dragon flys

[Jonas Staggs]

 I was fishing a pond, and I saw the bass jump up out of the water and ****** a dragon fly off the reeds, they regularly do this at the pond in the hot midday when theres lots of bugs around. some of the other places I fish, I frequently see bass hitting dragon flys and probably other insects off the top water. Got me thinking of trying either a dragon fly lure, or some real dragon flies for bait. Anyone tried this before?

[Deleted account]

7 hours ago, Jonas Staggs said:

 I was fishing a pond, and I saw the bass jump up out of the water and ****** a dragon fly off the reeds, they regularly do this at the pond in the hot midday when theres lots of bugs around. some of the other places I fish, I frequently see bass hitting dragon flys and probably other insects off the top water. Got me thinking of trying either a dragon fly lure, or some real dragon flies for bait. Anyone tried this before?

Dragon fly time is just about done in theses parts, but bass and other fish do key in on them when they are abundant. I've tried making dragon fly lures with small plastics and feathers or skirt strands, and while they work ok, I found that matching the size and profile with some small plastic and skipping it out in open water works best. Some days it can be killer. I have seen bass hit dragon flies on the surface, and occasionally above the surface. About 2 months ago one hit a dragonfly which was hovering maybe 3" above the water, but the funny part (not so much for the dragon fly) is that it bit in half, and the front end flew away. I had to keep an eye on it, and it was still alive when I left about 2 hours later. 

[Jonas Staggs]

2 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

Dragon fly time is just about done in theses parts, but bass and other fish do key in on them when they are abundant. I've tried making dragon fly lures with small plastics and feathers or skirt strands, and while they work ok, I found that matching the size and profile with some small plastic and skipping it out in open water works best. Some days it can be killer. I have seen bass hit dragon flies on the surface, and occasionally above the surface. About 2 months ago one hit a dragonfly which was hovering maybe 3" above the water, but the funny part (not so much for the dragon fly) is that it bit in half, and the front end flew away. I had to keep an eye on it, and it was still alive when I left about 2 hours later. 

I want to try some live bait dragon flys. I never knew bass would jump out the water to get them, but the pond I fish, they do it regularly. 3 other places I fish, you can see bass hitting dragon flies, and other insects I assume off the top water, but I cant catch them for nothing! 

[Deleted account]

7 minutes ago, Jonas Staggs said:

I want to try some live bait dragon flys. I never knew bass would jump out the water to get them, but the pond I fish, they do it regularly. 3 other places I fish, you can see bass hitting dragon flies, and other insects I assume off the top water, but I cant catch them for nothing! 

I've done well for sunfish with dragonflies, but those things are tricky to catch. Ever try to swat them with a rod? They move out of the way at the last moment. Crickets and grasshoppers are much easier. If you want to liveline for bass, nothing beats a small sunfish, goldfish are good too, but it's illegal in most places.

[Jonas Staggs]

5 hours ago, BassWhole! said:

I've done well for sunfish with dragonflies, but those things are tricky to catch. Ever try to swat them with a rod? They move out of the way at the last moment. Crickets and grasshoppers are much easier. If you want to liveline for bass, nothing beats a small sunfish, goldfish are good too, but it's illegal in most places.

 

I have had success with goldfish. I have a ton of grasshoppers in my yard, easy to catch, small and big ones, never caught a d**n thing with them. Have caught bass on crickets. Had a dragon fly land on my pole and grabbed him easily once, hooked him, but i think the smaller fish picked him off my line. Had that same problem with nightcrawlers as well, all the small fish nibble the worm off the hook. 

[txchaser]

At the farm pond this weekend there was a lone stick a few feet from the bank about six inches out of the water.

 

One wily little guy had figured out that it was a high-percentage dragonfly landing spot and just sat there and waited for the next one to land. Was fun watching him jump up and grab dragonflies for a couple of hours while I fished.

[bagofdonuts]

Best dragon fly imitation i know of is the old zoom french fry fished weightless. Doesn't imitate the adults, but the emerging nymphs.

[Johnbt]

"Got me thinking of trying either a dragon fly lure"

 

I saw one for sale this weekend when I was placing an order with a large online outfit. I'd never seen a dragonfly lure before, but I didn't order any

[txchaser]

15 hours ago, Johnbt said:

Got me thinking of trying either a dragon fly lure

Just skip the lunkerhunt one. It's a train wreck. 

[Hammer 4]

4" Senco whacky rigged come close enough..

[Johnbt]

"Just skip the lunkerhunt one. It's a train wreck."

 

That's the ad I saw. Good thing I didn't order one.

[J Francho]

A Ragetail Spacemonkey rigged with no weight, burned across the surface has been killer for me when dragon flies are full tilt. 

[TnRiver46]

The ones they make for fly fishing twist the leader beyond repair

[Jonas Staggs]

9 hours ago, txchaser said:

Just skip the lunkerhunt one. It's a train wreck. 

ahh i was looking at that haha thanks for the heads up. I have thought of possible using fly fishing lures, and tossing them out attacked to a small bobber, so I can get some weight for casting, but they will still float.........anyone ever tried this?

8 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

4" Senco whacky rigged come close enough..

good point!

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

A Ragetail Spacemonkey rigged with no weight, burned across the surface has been killer for me when dragon flies are full tilt. 

that thing looks like a modified lizard lol

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

The ones they make for fly fishing twist the leader beyond repair

i wonder about using mono, and attaching to a small bobber with a long leader, should keep it afloat

[fishballer06]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

A Ragetail Spacemonkey rigged with no weight, burned across the surface has been killer for me when dragon flies are full tilt. 

Similar story here. I've crushed a lot of bass in Canada in early June whenever the dragonfly hatch is on. They will SMASH a black buzzbait when it's in full bloom.