Anybody planning any upcoming flyfishing trips? I am going to the Gabbro Lake area the first week of June. Will be taking 2 8 weights to fish for pike and smallies. Hope to get some topwater action.

Anybody have a good topwater pike fly apart from a Dahlberg diver or bunny strip diver? Just curious, especially for a large but lightweight fly that casts better than a wet sock.

I'll be up on Crooked in early July. Chasing pike with the long rod mostly. Hoping to hit one of the mayfly hatches (I think Crooked has Hex mayflies) in hopes of bagging a Lake Whitefish and a Tullibee (Northern Cisco) on the fly.

I don't fish many topwater pike flies, usually just bunny divers and boiler maker poppers. Both of which cast a bit like a wet sock... I use shooting heads though, which makes casting easier.

I have been blessed with three trips this summer, two in July and one in August. Yep, taking the nine weight and the six weight. I prefer to use a fly similar to a Spinner'd minner'd - much larger and tied with flashabou (this fly is destroyed after two pike). Also, tie large (hook size 0/2 or 0/3) Morrisfoam divers for top water pike. Have even tied this one weedless. Works great with green, yellow or black foam, some marabou for the tail and a little crystal flash. Also, use Rio Toothy Critter leaders.

I going in on my first solo at Mudro in mid-June (14th). I plan to overnight on Gun and head to Crooked the next day. What comes next depends on the fishing in Crooked. I'll either stay there or come back south maybe to Moosecamp. I have a week to spend wherever I want.

I'm mainly interested in the smallies on a 6wt but will have a 9wt with me for pike also (I'd be a fool not to).

Tonight I glued some foam popper heads on a batch of hooks and will finish tying them up later this week. I have a bunch of bunny flies tied up for the pike, but casting those things is a lot like waving a wet sock around your head. Maybe I'll also tie up some Deceivers or something for when my arm gets tired.

I'm really, really hoping the water temps don't warm up too quickly and the smallmouth spawn starts about that time.