Through online correspondence on a smallmouth fishing Internet discussion board, I was informed by some good ‘ole southern boys that Charlie did not actually invent the rig, but he did perfect it and was certainly a master at marketing it. Then the game was on for the rest of the day. “The suspended fish will be on the main lake bluffs and the main lake points,” says Duckworth. Anywhere there is a nick in the bluff, or any point on the bluff is a sweet spot. https://www.onthewater.com/float-fly-techniques-smallmouth-bass Between their geographical abundance, hyper-aggressive nature, and the power they can impose against a taught line, bass are a great opportunity for anglers to diversify their regularly targeted species, as well as have a great fight. From the rod, 6- to 8-pound-test braided line is typically attached to a three-way swivel with a uni knot. I think I know more about it. Maine’s Mystery Buck: The Obscure Tale of Maine’s 110-Year-Old, Non-Typical Record Whitetail. The third swivel loop is where you attach the bobber. Stay away from fast-action rods that flex mostly in the tip; instead, look for a more parabolic bend and a rig rated for 1/8 to 3/8 ounces and 6- to 15-pound-test line. Right where the river leaves the bluff is a sweet spot. Also remember that any time you are fishing with light line, it’s important to retie often. Copyright © 2021 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, VIRGINIA: 8 Trout Stream Destinations to Try in 2021, Savvy anglers know that when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees smallmouth, Join ODU Magazine on Facebook here at this, Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter fishing site here at this, Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter hunting site here at this, Tournament News & Results – Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Redfish and More. He targets smallmouth bass, trout, and muskies throughout the season. The fishing was fast, and in roughly an hour we blew through three-dozen live shiners while anchored up on a point bordering the main pond and a weedy back cove. For those who might be braver than me, however, I’ll describe those traditional southern rigs for comparison. In the flattest conditions, I’ll work the bobber ever so slowly back to the boat with slight rod twitches, letting the fly sit for minutes at a time between movements. Usually this dropper is 9 to 12 feet in length. • In early spring, search out current bringing warmer water into a lake. Your craft should not drift with the wind or move under paddle or motor power: If it's moving, your fly will drag and you'll lose the precise fly control you need. Little Tennessee River Fly Fishing Guides for Smallmouth Bass, Guided Float Trips in drift boats starting at $225.00 per boat, all tackle and flies provided I’ve been watching Wild Fly videos for awhile now and they definitely have some cool content. Some strikes will be easy to detect, with the bobber being pulled completely under the surface, but that’s not the norm. Afterward I switched to a suspending crankbait, but was met with limited success. Float trips for smallmouth bass can give you some of the finest fly fishing you can find. If you've ever wanted to fish the Float 'n' Fly you've got to try this new method! Patience is the name of the game, especially in cold water, which is when this rig works best. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2021 On The Water, LLC. • Coves or shallow river systems that are too weedy to fish in the summer can be hot spots in the spring and late fall. • Flats or gravel bars adjacent to any of the above structures. The float-and-fly rig works wherever bass suspend in cold-water conditions. Today, Charlie’s brother Eddie Nuckols runs Bullet Lures, which remains the main source of the specialized lures and equipment used in the “Float-N-Fly” system. There is still bass fishing … Fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the New River can be simply fantastic!From mid-river feeding flats to shady bank cover to rocky-cobbled runs, the New River has ample structure to target big, mature (18"+) smallmouth effectively on the fly. We have the utmost respect for our predecessors but this method has changed the way Float N Fly fishing is … In colored water, he'll switch to a 1/8-ounce fly with chartreuse highlights and back to the routine 1/16-ounce gray and blue jig in clear conditions. I was amazed that he was able to almost duplicate the catch rate we had with live bait, and after he landed a number of nice bass in very short order, I was begging him to set me up with a similar rig. Im thinking about trying something new and instead of using a fly, Ill use soft plastics on a light ball head jig! Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guide Trips Guided smallmouth bass trips are one of the most popular trips requested in Asheville, NC. Last week I said I’d tell you more about the hot weather version of the float-and-fly after I knew more about it. The southern experts are firm believers that craft hair breathes best, but I’ve had good luck with simple ties utilizing bucktail in natural colors. Charlie Nuckols is considered by many to be the father of the float-and-fly rig. For those of you who are more visual learners. The Guided Float Fishing Trip is the most popular among our regular guests. I finally thru try and failur landed on woolly bugger patterns, darker worked better with a thingamabobber fishing them in the same way as described above. The day before I was casting Sinkos and doing well but was getting board and wanted to switch it up. I never experimented with a fixed bobber and noodle rod; the thought of trying to cast 14 feet of line hanging beyond a 12-foot rod just never appealed to me. 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