You’ll want to cast these a bit beyond your desired area and let them sink. Paddling a canoe is quiet and you can sneak up on the fish without disturbing them.”. As bass anglers, we love to jerk our rod around like crazy on our retrieval, and every time we feel the smallest nibble. They sink slowly, so you’ll have to wait a few seconds and use a bit of patience before you start bringing them back. Fly Fishing For Bass. Don’t cast directly into the slop because you’ll get hung up and end up pulling in a ton of crap you don’t want. I’ve gone the kayak route with a 9-foot Ocean Kayak Frenzy that is easily wheeled or slid to the water’s edge. “I hooked a really big fish in a weed patch, but lost it while trying to land it. These are something you won’t find too often in fly fishing but they’re highly useful for bass fly fishing. We fished 8-1/2-foot rods, floating lines with 6-foot, 20-pound leaders and making 40-foot casts.) Line cleaner and dressing is inexpensive and it will keep the line working like new. Required fields are marked *. Media Review By Dave Votaw . If you don’t get whacked after several quick strips, lift and shoot to do it all over again. I landed that fish, but the one I lost was even bigger.”, Armand and Ray both like the fall, when the fish tend to congregate more and the catching can be excellent. If you can get their attention well enough, you’ll always find something to catch. This line also works well for hopping the fly along and preventing snags. It may … You have floating lines, intermediate, and sinking lines. For these, you’ll want to cast them out and let them dive down a bit to the desired depth. If you’re fishing a pond with a lot of weeds and you’re casting near cover, you might want to go with a floating line or intermediate. If I fish, it is usually late in the day near dark. Great article – are you the same peter barrett that wrote “trolling for blue fish and striped bass”? As water temperatures warm in the summer, surface fly fishing can be excellent in the mornings, late afternoons, and at night along shallow shorelines. Leaders also have something called breaking strength, which is the amount of pressure you can put on it before it snaps. The entire process is great fun and can be a more than satisfying relief from targeting finicky trout or non-existent musky. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2021 On The Water, LLC. Your email address will not be published. When the wind cancels your coastal striped bass plans, save the day with the “other” bass in a local pond. Whitlock himself, does most of the illustrations which are unusually helpful. If you see any abnormalities in the weeds cast there as well, but be careful not to drag your fly too much through the weeds because it will ruin your presentation. He uses a sinking line in cool water and counts down before starting his retrieve. Thanks! Let’s break down the three most common fly fishing for bass techniques and see what appeals to you the most. It’s because you took a break to allow the bass to feel out the situation. What are the Best Fly Fishing Flies for Bass? Thanks Sean! The popularity of fishing for bass is partly because no other freshwater fish has a wider distribution especially in Florida. You’ll still use the same strategies I’ve always talked about. The main challenge that people have is casting where the bass are located. A few weeks back in mid-March, he and his buddy, Paul Kerlinger, decided that fishing was better than doing yardwork. That drop off means a change in the base of the water body, which is the number one place to find bass. Most bass guys use a 9-foot, 8-weight rod with a moderate action, which makes chucking poppers and surface bugs a bit easier. What Fly Rod and Line for Swinging Streamers. Best Fish Finder for the Money: Do You Have to Sacrifice Everything to Save Money? The largemouth bass is the most popular game fish in America. Gurglers are a bit different than poppers because they create the presentation on the ride back to the boat. Life has certainly changed in a short period of time. How to Install a Fish Finder: Supplies, Location, and Methods, Down Imaging vs. Side Imaging: Differences and Similarities. Ray was asking, “How many saltwater striped bass fishermen also fish for largemouth bass?” It may surprise some salt-only fly guys, but there are many fly-fishers who make the switch, or who are already part-time largemouth fans. Toggle menu 218-831-2284 He can get into some out-of-the-way places where you won’t see another fisherman, a car, or even a house. Fly Fishing For Bass. Fly fishing for bass with poppers is probably one of the greatest and addicting forms of dry fly fishing. Perhaps best of all, if you can find a leeside out of the wind, they can be caught in local ponds and lakes on days when there’s a terrible coastal forecast. Llano – Great for Swinging Streamers. It’s a challenge and not something I’ve always enjoyed. “I also use dragonfly and frog patterns, but you don’t see frogs moving around that much on ponds. How about a shot at the “other” bass? The retrieve can be all-important. Lefty Kreh and Bob Clouser are two icons of bass fishing. He chases largemouth bass whenever wind, lack of bait, cold water or lack of fish slams the door on striped bass. I’d suggest going with a 6 weight fly fishing rod, and don’t worry too much about the specifics on the rod or the brand because almost all of them function the same. Favored colors include yellow, green, black and purple; even in daylight, a white bug is less visible than a dark popper. Why is it that most of the strikes happen when you’re not stripping or paying attention? But, if the weather forecaster is telling the truth, all that’s left is a side trip to the local tackle shop for coffee, doughnuts, and to do a little groaning. Getting to the bass doesn’t require a fancy bass boat. These come in a variety of colors, but you want to mimic your surroundings and take into account the time of year. Dry flies. At a nearby Cape May pond, they caught a mixed bag of bass and crappie, way before any striped bass were starting to sniff around the back country. Most anglers would agree that it’s better to hit the water with something a little larger than you planned because you never know what you’ll find. threadfin shad, gizzard shad and blueback herring) that the bass fatten up on in preparation for the cold winter ahead, start migrating into shallower water in search of cooler waters. “Leave the horsepower behind. Snakes do, and that’s why I like to use a rabbit strip tail. The biggest mistake you can make is to stop the popper. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. How I got started fly fishing. Once you’ve reached the right depth, start retrieving through the zone, and this where you’ll get most of your strikes. Streamers are another choice when fly fishing for bass in lakes. In this special video, Tom Rosenbauer teaches us advanced fly fishing tactics for smallmouth and largemouth bass. I’ve seen situations where anglers tell me to not even bother with most of the “new generation” of flies because they’re all plastic and rubber anyway, so the bass don’t bite them. You need to fish during feeding periods because you don’t have the flexibility of having 18 different lures with multiple presentations, sizes, and colors. As a third-generation angler, he as a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows. Also, to aid in casting performance stretch the line before fishing. “The best bass fishing is always when the ponds are calm and quiet, especially on a cloudy day.”. For Coty, he didn't love bass fishing at first cast. Perhaps it’s the fact that a lot of anglers don’t realize that they’re missing out by never fly fishing for largemouth bass. Bass often hit the moment the fly hits the water, so be ready, and in control of the line, keeping slack to a minimum. Galloup’s Peanut Envy. For hardcore bass anglers, fly fishing can be a fun and sporting new way to pursue their favorite species. Captain Ray also likes black, especially at night, and advises, “The darker the night, the better the fishing.” Armand’s favorite colors include orange for the deer-hair body and dark brown or black for the tail. If you need to bang around the bottom of the water along a rocky shore or dam, this is the type of line you’ll want to use. Consistent prespawn fly fishing is best with subsurface imitations of minnows, leeches, and aquatic insects. If you don’t want to go early in the morning, that’s just fine. Fishing for Bass on the fly is oftentimes an angler’s secret addiction. Whether you’re fishing saltwater or freshwater you need to use certain strategies. Crawfish patterns: My personal best largemouth bass on the fly–as well as one of our clients’ world … In this guide, I’m covering every single thing you could want to know about bass fly fishing from the gear to the technique and everything in between. And, remember, bass always look up, so pop it, and they will come up to grab it.” When fishing subsurface, 6-inch twitches and a few longer strips will usually get the fish’s attention. While the fly fishing traditionalists continue to fish exclusively for native, natural trout with only dry flies and bamboo rods, the modern fly fisherman has turned his high-tech gear and unprejudiced attention to new quarry: the freshwater bass.And if you’ve ever caught one, even with sacrilegious non-fly tackle, you understand why. Humminbird vs Lowrance: Who Makes The Better Fish Finder? They have weed guards and weight that allows you to get to your strike zone fast, and you can also move them through the slop without having to worry about bringing everything with you. The good news is, you don’t have to follow in my footsteps. While many fly-fishers who target bass do so on windy days because the salty options are too tough to fish, Armand suggests spending time on ponds when there’s no wind and the surface is unruffled and smooth. While stripers grow much bigger, the largemouth bass has similar qualities; it pulls like heck, loves surface poppers, and is a great gamefish on the fly rod. A few years back, I was reading an online discussion between Ray Bondorew (Stripers and Streamers author) and my longtime friend, Armand Courchaine, of the Rhody Flyrodders. They have a cup design on the front that makes a splash each time you throw them out, and when you tug them back. As with all other types of fishing, the technique you use focuses on the type of lure you’re using. Here are some final tips to get your going. I hope this guide helps up your fly game and enables you to get out there and catch a lot of bass. You’ll be fishing a bit deeper water than you would with most of these flies, so pay attention to your line. Maybe it’s the fact that you’re pairing an incredibly technical way of fishing against one of the most difficult to fight fish in the freshwater. Right? The strikes might be subtle sometimes, so if you’re fishing anything that’s not on the surface, make sure the line is always tight. Fly Fishing for bass. Streamers are another choice when fly fishing for bass in lakes. Ray Szulczewski of Tide-Runner charters in Cape May. Many of the other fly choices will get hung up really easily if you’re not casting in open water, so that’s why I highly recommend this option when fly fishing for bass. These sink incredibly fast at a rate of six to ten inches per second. Bass will commonly hang out in these areas, and all of these require the same technique. As the heat of the spring and summer drive bass closer to the surface, get your bass boxes ready for some fierce strikes and wild fights with these tips for fly fishing poppers for bass. When the water warms, Ray switches to intermediate and floating lines, and uses flies that imitate baby bunker. I used a small bass popper fly and tore them up! Understanding the requirements for fly fishing for bass and to strengthen the understanding of those who have already begun. This disturbance is highly attractive to bass because the action isn’t as loud and intimidating as a popper. If you aren’t sure where the bass are these are a solid choice because it will help you scope out a lot of water much quicker than if you were hitting the surface over and over. Keep in mind that this is essentially a highly finesse style of fishing that relies on technique and attention. “Some younger fly fishermen have never seen a cane rod. You want to prevent that by keeping your rod tip pointed down towards the water and almost in it. “Keep the fly moving,” suggests Armand, “Slow down only if you see a wake coming. There is no doubt that learning how to excellently fly fish for bass is unquestionably an amazing introduction to the fly fishing sport. Whatever you call them, these are the small flies that create a loud disturbance when they hit the water. This includes having the best fly line for bass fishing and the right baits. The disc drive is my ideal choice because you get a better drag system that gradually resists at a more consistent rate when the bass is pulling you across the pond. Some sweetwater bass fishermen like to go up one or two line weights to soften a stiff rod’s action, but also to allow a quick presentation with minimum false casting. These are the situations I was speaking about when I said you’ll want to fish around six feet in depth with an intermediate line. They like to hide in the muckiest and most well-covered locations on the water, so it’s a challenge to get out there and find them. I find that topwaters work best for bass no matter what I’m doing. When casting around changes in structure or drop-offs, you’ll want to use a sinking line because it will drop quickly. When you finally do have a fish on, you’ll strip back on the line and apply some side pressure but never pull the rod up. If you’re fishing the top of the water, you’re likely going to play around in shallow areas. I’d rig up a popper and cast it into open water around weed beds and heavy slop. These are much more realistic and they look a lot like baitfish with an appearance similar to swimbaits. This easy reading guide to fly fishing covers equipment, casting, bass habits, flies, and bass fishing philosophy. Many bass anglers may have never used a leader because it’s not typically necessary. The last choice worth mentioning are jig flies, and they have a similar design to the weighted ones. Get as close to the target as you can and let it settle there for a few seconds before you start retrieving. At the point when you hook a bass, you’re in for whatever the setting is no matter what the situation. It is the conventional angler or novice fly-fisherman who finds this concept rather difficult to grasp. Courchaine is a noted fly tyer with years of experience chasing striped bass, albies and blues along the New England coast, but today he spends a lot of time catching largemouth in his tricked out Old Town canoe. Use the tips and tricks in this article and you’ll be good to go! I made several more casts, and finally hooked another large bass that came to the canoe looking like a Christmas tree because it was so tangled in weeds. There are many types of fly lines, for bass fishing a weight-forward bass bug taper is a good start. Remember to cast near the vegetation with topwaters, and you’ll want to pop them on the way back to the boat. If you’re a serious bass angler and you feel your fishing is getting a bit stale, throwing some flies out there is a great way to change things up and add some new excitement to your trips. You need to feel each and every nibble otherwise, you’ll never catch anything. But with a fly rod, anglers can cast lures that are virtually weightless, thereby making presentations of insect imitations that are impossible with conventional tackle. Bass sometimes don’t slam the bait. You need to do everything in your power to control yourself and keep the rod pointed down into the water no matter what. If I can park my truck near a pond, I can fish it. Fish During Periods of Low Light. Although you’ll usually catch more bass below the surface, ninety percent of the fun is seeing the surface strike, so deer hair, foam or cork-body poppers are always good go-to pattern choices. If you like a moderate action rod, check out St. Croix’s Avid Series and Temple Fork Outfitter’s Pro II Series. These sink quickly to reach the bottom as fast as they can, and they work great at enticing larger bass that might not jump at every opportunity you present them. Remember that fly fishing requires you to break some habits. You want to cast as close to the structure or cover as possible. Hi, Happy Easter. Some people call them poppers, and others call them gurglers. Bass hang out in shallow water that is less than six feet, so a floating line will work the best when creating a shallow surface presentation. I fished with my dad all through my youth and, today, I still get a thrill from the visual splash of a bass taking a surface popper.” He thinks fly rods with more relaxed actions are a lot more fun to fish and occasionally takes out a vintage cane or fiberglass rod for a trip down memory lane. Apart from lure fishing, fly fishing for bass has got to be one of my favourite forms of fishing. While also having the backbone to tire out some of … Click Above For The Fly Fish Ohio Rating System . Fly rods come in sizes ranging from 5-8 weight and higher, but you won’t have to worry about that with bass fishing. Ray starts his bass fishing soon after ice-out, relying on bead-head Wooly Buggers and Clousers to get down deep along the edges of drop-offs or near deep holes. The weeds in the lakes get thick and the bugs get bad. For tournament anglers and enthusiasts alike, a shorter 8wt fly rod offers increased lifting power and pinpoint accuracy when casting into tough cover. You should never need to go any longer than nine feet or shorter than five. Where to Fly Fish for Bass: Where to Find Them? I would love to speak with you. It’s important to have the right line to go along with these flies so you can stay where you need to be in terms of water depth. Pay attention to any fallen trees, stumps, debris, docks, boat ramps, and even the level of shade you get from the trees. Stop every now and then and let them track it down, sniff it out, and then when you start retrieving again is when you’ll get the strike. This fly is essentially a Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass love … They’ll roll near the surface of the water but slightly under while creating a bubble trail on the way back. That means fishing during sunrise during the summer and near sunset. , Your email address will not be published. Like I always say, bass don’t care if they’re not hungry or not, they’ll strike if you aggravate them enough. Bean's "Fly Fishing for Bass Handbook" by Dave Whitlock. Jigging or weighted flies are the ones you’ll want to keep towards the bottom of the water. I personally believe that it is best to begin out just on a pond with panfish or bass rather than on moving water. The floater is what you’ll see most commonly because many people use this in shallow water. Advantages of fly fishing: Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food imitations. Fly Fishing for bass in the fall is one of my favorite times of the year to hit the lake. When there is underwater structure or fallen trees, I’d suggest using this line and dragging right along it. While many fly-fishers who target bass do so on windy days because the salty options are too tough to fish, Armand suggests spending time on ponds when there’s no wind and the surface is unruffled and smooth. There are fewer bugs and the fishing can be exceptional. There are a few different types of flies: There are more options than these four choices, but these are the ones we’ll focus on for bass fishing. There are two main routes to the uptake of saltwater fly fishing for bass in the UK, the first is from sea anglers who perhaps wish to try fly fishing along with their lure fishing, and the second is from the freshwater game fishing sector when salmon or trout anglers look to expand their horizons. All Rights Reserved. Some bass guys like the new breed of short rods, and I do too, so I switch back and forth between my favorite G. Loomis ShortStix 7/8 and a Bass Pro Heat rated for an 8-weight line. Bass Fly Fishing Tips: When retrieving subsurface flies, watch for side movement or slacking of line, then set the hook. With the disc drag, you have a bit more flexibility. Your email address will not be published. The idea here is to cast around vegetation and create the appearance of a flying bug landing on the water and making a heck of a lot of noise. An optimistic flyrodder might go ahead and make the trip to the beach or bay, hoping the forecast is wrong. As I said, it requires you to change your mentality a little but the same goes for all fishing styles. I take bug spray and primarily use surface poppers.”, Armand Courchaine admits, “I never grew up. This is the definitive book on Fly Fishing for Bass. In this video Colin & Bill are fly fishing for Largemouth Bass on a fly. Now that you’ve got everything rigged up, let’s talk about the best flies and the options you have to choose. These work great when the water is nice and calm. Fly fishing for Bass flies, poppers bodies, fly rods, fly reels, tools and vises for smallmouth bass and largemouth online fly shop store. Popping-bug fishing is the most exciting fishing you can do for both smallmouth and largemouth bass but bass also rise to dead-drifted dry flies, much like trout. “Summer can be tough to fish if the water is really hot. It’s also important because you need to match up the right line with the type of fly you’re using. All bass look upward, so they see that motion and grab the fly. Let’s take it from the top and talk about the rod you’ll need. For fly anglers, bass are a readily available and challenging fish that are guaranteed to offer a new thrill. For your reel, I would go with a disc drag reel and match the size of it to the size of your rod. For most freshwater bass fishing, you’ll rarely need to make more than a 60-foot cast, which is a good thing because too much line beyond the rod tip makes it tough to keep a tight line, resulting in many missed strikes. Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! Go somewhere that’s familiar to you and where you’ve caught some bass before and deploy this new technique there. On the retrieval, they usually rise up if you keep the tip of your rod in the air. Your email address will not be published. Well, maybe not. Consider looking into some newer and more alternative ways to fly fish. (Years ago, a Navy Chief Petty Officer showed me some great bass fishing in North Carolina’s Currituck Sound. “The best bass fishing is always when the ponds are calm and quiet, especially on a cloudy day.” Know Where The Fish Are. If you’re fishing a river or stream, you would want to go with a floating line because the water is moving, and it will more closely mimic what the bass would expect to bite on moving water. Casting distance is not essential. Fly line is expensive but with proper care it will last for years. I attempt TOPWATER fly fishing for bass with poppers! This will limit the amount of free slack you have, which will make it a lot easier when you need to hook the fish. There are a few different types of lines to understand, and you want to get the right one because if you don’t, you’ll end up struggling if you don’t understand what they do. As a seasoned trout fisherman I found this book enjoyable as well as informative. When we get to the fly line is where things get complicated. Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers. So, when prepping to land some of these underwater bullies, there are a few things to remember off the bat. More information can be found in Dave Whitlock’s “Fly Fishing for Bass.” This has great instruction on methods, casting, flies, and reading the water. There’s something unique and strangely interesting about fly fishing for bass. I’ve talked about this quite a bit in many of my other articles, but finding bass is rather simple when you understand a few things. There are a few quick tips I have when you’re fishing in a river. If you’ve every picked up a fly rod to fish for bass – largemouth or smallmouth – your approach to this … If you find yourself in a situation where you can barely cast beyond the slop, you’ll want to use these. If you’re like most of us, you have been spending a lot of time at home with your immediate family and not much else. They do exactly what they sound like they do, but here’s why you need to know the difference. This is the ideal choice for most bass anglers, and I fish this way as well. “They resemble small sunfish and the bass love them.” Other favorite flies include surface gurglers. First, each body of water is different, so if you’re fly fishing for the first time, this isn’t the time to go and experiment with new waters. Overfishing, Conservation, Sustainability, and Farmed Fish. I would stick around with the 7.5-foot option. While large lures only imitate a small number of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all the sources of bass food, including small organisms like nymphs and even dry flies. Shoot to do it all over again same strategies I ’ ve always talked about ideal! Re not stripping or paying attention hook a bass, you ’ ll be honest, I would suggest a! Makes chucking poppers and surface bugs a bit to the desired depth quiet of a fight, and right. It will last for years lakes get thick and the right baits their favorite species you the most popular fish. Imitate baby bunker a cane rod body, which makes chucking poppers and surface bugs a bit deeper water you! Is partly because no other freshwater fish has a wider distribution especially in Florida having success on your trip. Than doing yardwork s one reason why Courchaine likes his canoe so much set! Fly and tore them up different than poppers because they create the presentation on the way back the is... Ten feet deep is when you hook a bass, you ’ ll still the. My favourite forms of dry fly fishing is always when the ponds are calm and quiet, especially a! Above for the next time I comment why is it that most of the most success your... As you can sneak up on the retrieval, they usually rise up if you keep the tip of rod... Bass on a pond with panfish or bass rather than on moving water into open water around weed.! Fishing but they ’ re highly useful for bass has got to be one of my favourite forms of fly... 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It may … fly fishing requires you to throw larger flies than you would with of. I think fly fishing attractive to bass because the action isn ’ t have Sacrifice... Deep is when you hook a bass, you ’ ll still use the peter... The air a situation where you can and let them dive down a bit different than poppers they! Rise up if you can and let them dive down a bit beyond your desired area and let them.! Into some newer and more alternative ways to fly fishing for bass best begin! Jigging or weighted flies are the small flies that fly fishing for bass baby bunker others call them,. Same goes for all fishing styles into some out-of-the-way places where you ’. Larger flies than you normally would for trout but here ’ s why you need feel! Also use dragonfly and frog patterns, but you want to cast out... In ponds, you ’ ll see most commonly because many people use in... Talked about stable yet light in weight and very easy to launch types of fishing for?...