down towards these areas from above). The horizontal fly casting angle or retrieve doesn't do a lot for me. However, I see crankbait lure anglers do this all over the place, fishing rip rap etc from boats or kayaks and casting parallel to shoreline structure. Those anglers claim that they use softer crankbait rods because the treble hooks are easy to pull out in playing fish. I also think the reason is, they're fishing from above, down to structure with baits intended and designed to do this thing. Of creeping over structure. And that means your fishing rod with a crankbait lure has to engage with the lure a bit, to help the lure work. I favor the 'rod tip' down in the water in other circumstances, and perhaps a stiff tip, in situations where I haven't boulder or rip-rap ahead of me. I know guys claim conehead weighted flies climb over timber pretty well. I still see coneheads and lead wraps as being mid depth lure weighting techniques. For lures fished over structure underwater, I'd like the weight outside of the hook, dressing etc. And those tungsten coated monofilament strands are able to keel these flies in ways that is interesting for structure fishing (you can allow the fly to topple over sideways, and it then keels itself back over to right-side-up). In highly kinetic saltwater or freshwater rip rap conditions, the fly will likely spend a lot of it's time getting thrown sideways anyhow. The pauses in that fishing are the times between the ocean swell.
Absolutely on point. I'm an Angler
Have you had success fishing this pattern in the Fall or Spring or is it just a Summer pattern? Would you change your presentation for Fall (pre-spawn and post-spawn) or Spring?
Id lean more towards pre spawn. After that the fish tend to prefer baits that go down in the water column. In the 50s (degree water) fish seem to like to chase more than lift and eat, from what I've seen. That's why I believe I've had the best luck from june through mid September in Michigan on it. It'd probably work just fine on a deep nymph rig though
Be prepared for the purist backlash. Im sure you know. Lololol. I get it with my content. When I've put up gear fishing stuff, there are always snowflakes telling me about it. Bla bla. My channel name implies, "rip shit or bust" we're catching fish. There's another name suggestion for ya, "Hell or High Water with Alex Lafkas" good luck with the new content brother. I know factually, your stuffs gonna blow up like a spook on the roof. Keep kicking ass. Love the channel. You have helped my fishing game massive. Thanks!
I've got a new website domain and channel name picked out. Just trying to decide when to make that jump. I can deal with backlash, im hitting the age where I care less and less about that nonsense by the day
@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 hell yeah dude! Hope the channel goes crazy for you. Hundred percent agree with you.
Looks like a lake Musky
It is
Always enjoy your videos some of the best out there. I fish plastics in the salt, learn a lot doing it. Whatever you enjoy.
Appreciate that!
Looking forward to the gear videos Alex! Great fish nice motorboat 😉
Thanks!
9:12 sat on that log waiting to night fish a few weeks ago lol
It's beautiful up there
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 Agreed, it’s just a really cool area up there to escape for a while
Nice man, now thats a fishin role model right there. So many one trick ponies in this business.
Thanks Alex
Ever considered pike on the fly? My absolute favorite fish
I do a little. Might get out this week for it.
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 Nice, maybe you can make a video if you can. In the States is such an overlooked fish for some reason, here in Europe is very popular.
@@akaperry5626 I will. That might be a good plan for tomorrow
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088 Nice, can't wait to see it. ✌🏻
0:41 first Mr. Kelly tells us he’s a dry fly guy, now this!! 😂😂
Rough week!
Kelly fishes conventional gear as well!
Great idea to expand your content to include more gear fishing. Please let me know if you have dates available on The White this season. Thanks.
Thanks I don't have any dates as of now. I usually only end up with a day or two available each year. All the guys come for 5 days and typically just rebook before they leave
Has to be chad Johnson with the video
Good guess!
I'm a fisherman too, whatever way it takes to get them is what I will use. Catching the target fish is what it is about.
That's where I'm at
@@alexlafkasfly-fishing9088to me this is the leading edge of where the innovation is in both gear and fly fishing. It also cuts out the elitist crap and gets down to ‘fishing’. I really like using gear and fly at the same time with my partners. Then we can hone in on which discipline will fish better for the day. Will definitely follow in the future.
The great part of what you do is that it needs to be what keeps you interested in giving us fun content. I’m in your corner. All the fly stuff is great but if you want to bring some other stuff to the table , you have my attention. I love gear and if you’re throwing down different episodes of some totally new content I appreciate your entrepreneurial spirit
Thanks man
Alex- I’ve been watching you for a couple of years now and really started mimicking some of your deceivers since you did the podcast and tying session with Northern Angler. May I request your email address as I would like to communicate with you off this plate form as I would like to send you some product. I live in Mount Pleasant and fish the Chippawau three times a week wading since I moved here two months ago. Loving MI! Very fishy!
@mattykraemer sure thing man. Get with me at alafkas@hotmail.com and we can go from there
Sweet!!!
Thanks Alex ,no problem here fishin diversity is my game,you’ll have my utmost interest and attention
Thx Scott