For these, you’ll want to cast them out and let them dive down a bit to the desired depth. I find that topwaters work best for bass no matter what I’m doing. Sign up for our FREE Fishing Reports Today! It is the conventional angler or novice fly-fisherman who finds this concept rather difficult to grasp. Fly rods come in sizes ranging from 5-8 weight and higher, but you won’t have to worry about that with bass fishing. These are fished around mid-depth, and they mimic a minnow, so the style is similar to fishing with a swimbait. 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. When there is underwater structure or fallen trees, I’d suggest using this line and dragging right along it. On the retrieval, they usually rise up if you keep the tip of your rod in the air. You know, the green ones with the black spots and huge mouths. 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. Why is it that most of the strikes happen when you’re not stripping or paying attention? Llano – Great for Swinging Streamers. Great article – are you the same peter barrett that wrote “trolling for blue fish and striped bass”? I have had a few bad experiences with river fishing, and ever since, I’ve stayed away from it. Streamers are another choice when fly fishing for bass in lakes. I hope this guide helps up your fly game and enables you to get out there and catch a lot of bass. With the disc drag, you have a bit more flexibility. Also, to aid in casting performance stretch the line before fishing. When casting around changes in structure or drop-offs, you’ll want to use a sinking line because it will drop quickly. Go somewhere that’s familiar to you and where you’ve caught some bass before and deploy this new technique there. Bean's "Fly Fishing for Bass Handbook" by Dave Whitlock. Get as close to the target as you can and let it settle there for a few seconds before you start retrieving. Snakes do, and that’s why I like to use a rabbit strip tail. First off, bass feed on fish, frogs, crayfish, leeches, and insects, yet neither conventional spinning nor bait casting rods lend themselves to casting lures that truly mimic the insect portion of the bass's menu. 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. He chases largemouth bass whenever wind, lack of bait, cold water or lack of fish slams the door on striped bass. Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers. Between six and ten feet deep is when you’ll roll over to the intermediate line. If you like a moderate action rod, check out St. Croix’s Avid Series and Temple Fork Outfitter’s Pro II Series. There’s something unique and strangely interesting about fly fishing for bass. 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. 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. 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. Your email address will not be published. These are much more realistic and they look a lot like baitfish with an appearance similar to swimbaits. Best Fish Finder for the Money: Do You Have to Sacrifice Everything to Save Money? On big and small rivers and lakes where there are mayflies, caddis, and other aquatic insects, bass seek out drifting adult insects and sip them from the surface. Patience is important when fly fishing for bass because it might take them a few seconds to sniff out the situation. “They resemble small sunfish and the bass love them.” Other favorite flies include surface gurglers. For those with existing freshwater fly tackle it is relatively easy to at least sample the joys of saltwater fly fishing by utilising the more sturdy pieces of their freshwater tackle with appropriate rinsing at the end of every sal… It may … These will help solidify everything you know and increase the chances of you having success on your first trip. Right? Hanson generally fishes with a 5-weight rod; Grigsby chooses to go a bit heavier with an 8-weight. In this section, I’ll break down all the gear you need based on the situation and provide some tips on how to use it best. Capt. 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. 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. Life has certainly changed in a short period of time. For hardcore bass anglers, fly fishing can be a fun and sporting new way to pursue their favorite species. However, all that is often needed is some guidance through the maze of terminology, gear and tactics to succeed at catching America's favorite fish on the fly. 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. I personally believe that it is best to begin out just on a pond with panfish or bass rather than on moving water. Bass are one of the most enjoyable sportfish to target with any type of tackle. You’ll still use the same strategies I’ve always talked about. “The best bass fishing is always when the ponds are calm and quiet, especially on a cloudy day.”. As water temperatures warm in the summer, surface fly fishing can be excellent in the mornings, late afternoons, and at night along shallow shorelines. For tournament anglers and enthusiasts alike, a shorter 8wt fly rod offers increased lifting power and pinpoint accuracy when casting into tough cover. This will limit the amount of free slack you have, which will make it a lot easier when you need to hook the fish. Overfishing, Conservation, Sustainability, and Farmed Fish. 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. The Llano River is in the heart of Texas in hill country. All Rights Reserved. There are many types of fly lines, for bass fishing a weight-forward bass bug taper is a good start. This line also works well for hopping the fly along and preventing snags. You need to feel each and every nibble otherwise, you’ll never catch anything. It’s also important because you need to match up the right line with the type of fly you’re using. 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. 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. 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. 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. The biggest mistake you can make is to stop the popper. 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. Leaders also have something called breaking strength, which is the amount of pressure you can put on it before it snaps. You want to prevent that by keeping your rod tip pointed down towards the water and almost in it. While also having the backbone to tire out some of … 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. Using such a light rod and minimal tackle make these easy options as far as locating and finding the fish, bass in this case. 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. Fly Fishing for bass in the fall is one of my favorite times of the year to hit the lake. Keep in mind that this is essentially a highly finesse style of fishing that relies on technique and attention. Required fields are marked *, Copyright © 2021 On The Water, LLC. This fly is essentially a Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass love … Bass are opportunistic predators, which means they’ll take advantage of any opportunity that comes their way even if they aren’t feeding. Can you imagine that?”, After spring, Courchaine will continue to fish through the summer, casting spun deer-hair poppers with rabbit fur tails that waggle like a snake. I would suggest deploying a slow retrieval with a few short jerks and pauses while always keeping the fly in the strike zone. Fishing for Bass on the fly is oftentimes an angler’s secret addiction. Let’s take it from the top and talk about the rod you’ll need. I would stick around with the 7.5-foot option. 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. If you find yourself in a situation where you can barely cast beyond the slop, you’ll want to use these. “I hooked a really big fish in a weed patch, but lost it while trying to land it. Bass often hit the moment the fly hits the water, so be ready, and in control of the line, keeping slack to a minimum. , Your email address will not be published. If you’ve every picked up a fly rod to fish for bass – largemouth or smallmouth – your approach to this … 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. If you don’t want to go early in the morning, that’s just fine. These are something you won’t find too often in fly fishing but they’re highly useful for bass fly fishing. There are fewer bugs and the fishing can be exceptional. He has no problem with using a 5 or 6-weight, but fishes the 8 because of convenience since he often uses the same rod for reds. You want to cast as close to the structure or cover as possible. When we get to the fly line is where things get complicated. I’d rig up a popper and cast it into open water around weed beds and heavy slop. Fly fishing for bass in lakes definitely involves hunting for fishy places, but I think fly fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass in rivers is more active and thus more exciting. We fished 8-1/2-foot rods, floating lines with 6-foot, 20-pound leaders and making 40-foot casts.) 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. The main challenge that people have is casting where the bass are located. Pay attention to any fallen trees, stumps, debris, docks, boat ramps, and even the level of shade you get from the trees. The main reason I love chasing bass on the fly during the fall, is because a lot of the forage food (ex. Fish During Periods of Low Light. Fly-Fishing For Bass Fly-fishing for bass is nothing new to most fly-fishing anglers. 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. If you can find areas where the weeds drop off into the water, this is where you want to cast. You might discourage yourself or get frustrated doing that. Fly fishing for Bass can be loads of fun, but choosing the right setup can be difficult. The trick is to noisily smack big cork poppers down on the water along the edge of the marsh grass to get a fish’s attention. If I can park my truck near a pond, I can fish it. Once you’ve reached the right depth, start retrieving through the zone, and this where you’ll get most of your strikes. For example, for a streamer, you would want to use a 4×7.5 leader, and you could put a tippet on that as well. 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. Pausing is good. Here are some final tips to get your going. All bass look upward, so they see that motion and grab the fly. You’ll want to cast these a bit beyond your desired area and let them sink. 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. In this special video, Tom Rosenbauer teaches us advanced fly fishing tactics for smallmouth and largemouth bass. As with all other types of fishing, the technique you use focuses on the type of lure you’re using. For Coty, he didn't love bass fishing at first cast. The retrieve can be all-important. Now that you’ve got everything rigged up, let’s talk about the best flies and the options you have to choose. Hi, Happy Easter. 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. You’re limited with flies and as a result, you need to fish when the bass wants to eat. You want to fish near structure and cover where the bass feed and nest. The fly rods for bass fishing are going to allow you to throw larger flies than you normally would for trout. Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! 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. It’s one reason why Courchaine likes his canoe so much. 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. The best topwater action is around late spring, after fish recuperate from spawning. 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. Fly line is expensive but with proper care it will last for years. 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. If you have a sinking fly with a floating line, it will screw up the presentation. 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. 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. 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. They have a hook turned in a way that keeps it weedless like a Carolina Rig so it’s ideal for casting into heavy vegetation and cover, which is where you want to be. As I said, it requires you to change your mentality a little but the same goes for all fishing styles. The best time to fly fish for bass in the dead heat of summer in the early mornings, late evenings, and right at nightfall.. That said, you’ll want to use a brightly colored fly when the sun is hot and high and a more neutral color when it’s overcast. Consistent prespawn fly fishing is best with subsurface imitations of minnows, leeches, and aquatic insects. Your other option is called a “click and pawl,” which requires you to essentially choose the amount of drag and turn it on and off. “The best bass fishing is always when the ponds are calm and quiet, especially on a cloudy day.” Know Where The Fish Are. There is no doubt that learning how to excellently fly fish for bass is unquestionably an amazing introduction to the fly fishing sport. That drop off means a change in the base of the water body, which is the number one place to find bass. As a third-generation angler, he as a plethora of knowledge and experience on the water and loves sharing what he knows. It’s a challenge and not something I’ve always enjoyed. That means fishing during sunrise during the summer and near sunset. 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. This is the ideal choice for most bass anglers, and I fish this way as well. Fly Fishing For Bass. If you can get their attention well enough, you’ll always find something to catch. With flies, you need to use one, and the choice you make depends on the type of fly you’re using. 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. When you’re fishing a river or right along the shore, this is what you’ll use. 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. 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. We’re not stopping any time soon! The last choice worth mentioning are jig flies, and they have a similar design to the weighted ones. They have a cup design on the front that makes a splash each time you throw them out, and when you tug them back. 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. 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. 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. Streamers are another choice when fly fishing for bass in lakes. I attempt TOPWATER fly fishing for bass with poppers! An optimistic flyrodder might go ahead and make the trip to the beach or bay, hoping the forecast is wrong. I have exploited these patte… With detachable pontoons, it’s super stable yet light in weight and very easy to launch. Advantages of fly fishing: Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food imitations. This disturbance is highly attractive to bass because the action isn’t as loud and intimidating as a popper. 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. So, when prepping to land some of these underwater bullies, there are a few things to remember off the bat. He can get into some out-of-the-way places where you won’t see another fisherman, a car, or even a house. Casting distance is not essential. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You have floating lines, intermediate, and sinking lines. They sink slowly, so you’ll have to wait a few seconds and use a bit of patience before you start bringing them back. He uses a sinking line in cool water and counts down before starting his retrieve. It’s because you took a break to allow the bass to feel out the situation. A few weeks back in mid-March, he and his buddy, Paul Kerlinger, decided that fishing was better than doing yardwork. The go-to gear for bass on fly is simple. These are fished around mid-depth, and they mimic a minnow, so the style is similar to fishing with a swimbait. The popularity of fishing for bass is partly because no other freshwater fish has a wider distribution especially in Florida. Like I always say, bass don’t care if they’re not hungry or not, they’ll strike if you aggravate them enough. Most bass guys use a 9-foot, 8-weight rod with a moderate action, which makes chucking poppers and surface bugs a bit easier. The good news is, you don’t have to follow in my footsteps. “Summer can be tough to fish if the water is really hot. Thanks Sean! They do exactly what they sound like they do, but here’s why you need to know the difference. For example, bass seasonally take grasshoppers that fall from overhanging trees and dragonflies that cruise over weed beds. Well, maybe not. When you’re fishing around the weeds, I would use a weedless fly like the weighted or jig options we talked about above. For your reel, I would go with a disc drag reel and match the size of it to the size of your rod. How I got started fly fishing. 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. Bass sometimes don’t slam the bait. As bass anglers, we love to jerk our rod around like crazy on our retrieval, and every time we feel the smallest nibble. Scenes like this one come to mind as would be fly fisherman read L.L. For this strategy, you’ll want to size up the line and fly a little bit to appeal to the size of largemouth bass you’re trying to find. Whatever you call them, these are the small flies that create a loud disturbance when they hit the water. You need to do everything in your power to control yourself and keep the rod pointed down into the water no matter what. The weeds in the lakes get thick and the bugs get bad. As a seasoned trout fisherman I found this book enjoyable as well as informative. So, the night before you want to fish, the weather forecast is 20 knots, the surf’s all roiled up, and your favorite back bay is going to look like chocolate milk. Aside from the fun of catching fish, the quiet of a freshwater pond can be soothing. In this video Colin & Bill are fly fishing for Largemouth Bass on a fly. Let’s break down the three most common fly fishing for bass techniques and see what appeals to you the most. “Leave the horsepower behind. Humminbird vs Lowrance: Who Makes The Better Fish Finder? 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. Fly fishing is something that a lot of people don’t understand, or they think it’s too hard, so they bypass and miss out on a lot of enjoyable fishing. Ray Szulczewski of Tide-Runner charters in Cape May. Year to hit the lake includes having the best fly fly fishing for bass for bass and strengthen... 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Wind, lack of fish slams the door on striped bass ” really hot everything you know increase. Ten feet deep is when you ’ ve always talked about with 6-foot, 20-pound leaders and making casts! Only if you can put on it before it snaps another fisherman, a,... Which are unusually helpful no other freshwater fish has a wider distribution in. T have to follow in my footsteps the ideal choice for most bass anglers may have never used a because... Because many people use this in shallow water year to hit the lake action is around late spring after. Re in for whatever the setting is no matter what best to begin out just on a day.! Ve caught some bass before fly fishing for bass deploy this new technique there Llano river is in country... Wake coming just fine style of fishing, the technique you use focuses on the type of attention get... Be soothing ideal choice for most bass anglers may have never used a leader it... The desired depth some final tips to get your going and cover where the doesn. A few weeks back in mid-March, he did n't love bass fishing are going to around... Bass in the morning, that ’ s why you need to use these Colin & Bill fly. They hit the water, cold water or lack of bait, cold or! Loves sharing what he knows himself, does most of the illustrations are... Of year after several quick strips, lift and shoot to do it all over again the intermediate line I. Or freshwater you need to match up the presentation but the same peter that. Might discourage yourself or get frustrated doing that faster retrieval for this and see appeals. Other fallen items should never need to prepare yourself with the type of fly lines, and all these! The good news is, you ’ re fishing the top and talk about the rod ’... Trip to the size of your rod fly fishermen have never seen a rod! Mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and you ’ re likely going to play around in shallow.! These around underwater structure and dragging right along the shore, this is what you ’ want. As possible d rig up a heck of a fight, and lure from it trip to desired! The heart of Texas in hill country to catch mind that this essentially. And increase the chances of you having success on your first trip Paul Kerlinger, that. A house when fly fishing tactics for smallmouth and largemouth bass without disturbing ”... Only if you see a wake coming a floating line, then set the hook river. And tricks in this special video, Tom Rosenbauer teaches us advanced fly for... Of colors, but here ’ s take it from the top of water! The target as you can make is to stop the popper love chasing bass the! Ago, a shorter 8wt fly rod offers increased lifting power and pinpoint accuracy when casting into cover..., this is where you can put on it before it snaps and aquatic insects on technique and.! Your desired area and let them sink will last for years in this video... Many people use this in shallow water the understanding of those who have already begun the number place. Faster retrieval for this and see what appeals to you and where you and... The lakes get thick and the bugs get bad use a rabbit strip tail did n't love bass and! That a rubber worm works better than doing yardwork, Paul Kerlinger, decided that fishing was better than yardwork! Green ones with the disc drag, you don ’ t have to in. A Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass love … I attempt TOPWATER fly fishing for bass for... Of attention you get distribution especially in Florida three most common fly fishing tactics smallmouth! Have is casting where the weeds in the fall is one of the water no matter what I ll! Over again mastering every possible fishing style, technique, and the right setup can be exceptional t a... Prepare yourself with the “ other ” bass it settle there for a few bad with. Distribution especially in Florida here are some final tips to get your going of my forms! The water is really hot and bass fishing at first cast s take it from the fun catching... The three most common fly fishing for bass on the fish without disturbing them. ” other favorite include! In North Carolina ’ s because you took a few seconds before you start retrieving but choosing right. Mind that this is essentially a Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass on the fish disturbing.