Spinners on the fly?

[uwecsteeple]

Anybody here fish inline spinners on a flyrod.

Something like Mepps Spinfly? If so, how do you do it? I fish spinners on my regular rod with a steady retrieve and imagine that would be kind of hard with a flyrod.

I have a 5wt that I love for panfishing but would like to try some winter trout fishing with it. I also imagine that sunnies and crappie would love a spinfly type lure.

Thanks for any help

[DinkADunk]

I've done it but unless you use a fairly stout rod (say a 7wt or heavier) it can be hard to control. Lures are heavy, flies are light. If you use a Chuck & Duck technique then you can lob the spinner out there. The retrieve is fairly easy with a fly reel. You can always bring an ice fishing rod along (think very short spinning rod) with you - quite handy for casting hardware or bait in close quarters.

[csprau]

I've not ever heard of using a spinner on a fly rod before. There is a spinner-like fly called the Pistol Pete that might be an alternative. I suppose if you used something like a mepps and cast down & across, then work it like you would a typical streamer...it might work. I'd swap out the treble hook for a sigle hook personally before trying that as I think that trout mouths are not as 'durable' as say a bass or pike mouth is. Just my 2 cents though.

-Critter

[WxGuy]

Where were you thinking of winter trout fishing?

The only thing I can think of for that 5wt of yours, perhaps the best option and most successful for your winter trout fishing venture...is to stick with flies on your fly rod.

Panfish are big fans of flies too.

[uwecsteeple]

I was thinking about hitting the trout streams down in your neck of the woods after reading some posts on other sites about winter trout fishing. Though the comments about their guides icing up and freezing their butts off in waders makes me think twice. The only reason I would try winter trout fishing is if we didnt have enough ice for safe walking anyways

[DinkADunk]

Even if it's 10 below the water temp is still the same as in the spring/ early summer (40's to 50's). I like fly fishing in the winter - no carnivorous plant material eating your flies As for staying warm, I wear silk liner socks, toe warmers, thick smartwool socks, med weight Cabelas long underwear, Cabela's wader liners, a wool shirt, thin quilted goose down jacket (no shell type), breathable waders, Korkers w/ lug soles, Simms Gortex G3 jacket, Mad bomber hat, thin silk gloves, polartec fingerless gloves, expedition overmitts (with chemical handwarmers). I'm toasty warm with that gear, sometimes too warm.

[uwecsteeple]

Holy cow that sounds like some expensive clothes! I bet it is worth it though . I can just imagine how nice it is to be out in winter, complete solitude... just you and the fish!

[DinkADunk]

The Korkers were closeouts from Sierra Trading (50% off), the thin down jacket came from Cabelas ($60), the wader pants are often onsale ($30) and the Simms outerjacket I found on Ebay for half off new ( Ok, so $200 used is still expensive, but the G3 jacket is fantastic). Nothing real pricy if you take your time. My wife found a pair of Simms Guide waders at a Cabela's outlet sale for $75 ($400 new) which is a lot less than any breathable wader out there. You just half to look.