Fly Fishing for Bass 2024
Sep reply :
I guess I'm neither fish nor fowl. I like to chase bass with a fly rod. The serious bass fishermen discount me for my wispy, fussy, elitist tackle. The serious fly fishermen discount me because I pursue the lowly bass rather than their sacred, revered trout. They both miss the point. It's darn fun.
To start, bass guys, you know that nothing cranks the adrenaline like a heavy top water hit and trying to bring home a serious largemouth on a noodle and light tippet is a rollicking, drag testing challenge. Yeah, I can't often get to the deep ones, but where and when I fish, that's not a problem. After a season spent pitching a fly line, dragging a Senko across the bottom, a twitch at a time, is sort of, well, dull. Sorry.
And you fly guys, a twelve inch smallmouth will kick the snot out of a twelve inch rainbow, with one fin tied behind its back. And you still get to fish those beautiful mountains. Trout are fun, but someone once said that if smallies grew to be the size of, say, sharks, no one would go in the water. Sorry.
For me, a day well spent is one wet wading around the slower braids of my neighborhood Haw River, pitching a 6wt for largemouth under the overhanging edges and around the tons of cover scattered about the place, or perhaps a day float tubing for smallmouth down the New River just west of here, probing those submerged rock overhangs where the smallies can be stacked like cordwood.
Don't get me wrong, I love bass fishing with any kind of stick and I spend my share of time drifting #24 nymphs at those wily wild trout, but mixing the two is a serious blast. So, since I'm new here and don't see much discussion on fly-fishing for bass, let me introduce the topic. There have to be others out there that are neither fish, nor foul. Let's hear from you.
Sep
roadwarrior reply :
Welcome aboard!
I'll bet a few guys have caught a nice fish, bass or trout, on fly fishing
tackle, but I don't actually know anyone that has. It seems like a little
fish method to me. My observation is that fly fishermen are all show and
no go. It seems to be all about "fishing" not "catching".
:
J Francho reply :
First off, I'll put this guy (I mean girl) up to ANY smallie ;D
Second, I would agree, smallies on 5/6 wt. rod is a blast, but for my money conventional gear gets the job done with a lot less hassle.
I also don't get why you would assume you are alienated. You merely pigeon hole yourself by perpetuating old stereotypes that don't apply anymore. Most anglers like to catch; how they fish doesn't really matter.
I do agree with RW though, there is a contingency of fly anglers that seem to get more out of the "craft" than actually catching. For them, a whiff of their hand tied dry fly by a skinny, 8" trout makes their day.
Personally, I do A LOT of trout fishing, and rarely does my fly rig leave the rod rack. Floating is just so much more effective at getting into bigger fish.
It always cracks me up when trout guys call bass junk fish, or bass guys call trout the same. Nobody messes with the Esox guys though, LOL. I suppose my point of view has something to do with year round availability of many species.
Anyway, I'd love to see some pictures of some decent bass on the fly, and what your thoughts on patterns are.
Sep reply :
Roadwarrior, thanks for the response. You bring up a couple good points.
I understand the perspective of fly fishing being small fishing, but it really depends on how you go at it. For example, for largemouth I like to throw an Orvis Gully Fish which is sort of the fly version of an original Rapala to try to keep the small stuff (bluegill, pumpkinseed, etc) from hitting. One buddy of mine calls it a cheater fly. Guess it doesn't have enough freakin' feathers. I've caught 162 largemouths this year (yeah, I keep a pretty tight fishing journal) and the vast majority fell in the 10-18 inch range. Might be small by your standards, but they fight bigger on a fly rod. In truth, my biggest bass this year was a 24 incher, perhaps 8+ pounds, caught on baitcasting tackle, that fought like a log. The 18 inchers on the whippy rod were a heck of a lot more fun. I guess it's like muzzle-loader or bow hunting for deer. More challenging gear make the hunt more interesting.
As for fishing versus catching, I'm guilty. I like the whole enchilada. But, for sure, it tastes better when the catching is good.
And nice fish, Francho!!! I don't actually assume I'm alienated. Any way that catches fish, short of nets and dynamite, is the right way. It's just fun to stir the stereotypical pot now and again.
Good conversation, guys. Thanks!!!
Sep
QuoteWelcome aboard!I'll bet a few guys have caught a nice fish, bass or trout, on fly fishing
tackle, but I don't actually know anyone that has. It seems like a little
fish method to me. My observation is that fly fishermen are all show and
no go. It seems to be all about "fishing" not "catching".
:
roadwarrior reply :
Darn...
The best response on this thread was sent to me by a man who apparently want's to remain anonymous. Thirty-six years ago he caught a 19+ lb bass on a fly rod. Maybe he will see my post and decide to tell us all about it, but either way, I stand corrected!
8-)
J Francho reply :
That story must be told!QuoteDarn...The best response on this thread was sent to me by a man who apparently want's to remain anonymous. Thirty-six years ago he caught a 19+ lb bass on a fly rod. Maybe he will see my post and decide to tell us all about it, but either way, I stand corrected!
8-)
J Francho reply :
Thanks man. I caught her drifting salmon skein in the frogwater of a very well known western NY trib a few weeks ago. I was actually asleep at the wheel of a hero drift, when my buddy asks, "Yo dude, where's your float?" "it's way down ther....woa! Fish on!" LOL.QuoteAnd nice fish, Francho!!! I don't actually assume I'm alienated. Any way that catches fish, short of nets and dynamite, is the right way. It's just fun to stir the stereotypical pot now and again.
I hear you on the other stuff. I fish from a kayak, and boaters are like why not get a boat, while yakkers are like that's not a yak. Whatever, I can sneak up on shallow fish, as well as paddle two or three miles out into Lake Ontario for deep water smallies. I even caught a few on the fly with her
Bring on "flied bass" pix
BossierBassHunter reply :
My grandpa introduced me to using fly-fishing gear for bluegills, which is pretty much as fun as using casting tackle for bass. At my girlfriend's pond that I go to, i had plenty of large, 3-4lb bass hit at this fly I was using, but my fly was too small to hook them, or i just suck, which is more likely the case.
As for it being a hassle...i dont think it's much of one, bluegills will hit pretty much any dry fly out there, so you can just buy about 4 popper/spiders and use the same one until it gets too torn up to use.
I have decided to start going after big bass, using jigs, swimbaits, and 10+ in. worms. So I plan on using my fly rod whenever I want to have some easy, fun fishing
Skunked in DR reply :
QuoteQuoteI hear you on the other stuff. I fish from a kayak, and boaters are like why not get a boat, while yakkers are like that's not a yak. Whatever, I can sneak up on shallow fish, as well as paddle two or three miles out into Lake Ontario for deep water smallies. I even caught a few on the fly with herBring on "flied bass" pix
Dude, I have serious respect if you're willing to paddle 2 to 3 miles out onto Lake O in a yak.
I'll do a lot of crazy stuff fishing, but that's out of my league.
J Francho reply :
I won't go out in anything over 3'ers or if there are whitecaps. Otherwise, its actually more stable than a deep V. At about 5 mph with little effort, it isn't but a short run back to shore, if it looks like trouble brewing. You'd laugh out loud if you saw the saved tracks on my GPS.
Bassboss reply :
QuoteFirst off, I'll put this guy (I mean girl) up to ANY smallie ;D
Second, I would agree, smallies on 5/6 wt. rod is a blast, but for my money conventional gear gets the job done with a lot less hassle.
I also don't get why you would assume you are alienated. You merely pigeon hole yourself by perpetuating old stereotypes that don't apply anymore. Most anglers like to catch; how they fish doesn't really matter.
I do agree with RW though, there is a contingency of fly anglers that seem to get more out of the "craft" than actually catching. For them, a whiff of their hand tied dry fly by a skinny, 8" trout makes their day.
Personally, I do A LOT of trout fishing, and rarely does my fly rig leave the rod rack. Floating is just so much more effective at getting into bigger fish.
It always cracks me up when trout guys call bass junk fish, or bass guys call trout the same. Nobody messes with the Esox guys though, LOL. I suppose my point of view has something to do with year round availability of many species.
Anyway, I'd love to see some pictures of some decent bass on the fly, and what your thoughts on patterns are.
If that was a smallie, the same size, which do you think would fight harder? :
Bassboss reply :
Don't be sorry!
Fly fishing for bass is so much more fun than with a conventional tackle, I would do it more if I still had a fly rod! 
J Francho reply :
QuoteQuoteFirst off, I'll put this guy (I mean girl) up to ANY smallie ;D
Second, I would agree, smallies on 5/6 wt. rod is a blast, but for my money conventional gear gets the job done with a lot less hassle.
I also don't get why you would assume you are alienated. You merely pigeon hole yourself by perpetuating old stereotypes that don't apply anymore. Most anglers like to catch; how they fish doesn't really matter.
I do agree with RW though, there is a contingency of fly anglers that seem to get more out of the "craft" than actually catching. For them, a whiff of their hand tied dry fly by a skinny, 8" trout makes their day.
Personally, I do A LOT of trout fishing, and rarely does my fly rig leave the rod rack. Floating is just so much more effective at getting into bigger fish.
It always cracks me up when trout guys call bass junk fish, or bass guys call trout the same. Nobody messes with the Esox guys though, LOL. I suppose my point of view has something to do with year round availability of many species.
Anyway, I'd love to see some pictures of some decent bass on the fly, and what your thoughts on patterns are.
If that was a smallie, the same size, which do you think would fight harder? :
The Chrome Wins. You've obviously never hooked a steelhead.
Sep reply :
Both the steels and the smallies pack a serious punch per pound. I'd take one of either at that size. What's the record for a smallie?
And Francho, that's a serious fishin' float you've got going on there. I'm not too sure about the 2-3 mile excursion, though. You got guts, my friend.
Bean Counter reply :
I fly fish a lot. Mostly for trout when it is too cold for bass fishing. However I quite often fly fish for Bass on farm ponds and golf course ponds. I wade the river shoals around here and fish for shoal Bass.
The largest Bass I have caught on a fly was 7 lbs and that was a blast on a six weight. I still fish a lot with conventional tackle as well. What I fish with is determined by where I am fishing, what time of year it is and whether I am in the boat or on foot.
Fly fishing is not confined to topwater. I can tie a fly to mimic a lot of conventional bait. I have caught a lot of bass on a "Hairy Fodder" which is basicaly a jig for a fly rod or a clouser which looks like a bait fish and both can be fished fairly deep with a sink tip line.
I just like all kinds of fishing. Fly, casting, spinning, freshwater or salt it's all good.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteYou've obviously never hooked a steelhead.
I have never caught a steelhead, but the White River
in north central Arkansas produces a lot of trophy size
brown trout. I assure you, once a brown reaches 5 lbs,
it is significantly stronger than a comparable smallmouth.
A couple of years ago my 79 year old dad had an estimated
15-20 brown trout on for 45 minutes. The fish jumped 8 times
and we got it (almost) to the boat 5 times before it was able
to wrap around the motor and break free. There aren't many
(any?) freshwater fish that put up a fight like that.
8-)
J Francho reply :
In NY, the record smallie is 8-4. The record steelie is 31-3. I've caught many 3-5# smallies, and a few rainbows in that class, though most are larger. The difference is that the chromes have current in their favor, since I fish smallies in the lake. Perhaps that's where the diference lies. Don't get me wrong, smallmouth are about my favorite thing to catch, but the battle isn't nearly as dramatic as fresh chrome.QuoteBoth the steels and the smallies pack a serious punch per pound. I'd take one of either at that size. What's the record for a smallie?And Francho, that's a serious fishin' float you've got going on there. I'm not too sure about the 2-3 mile excursion, though. You got guts, my friend.
As far as the yak is concerned, it designed for near shore fishing in the ocean. The hull design is meant for crashing through the surf to get to deeper water. There are guys using them that are way more nuts than I. BTW, I carry quite a bit of safety gear, and rely on radar reports from my cousin who runs a salmon charter out of the areas I fish. Its a much more calculated risk than you think. In fact, I've paddled in from water faster than some small boats that have stayed out too long. The only time I get nervous is when lightning comes out of nowhere, so if I hear thunder, even in the distance, I get close to shore ASAP.
At any rate, its cool to hear the reports of BIG fish being caught on the fly. For all you Great Lakes pinners, smallies hit trout beads and sacks as well. They are fun on a 15' rod, LOL.
roadwarrior reply :
The World Record Smallmouth was caught on Dale Hollow
by David Hayes in 1955. It weighed 11 lbs 15 oz.
8-)
J Francho reply :
QuoteQuoteYou've obviously never hooked a steelhead.I have never caught a steelhead, but the White River
in north central Arkansas produces a lot of trophy size
brown trout. I assure you, once a brown reaches 5 lbs,
it is significantly stronger than a comparable smallmouth.
A couple of years ago my 79 year old dad had an estimated
15-20 brown trout on for 45 minutes. The fish jumped 8 times
and we got it (almost) to the boat 5 times before it was able
to wrap around the motor and break free. There aren't many
(any?) freshwater fish that put up a fight like that.
8-)
Kent, browns are tough little customers. My personal best brown was a 22# hen, prespawn and laden with skein, so the fight was more of a haul her in, let her spool me, repeat, rinse, and 45 minutes you land her. I've had browns that jump as well. Steelhead go absolutely ballistic. The smaller ones (<10#) spend more time in the air than in the water. I actually had to take a few home to eat, after they killed themselves by jumping and smacking the rocks.
J Francho reply :
QuoteThe World Record Smallmouth was caught on Dale Hollowby David Hayes in 1955. It weighed 11 lbs 15 oz.
8-)
Let's take a minute to reflect on what catching that fish must have been like.
Good Lord, that's a big smallie!
fishfordollars reply :
The wife enjoys it when she is fishing with me. She catches a lot of fish, but they are all on the small size. About 2 lbs. being the largest. We go to the smokies a couple of times a year and she enjoys the trout fishing. I personally do not fly fish, but she has a ball doing it.
simplejoe reply :
I fly fish all summer for smallies with poppers and different flies, but there are days I go up to the van and grab my spinning rod because they don't hit anything I throw at them on a flyrod. I'll go back down to the river and throw a in-line spinner and start to catch smallies.
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteQuoteThe World Record Smallmouth was caught on Dale Hollowby David Hayes in 1955. It weighed 11 lbs 15 oz.
Let's take a minute to reflect on what catching that fish must have been like.
Good Lord, that's a big smallie!
Well, kinda like this, but with a happy ending!
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1226342926
J Francho reply :
I remember that post Kent. Big trout and salmon battles are much like this. You question whether it was a bad idea to reuse the leader because it was too cold to retie about a thousand times, LOL. I have a similar story about a possible NY record chrome that didn't end well. Some of it was bad luck, some my fault for not realizing it was a chromie, not a Chinook on the end of my line. I'll never take any big fish for granted again. Don't worry, there a few people that I truly believe will get the big one. You, Huskybass, and a few others are committed to the cause.
Sep reply :
BC, you're spot on about not being limited to topwater. My favorite gully fish actually swims a few inches below the surface. When it's not happening on top, with gullys, deer hair frogs, or bumblebee hoppers, I go to the multi-purpose woolly bugger, in assorted colors, but most effectively in white. I like the ones tied with weighted wrap and fish it at several levels in the water column, with or without a sink tip. (My last couple of trips west, the woollies also worked well for smallmouths, believe it or not, in hot pink.) I also like something called a JJ Special, basically a beadhead woolly with long yellow legs. I also throw some tarpon sliders with some success.
I'm a shoals guy too, wading the heavily braided Haw, just west of Raleigh, NC. Fun stuff.
And somebody, the 19lb bass on a fly rod story MUST be told!!!!
QuoteI fly fish a lot. Mostly for trout when it is too cold for bass fishing. However I quite often fly fish for Bass on farm ponds and golf course ponds. I wade the river shoals around here and fish for shoal Bass.The largest Bass I have caught on a fly was 7 lbs and that was a blast on a six weight. I still fish a lot with conventional tackle as well. What I fish with is determined by where I am fishing, what time of year it is and whether I am in the boat or on foot.
Fly fishing is not confined to topwater. I can tie a fly to mimic a lot of conventional bait. I have caught a lot of bass on a "Hairy Fodder" which is basicaly a jig for a fly rod or a clouser which looks like a bait fish and both can be fished fairly deep with a sink tip line.
I just like all kinds of fishing. Fly, casting, spinning, freshwater or salt it's all good.
CaptMikeStarrett reply :
As a guide who does a lot of flyrod trips for largemouth I can honestly say. Big bugs equal big LGMouth.
It is a blast to watch the flush and the strip strike. On the Potomac we use 8wt's and tarpon tapers to lay the Waldorf Hair Bugs in the sweet spot.
Capt Mike
Sep reply :
Waldorf Hair Bugs? Do describe.
QuoteOn the Potomac we use 8wt's and tarpon tapers to lay the Waldorf Hair Bugs in the sweet spot.
simplejoe reply :
QuoteAs a guide who does a lot of flyrod trips for largemouth I can honestly say. Big bugs equal big LGMouth.Capt Mike
What size line do you use? I've caught a couple of LMB off a flyrod but they were small and the larger ones just snap my tippit right off.
Sep reply :
QuoteWhat size line do you use? I've caught a couple of LMB off a flyrod but they were small and the larger ones just snap my tippit right off.
I mostly use a 6wt rod, loaded appropriately, and a 1X or bass specific leader and tippet. Bass tend not to be particularly leader shy, so shorter, 7.5 ft, and heavier are okay. I also tend to use a slower rod that protects the tippet more, but, unfortuntely, it can be a bit more challenging to get a good hard hookset. The only breakoffs I've had in the past year or so were poor knot management on my part.
NEKvt reply :
Check out Thisisfly ezine for a recent article (1 or 2 issues back) about a video on fly fishing for bass similar to the AEG videos (check those trailers out if you like to fly fish for trout and haven't yet seen them). Should be an interesting one to watch.
After living out west and trout fishing I essentially only fly fish for bass here in Vermont, catching a native bass is 10X better than stocked trout any day of the week. We get hatches of big mayflies that bring smallies to the surface right as it gets dark. There are trout in the mix on these ponds also, it never fails that the guy fishing next to you is yelling about a huge trout on and winds up with a normal sized smallie, and is all sad. As long as it pulls I don't see what the problem is?
CaptMikeStarrett reply :
Waldorf MD is known for big haired women and so are my bugs..
Capt Mike
CaptMikeStarrett reply :
LGMOUTH
And many more..
I use an 8 wt line but my customers will go up to 10 wt to get that way back in the woods LGMouth.
It is just like hunting with stealth and quiet presicion to get that 5lb plus LGMouth.
Capt Mike
Sep reply :
Ahhhh... Thanks Capt!!!!
I know those as Dahlberg Divers. Can't say I've used them a lot, but I'll give them another shot when things warm back up. I see you have some worm sliders, a few olive woolies, fuzzy poppers, and, well, a lot of flash. A fun box of goodies, and some nice results to show for it.
Well done.
And I stay away from those big haired women. Trouble, trouble, trouble.
bassfisher2 reply :
I used to fly fish almost exclusively in England, but having tried here for the bass I found I was catching fairly small fish. After 1 year my best fish was 3lb -- see photo. I then invested in a good spinnning rod and reel and fished senkos - the size of bass suddenly increased dramatically. The lakes in Cyprus are generally deep and rocky and fishing is bank only, not the easiest to fish with fly and not a lot of fish take off the top either.I did catch a channel cat on a deep fished chartreuse marabou lure, this was my best fly for bass too . Now I only get out the fly rod when i really feel the need to fly cast . ( non fly fishers must understand there is a lot of satisfaction to be had from a well executed cast - even in a field ! )
I use 6 # rod for poppers and smaller flies and a 9# for bunnies and large flies .
CaptMikeStarrett reply :
QuoteI used to fly fish almost exclusively in England, but having tried here for the bass I found I was catching fairly small fish. After 1 year my best fish was 3lb -- see photo. I then invested in a good spinnning rod and reel and fished senkos - the size of bass suddenly increased dramatically. The lakes in Cyprus are generally deep and rocky and fishing is bank only, not the easiest to fish with fly and not a lot of fish take off the top either.I did catch a channel cat on a deep fished chartreuse marabou lure, this was my best fly for bass too . Now I only get out the fly rod when i really feel the need to fly cast . ( non fly fishers must understand there is a lot of satisfaction to be had from a well executed cast - even in a field ! )I use 6 # rod for poppers and smaller flies and a 9# for bunnies and large flies .
That scenario is ideal for a clear intermediate line known as striper line from Orvis. The fly I would use would be a crawfish looking fly and place the fly on the rock ledge and let the sink line pull it down the ledge.. Deadly tactic is you learn to not pull the line. Just let the line do the movement. STRIP STRIKE hard..
This one is from Orvis but basically this is the pattern.
Leader should be stout to handle the rocks. say 20 flouro..about 6 feet long.
Capt Mike
roadwarrior reply :
This thread has become much more interesting after hearing from guys that are really focused on fly fishing for bass. Good luck fellas!
8-)
Still a Bigbuckifan reply :
Hey Capt. did you tie those flies in your box if so you got some real talent. I hope mine are half that good some day.
ejtaylor822 reply :
Bassin' on a fly is how I got back into fishing 5 years ago. That first top water hit - and I was HOOKED! I fly fished exclusively for bass for about two years. It wasn't until I realized that there were areas I couldn't get to with a fly that I got my first baitcaster.
Nothing like early morning throwing a fly when all you here is the line whipping through the air.
Eddie
NEKvt reply :
QuoteBassin' on a fly is how I got back into fishing 5 years ago. That first top water hit - and I was HOOKED! I fly fished exclusively for bass for about two years. It wasn't until I realized that there were areas I couldn't get to with a fly that I got my first baitcaster.Nothing like early morning throwing a fly when all you here is the line whipping through the air.
Eddie
Thats the same reason I got a baitcaster. Couldn't make a fly weedless enough to get through the milfoil >
I have had some friends (engineers) working on that though and have some cool new weedguards to try out next summer
got some pics I wanted to post but my picture site is down
Catt reply :
This is one extremely enlighten threads in quite awhile & I must say it's got my interest peaked. I have a good friend who fly fishes for Red Fish & Speckle Trout in the water of southwest Louisiana.
CaptMikeStarrett reply :
So you got a baitcaster to get more distance or cast bigger baits?
OK maybe both then. But let me state that the hunt to get within 20 yards is intense. Do not use your trolling motor as it will spook the big bass. Instead use a push pole to get that last 10 yards.. If you want to know how make a 1 dollar push pole just ask.
Capt Mike
NEKvt reply :
QuoteSo you got a baitcaster to get more distance or cast bigger baits?OK maybe both then. But let me state that the hunt to get within 20 yards is intense. Do not use your trolling motor as it will spook the big bass. Instead use a push pole to get that last 10 yards.. If you want to know how make a 1 dollar push pole just ask.
Capt Mike
I personally got the baitcaster because no weed guard I have tried on a fly comes through milfoil. Two strips and I am stuck. I am sure someone out there has one that works. If I could find one I liked I would never put the fly rod down. The act of fishing is just more fun to me with the fly rod. Also being able to tie something up that you just can't get at the local shop is great.
Here is a topwater bug I tie on a worm hook to keep the hook riding topside and weed free (the left one)
ejtaylor822 reply :
QuoteSo you got a baitcaster to get more distance or cast bigger baits?OK maybe both then. But let me state that the hunt to get within 20 yards is intense. Do not use your trolling motor as it will spook the big bass. Instead use a push pole to get that last 10 yards.. If you want to know how make a 1 dollar push pole just ask.
Capt Mike
I got the BC due to overhanging limbs and close in areas. I mainly fish from the shore and don't have the room for the back cast and just can't reach everything on a roll cast.
QuoteThis is one extremely enlighten threads in quite awhile & I must say it's got my interest peaked. I have a good friend who fly fishes for Red Fish & Speckle Trout in the water of southwest Louisiana.
Off topic - sorry - but flying for Reds is fun!!!!!!!!!!! Haven't done too well in the surf but back bay and in-shore is a rush when they hit a fly.
bladeslinger reply :
I love fly fishing for bass. My favorite fly is a dragonfly imitation, mostly because of the savage strikes that occur. On more than one occasion a bass has actually nailed the dragonfly imitation before it even hits the water (usually when the tippet is just turning over). These strikes seem even more intense then frog blast on conventional gear. Admittedly most my flyfish under five pounds, but the fight seems so much more intense on the 1:1 ratio reel.
Sep reply :
Great stuff, guys. Good tips. Thanks for keeping this thread going!!!
bassfisher2 reply :
" I personally got the baitcaster because no weed guard I have tried on a fly comes through milfoil. Two strips and I am stuck. I am sure someone out there has one that works. If I could find one I liked I would never put the fly rod down. "
I now use 0.15" wire weed guards made to the Lefty Kreh design which is similar to this one I just found on google but with the wire extended past the hook point and curled down at the end .
Not sure what milfoil is, but I drag my flies through scrub and crispy pondweed with few problems , besides flies are cheap to make, I'd rather lose a fly than a crankbait.
On the subject of big fly = big fish , seems to be true for bass but all my biggest pike , up to 27 lb have come to 3" flies
All this talk of fly fishing has made me want to take the fly rod out tomorrow
Bob
NEKvt reply :
Quote" I personally got the baitcaster because no weed guard I have tried on a fly comes through milfoil. Two strips and I am stuck. I am sure someone out there has one that works. If I could find one I liked I would never put the fly rod down. "I now use 0.15" wire weed guards made to the Lefty Kreh design which is similar to this one I just found on google but with the wire extended past the hook point and curled down at the end .
Not sure what milfoil is, but I drag my flies through scrub and crispy pondweed with few problems , besides flies are cheap to make, I'd rather lose a fly than a crankbait.
On the subject of big fly = big fish , seems to be true for bass but all my biggest pike , up to 27 lb have come to 3" flies
All this talk of fly fishing has made me want to take the fly rod out tomorrow
Bob
I will have to try that weed guard. Though it looks like it would work much like the mono weedguards. It is not so much losing flies to milfoil, it pulls out easy, I just never catch anything with a big ol' weed trailer attached to the fly. I have had the same thing happen with the pike, though none quite that size. I throw big streamers and catch the little 16-20" guys. Put on a little white woolhead minnow with no bite tippet and land my biggest one to date.
The savage takes on adult dragon fly imitations are probably due to the fact that it could easily fly away so the bass are making a quick decision. Much like the difference between a trout sipping a mayfly or flying out of the water chasing a caddis. I have noticed it to. With your frog imitations you can sometimes see the bass come up and inspect them, they know the frog is not about to go flying away, unless of course you aren't paying attention and start another cast.
bassfisher2 reply :
I would be interested in seeing your dragonfly pattern, or if you can tell us the tying materials ?
bladeslinger reply :
Here is one of the better floaters. Still need to brush it up with floatant
http://www.discountflies.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=B-CRDD&Category_Code=9&Product_Count=3
or some others in my box
NEKvt reply :
QuoteI would be interested in seeing your dragonfly pattern, or if you can tell us the tying materials ?
Deer hair extended body and a poly wing for most dragon fly patterns. Many people use the mono-ball eyes for effect. A foam extended body is good too.
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