When bass are hitting bugs what do you use? 2025

wannabeangler reply :

In the shallow, grass fields where I fish most often, there's been days when bugs on the surface are the only thing the bass are poppin'. Mini-buzzbaits, 4" senkos, frogs, weightless lizards and anything else I can think to throw around/into the thick grass are completely ignored. Late last summer, there was one of the days and a couple of fly fishers cruised up to the flats and the bass were slammin' their flies.

So the question then, for us spinning/baitcaster guys ... what do you do when bass seem to be only hitting surface bugs?

lightsout reply :

Bass eat insects far more than people think...Especially in lakes that don't have shad or crawdads prevalant.

For a brief period at a certain lake I fish, the dragon flies fly low to the water to drop eggs (I assume).

Bass everywhere literally jump clean outta the water to hit em. I tried with mixed results to find a mimic until I started throwing the nories bug by kinami baits.

At times I can consistently catch a fish a cast when the bite is right.

Another favorite is the rebel crickhopper/poppers. VERY underated baits, just make sure you put better hooks on them. Don't ask me how I know. I've caught some toads on the poppers, and the cranks are great for numbers.

River to sea makes a dragonfly hardbait that looks good, but I hear their baits are hit and miss.

NewAngler reply :

I had a pretty productive day with some centipedes I got at Wal-Mart. I forget what the brand was, but they were crazy cheap. I was fishing them weightless on a river for smallies. I had good numbers with them, 3 or 4 in the 2 hours I was there. Those are good numbers for me.

roadwarrior reply :

Poppers

8-)

NewAngler reply :

disregard that last one, I just saw you meant on the surface.

I have seen some pretty big bee poppers for sly fisherman, I wouldn't see why the wouldn't work with spinning gear. Might not get you any size bass, but it'd be pretty cool having a bass hit on a bee popper.

wannabeangler reply :

Yeah, I'm all about poppers and have a fair collection of shapes/colors/sizes etc. but they're just about off limits in my prime target area. I can work them on the edges with nominal success but getting into the thick of the grass and small pockets are where the fish hit the most. I can drag frogs and buzzbait right through the thickest of grass but anything with treble hooks or downward facing hooks is toast. Those fly fisherman were able to consistently hit just the pockets in the grass and would basically "sting" the water 3 or 4 times, pause and then it would explode.

You can the grass in the background of the attached photo.

wannabeangler reply :

Quote
disregard that last one, I just saw you meant on the surface.
I have seen some pretty big bee poppers for sly fisherman, I wouldn't see why the wouldn't work with spinning gear. Might not get you any size bass, but it'd be pretty cool having a bass hit on a bee popper.

Are you talking about something like these?

http://kent-klewein.com/georgia-fly-fishing-blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/basspopper3.jpg

JacobK reply :

rage tail frog

rage tail shad

possibly rage tail eliminator

thank you come again.

NewAngler reply :

Quote

Quote
disregard that last one, I just saw you meant on the surface.
I have seen some pretty big bee poppers for sly fisherman, I wouldn't see why the wouldn't work with spinning gear. Might not get you any size bass, but it'd be pretty cool having a bass hit on a bee popper.

Are you talking about something like these?

http://kent-klewein....basspopper3.jpg

Yea, but after doing a quick search on Google, it seems that its more of a panfish thing.Unless you find a HUGE one. I thought that it didnt really matter what the popper looked like, that the bass are just hitting it because its ticked them off so much.

RoLo reply :

In years gone by, I used a split-bamboo flyrod during an insect hatch,

and threw a floating gray-brown Hair Bassbug. Althouth I no longer use fly gear for bass,

that's the ultimate approach during an insect hatch.

Florida undergoes a series of mayfly hatches and associated surface activity throughout the year.

I've had fair success with a 2" Rebel Pop-R, and if that doesn't produce, I'll chalk it up to bluegills

Roger

wannabeangler reply :

Quote

In years gone by, I used a split-bamboo flyrod during an insect hatch,

and threw a floating gray-brown Hair Bassbug. Althouth I no longer use fly gear for bass,

that's the ultimate approach during an insect hatch.

Florida undergoes a series of mayfly hatches and associated surface activity throughout the year.

I've had fair success with a 2" Rebel Pop-R, and if that doesn't produce, I'll chalk it up to bluegills

Roger

Yeah, I've thought about carrying a small flyrod for those days. But it's random and doesn't happen very often. Usually frogs, buzz and weightless plastics do the trick. But it's irritating when I happen on those days and am not prepared nor have a clue what to do.

Oh and I never thought about paying attention to insect hatches. I track the crawfish/frogs/baitfish but not the bugs. Thanks for the tip!

NBR reply :

I usually have a flyrod in the rod box and a dew dry flies and emergers. Great fun when the bass are feeding on flies.

OIFBasser reply :

Up here, when we have an insect hatch, I pull out my Noodle rod that I use for Steelhead (It's a spinning rod substitute for non- fly fishermen) I use 6lb mono because it floats, with a slip bobber, and a fly which I usually tipped with a maggot, or half of a wax worm.

You could problebly get away with using a ML or Med rod because of the weight of the slip bobber, just be careful with the hook set.

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

If I was anywhere near that stuff in the pic you posted, I would have my flippin' stick, braid and a 10" Rage Tail Thumper worm pegged with a 1/4oz Tungsten weight.

Forget about the ones you see and target the ones that you cant.

wannabeangler reply :

Quote
If I was anywhere near that stuff in the pic you posted, I would have my flippin' stick, braid and a 10" Rage Tail Thumper worm pegged with a 1/4oz Tungsten weight.

Haha! I'm already there! Well, almost. I do have a setup with braid and 10" rage tail anaconda's ready to go to town. I'm just waiting for it to get a little more aggressive ... probably just another couple weeks.

I chuck em' weightless with a 5/0 gama spring lock hook. This slop is only 1.5 ft deep and gets thick but there's plenty of 5 pounders in it.

Bobby Uhrig reply :

when your're in Rome ya act like a Roman

Hammer 4 reply :

To sorta match a dragon fly, try a Damsel...

.ghoti. reply :

An unweighted Super Fluke, rigged with the nose bent up, so that it will jump to the surface when twitched, can be deadly when the bass are on the bugs.

I believe it looks like a smaller fish eating the bugs, so the bass get right after it.

RoLo reply :

Quote
An unweighted Super Fluke, rigged with the nose bent up, so that it will jump to the surface when twitched, can be deadly when the bass are on the bugs.
I believe it looks like a smaller fish eating the bugs, so the bass get right after it.

Thanks Ghoti, that sounds like something I need to try

Roger

basscrusher reply :

try this (its a weedless popper)

http://www.jdcbaits.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=a097c7ea1ded20f0d39c780754f377fe

wannabeangler reply :

Quote
try this (its a weedless popper)
http://www.jdcbaits.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=26&osCsid=a097c7ea1ded20f0d39c780754f377fe

Now THAT looks interesting! Have you ever used it?

wannabeangler reply :

Quote
An unweighted Super Fluke, rigged with the nose bent up, so that it will jump to the surface when twitched, can be deadly when the bass are on the bugs.
I believe it looks like a smaller fish eating the bugs, so the bass get right after it.

That's a great idea! I'll start with this tip first and let you know how it goes. THX

J Francho reply :

Space Monkey, weightless, and burned across the surface.

timothy_spain reply :

got a pack of space monkeys ... haven't tried them yet ... heard good stuff about 'em though

BassThumb reply :

Flyrod. Grasshopper flies and small deerhair poppers with legs.

247bassin reply :

Bugs....

basscrusher reply :

Wannabe:

yes I have used them, and they work. So light they require a spinning rod, but you better use braid for a good hook set.

Maico1 reply :

Quote
In the shallow, grass fields where I fish most often, there's been days when bugs on the surface are the only thing the bass are poppin'. Mini-buzzbaits, 4" senkos, frogs, weightless lizards and anything else I can think to throw around/into the thick grass are completely ignored. Late last summer, there was one of the days and a couple of fly fishers cruised up to the flats and the bass were slammin' their flies.
So the question then, for us spinning/baitcaster guys ... what do you do when bass seem to be only hitting surface bugs?

These little buggers are fun..http://www.jackall.ru/brand.php?id=29

Chris reply :

http://www.lurecraft.com/catalog.cfm/new!!!--finished-lures-and-soft-plastics/6-soft-plastic-dragon-flies:2159

here is an idea

fisher of bass reply :

depending how thick it is i would use a zara spook puppy, not sure if the puppy or the jr is the smaller one, but thats what i would use.

wannabeangler reply :

Hey guys, figured I'd give an update. So far, the only addition to my arsenal I've added is the weightless fluke and it's definitely been a nice addition in the thick grasses. I've experimenting with slow, fast and sporadic presentations and really it depends on the day. The fluke definitely pulls a wider range of fish than some of the other presentations. For example, frogs are pulling 3-6 pounders for me, weightless worms 1-2 pounders but the fluke has been pulling 7" bass up to 4 pounds along with perch and crappie, too. I'll update with some of the other suggested presentations as I try them. Thx again everyone!

Incheon Basser reply :

Quote
Hey guys, figured I'd give an update. So far, the only addition to my arsenal I've added is the weightless fluke and it's definitely been a nice addition in the thick grasses. I've experimenting with slow, fast and sporadic presentations and really it depends on the day. The fluke definitely pulls a wider range of fish than some of the other presentations. For example, frogs are pulling 3-6 pounders for me, weightless worms 1-2 pounders but the fluke has been pulling 7" bass up to 4 pounds along with perch and crappie, too. I'll update with some of the other suggested presentations as I try them. Thx again everyone!

See from this here i would forget the fluke and all other crap and just stick to the frog.. I would rather catch one 6lber than 30 15" fish anyday... but thats just me

The Bassinator reply :

If you know where the bass are and what they are hitting then use the right tool for the right job in this case it would be a flyrod

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When bass are hitting bugs what do you use? 2025

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