RealtreeByGod Posted July 21, 2018 Posted July 21, 2018 The bass obviously wouldn't be eating the bugs themselves, but every inch of shoreline with overhanging trees is littered with small/medium sized panfish waiting for the swarms to hit the water. Would this cause a number of bass to move back shallow to key on these guys? Quote
Super User Scott F Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 Why do you say that "The bass obviously wouldn't be eating the bugs themselves,"? Bass will gorge themselves on mayflies, and most other insects they can find. You may have heard of fly fishing where those who use fly fishing gear often use lures that mimic insects. 5 Quote
J.Vincent Posted July 21, 2018 Posted July 21, 2018 Yes, usually the mayflies provide another forage source for a temporary time period, and Bass will devour them. But i don't think a shallow mayfly hatch is enough to relocate offshore bass into the shallows; unless there was no source of food remaining in deeper offshore areas. But I suppose it's possible on some bodies of water. Quote
IgotWood Posted July 21, 2018 Posted July 21, 2018 While trout fishing, I've caught hundreds of smallmouth, and big ones to, up to 4lbs on mayflies. Sometimes the bass will target forage fish that are feeding on the flies in deeper, open water. When a fish rises to the surface to take a fly, the fish is left very vulnerable. The further that fish moves from cover to chase that fly, the longer and more vulnerable it becomes. I think bass key in on these fish more than the ones that are keeping close to a bush or and overhang near the bank. 1 Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted July 21, 2018 Global Moderator Posted July 21, 2018 The bass eat the bugs and the bream. And a crawfish and a shad and a watersnake if they get the opportunity. A bluegill imitation swimbait/crankbait/topwater can be very effective during mayfly hatch. 1 Quote
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted July 21, 2018 Global Moderator Posted July 21, 2018 If you want to see a mayfly hatch of epic proportion go to northern Michigan. You drive a mile at night and you won't recognize your vehicle. It'll kill a walleye bite for days. That was always our luck the hatch would happen just before or during our walleye trips up there when I was a kid. 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 I hav caught a ton of smallies during a hatch, on the fly rod though. I do agree that the majority of the larger fish will be feeding on the smaller fish feeding on the mayflies. 1 Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 5 hours ago, flyfisher said: I hav caught a ton of smallies during a hatch, on the fly rod though. I do agree that the majority of the larger fish will be feeding on the smaller fish feeding on the mayflies. About The Only way I can get them during The Hatch Tons of Fun for sure. Frustrating without a fly rod though. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 12 minutes ago, A-Jay said: About The Only way I can get them during The Hatch Tons of Fun for sure. Frustrating with a fly rod though. A-Jay A heavy hatch is sometimes the hardest time to catch a fish on a fly rod in my experience. You think it would be easy but there are so many naturals out there that any fly is going to look fake to them so they bypass to get the others. I have had some great days when there were heavy caddis hatches on the shenandoah where you could get away with skating them across the surface. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 1 minute ago, flyfisher said: A heavy hatch is sometimes the hardest time to catch a fish on a fly rod in my experience. You think it would be easy but there are so many naturals out there that any fly is going to look fake to them so they bypass to get the others. I have had some great days when there were heavy caddis hatches on the shenandoah where you could get away with skating them across the surface. I'm only fishing the mayfly hatch. The very first night or two is always the best. Requires some scouting: meaning being at the lake at sunset with fly gear ready to go, at least a few nights in advance. The fish know and will be there as well. And as soon as the bugs start popping to the surface, it's game on ~ for both of us. btw - this as been something I do from the Old Town - haven't tried it in the Lund yet. A-Jay Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 the hatches around here aren't as predictable so it has usually been a by product of me already being out there and happening to have a trout fly box in my pack. Have you tried fishing the emergers or nymphs of the flies that are hatching? While the excitement on top is awesome and hard to get away from, the action under the surface can be even more crazy since a lot of the fish are feeding there more than on top. Quote
Super User WRB Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 Bering from SoCal where Mayflies don't exist in large numbers I read about the hatch but didn't comprehend the scope of it in northern areas until going to Ontario Canada, Lake of the Woods, the 1st time during a hatch. Unbelievable with miles of dead mayfly mats on the water and the hum of flies as the they hatch. Definately a major food souce during the few weeks it occurs. Tom Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 2 hours ago, flyfisher said: the hatches around here aren't as predictable so it has usually been a by product of me already being out there and happening to have a trout fly box in my pack. Have you tried fishing the emergers or nymphs of the flies that are hatching? While the excitement on top is awesome and hard to get away from, the action under the surface can be even more crazy since a lot of the fish are feeding there more than on top. Fly fly rod exploits are mostly a by-product of need. I do make a few river float trips (usually at night) a year for brown trout - but again it's always during the hatch. When the these bugs are around - the fly rod is the only way I can get ANY smallies - especially a few days into it. Not exactly a great fly caster - nor do I really want to be - just a hack you likes to get his string pulled. A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 21, 2018 Super User Posted July 21, 2018 And here is another fun filled fact....there really is no Mayfly per se....Mayfly is a generic term to describe thousands of different species that bear similar characteristics and belong to the same insect family group. Quote
Fairtax4me Posted July 22, 2018 Posted July 22, 2018 I've seen bass go airborn after mayflies. Usually smaller bass will eat the flies and larger bass will hang out nearby and pick off bluegill or any other bait fish that comes in to eat the mayflies. Find flats near dropoffs, big bass will be moving up into those flats to catch up with bait fish that are going to feed on mayflies. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted July 22, 2018 BassResource.com Administrator Posted July 22, 2018 This will help: https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/mayflies-bass.html Quote
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted July 22, 2018 Global Moderator Posted July 22, 2018 The hex is the big mayfly hatching all over the country right now. Hex is short for something like hexagenus, I fish the hatch in South alabama every year on the same week but it’s a little more unpredictable at home. Saw a woman lose her mind in a local gas station near the river this week because the bugs were all in the store. Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 22, 2018 Global Moderator Posted July 22, 2018 When we have big hatches during the summer it will pull fish up super shallow to gorge on the bugs, even during extremely hot weather. Quote
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