Fly fishing for Largemouth Bass

[Emil Leum]

I live in the South, 3 hours away from the cold trout waters, but, warm-water Bass opportunities are endless. Due to my combat disabilities, I have some limitations using a fly rod, above my waist, so, my 12 ft. Native Watercraft Kayak, is now my water transport of choice. I have fly rods up to a 12 #, and large diameter reels, So, I could handle a pretty large Bass. I can't kill anything anymore, so,all my fish are released alive, giving other anglers more opportunities. Now, fishing for me, has become an enjoyable challenge. I have high aspirations, such as catching that double-digit Bass, get it measured, and have a mould made. That is all I would want,

MSG Leum

[jimmyjoe]

  In the first place .... thank you for your service. That means thank you for your service to all of us before your retirement, and thank you for your service to your fellow vets after your retirement.

 

   As for the fly fishing, I'm old-fashioned. Try a glass rod with poppers and streamers.     jj

[ChrisD46]

I used to use a fly rod for bass in Florida ... I used a 8' MH rod suitable for a weight forward #7 fly line and only used  deer hair poppers with a #8 lb. tippet  for bass . I believe something in that range would work for you in a kayak (maybe even a shorter 7'6" MH fly rod since you are in a kayak) . 

[VolFan]

A 7 or 8 weight, depending on cover and/or flies is what I use. I like poppers, deer-hair mice,  snallygasters (its like a plastic worm), and some of the articulated streamers that resemble baitfish. Casting some of the big streamers is like casting a big wet sock.  Fishing mice in the evening around cover and docks is crazy fun. Where are you specifically?  

[new2BC4bass]

3 hours ago, jimmyjoe said:

  In the first place .... thank you for your service. That means thank you for your service to all of us before your retirement, and thank you for your service to your fellow vets after your retirement.

X 1000.  to the forum.  Some fly fishermen here, but a fly fishing thread is a rarity.  I love the idea of fly fishing for bass (or pretty much anything a fly rod can catch).  Fly tying looks like a great hobby to get into.  I even have a rod for bass.  An old GLoomis GL2 9' 8 weight, but have only used it in the yard.  I enjoy the act of casting, too.

 

 

[Emil Leum]

I think the potential for fly rodding for Bass has some tremendous advantages. Prior to my deployments, while I was boating with my bait-casting equipment, while moving, even very slow trolling, I would constantly spook fish, as my boat moved over them. An average fly caster can sent a fly 60-80-100 ft., on a regular basis. This allows your flies, to land quiet, or splashdown, dependant on your type of cast. 

 

There are far fewer fly rodders, fishing for Bass than other forms of fishing, and these Bass are pounded with the same type lures over and over with the same lures, and fly rod lures, would be something new for them. 

 

Our South Carolina Largemouth Bass record is approximately 16 lbs. 2 oz., so, that is also close to the world record Bass on a Fly rod, that came out of a reservoir in California. Fly rodding for Bass will present new challenges, and opportunities. Tying Bass flies and bugs, has still more opportunities for fly tyres. 

 

I would love to see Bass tournaments for fly-rodders,

MSG Leum

 

 

[king fisher]

     Fly fishing for bass can be a challenge, but does have many advantages.  One big advantage is not having to waste time retrieving a lure through unproductive water to cast again.  You can cast a popper, twitch it a couple times, then cast right back to another target without bringing the fly back to the boat. Making it possible to hit numerous pockets in very little time.                                                                                                                             I recommend starting with a 9' 8 wt. rod, with wt. forward floating line.  Rod weight is mostly related to how large of flies you want to cast, not necessarily the size of fish you are likely to catch.  Many poppers and dear hair flies have lots of wind resistance, if you are planing on casting larger flies you might want to go up to a 9 wt. Unless you are an expert caster, I wouldn't recommend using a shorter rod even out of a kayak.  A longer rod makes up for less than perfect casting technique.  Don't get discouraged if you can't cast 100 feet.  That is not an average casters maximum distance.  Anyone that can cast a popper 100 ft. is an expert caster.

     Casting is the biggest challenge for a beginning fly angler.  Frustration with casting distance is the most common reason people quite before they have a chance to enjoy the thrill of catching fish with a fly rod.  In a short time, with proper instruction, and some practice most people can learn to accurately cast 50 feet.  Sitting low to the water in a kayak will make it more difficult but still doable, even for a beginner.  Once you master fishing a floating line, than I would recommend trying sinking, and sink tip lines, with streamers for the days when the bass want to stay a little deeper.  I would also recommend bringing a spinning on bait casting outfit along for the days when the wind makes fly fishing way more work than fun.  There are days when purists, are grumpy hard headed fisherman who have forgotten how to adjust to have a good time.

[jimmyjoe]

33 minutes ago, king fisher said:

There are days when purists, are grumpy hard headed fisherman who have forgotten how to adjust to have a good time.

   I modestly agree.      jj

[flyfisher]

13 hours ago, Emil Leum said:

I think the potential for fly rodding for Bass has some tremendous advantages. Prior to my deployments, while I was boating with my bait-casting equipment, while moving, even very slow trolling, I would constantly spook fish, as my boat moved over them. An average fly caster can sent a fly 60-80-100 ft., on a regular basis. This allows your flies, to land quiet, or splashdown, dependant on your type of cast. 

 

There are far fewer fly rodders, fishing for Bass than other forms of fishing, and these Bass are pounded with the same type lures over and over with the same lures, and fly rod lures, would be something new for them. 

 

Our South Carolina Largemouth Bass record is approximately 16 lbs. 2 oz., so, that is also close to the world record Bass on a Fly rod, that came out of a reservoir in California. Fly rodding for Bass will present new challenges, and opportunities. Tying Bass flies and bugs, has still more opportunities for fly tyres. 

 

I would love to see Bass tournaments for fly-rodders,

MSG Leum

 

 

they have them already.

As far as bass fishing with the fly rod, it is a lot of fun and you can do whatever you want really as far as flies go.  I like tying streamers and using them so that is what I use along with topwater of various types.  

You can't be as efficient as conventional tackle but that is ok to me as fly fishing is a lot more fun when not catching for sure.  

[ChrisD46]

23 hours ago, Emil Leum said:

I think the potential for fly rodding for Bass has some tremendous advantages. Prior to my deployments, while I was boating with my bait-casting equipment, while moving, even very slow trolling, I would constantly spook fish, as my boat moved over them. An average fly caster can sent a fly 60-80-100 ft., on a regular basis. This allows your flies, to land quiet, or splashdown, dependant on your type of cast. 

 

There are far fewer fly rodders, fishing for Bass than other forms of fishing, and these Bass are pounded with the same type lures over and over with the same lures, and fly rod lures, would be something new for them. 

 

Our South Carolina Largemouth Bass record is approximately 16 lbs. 2 oz., so, that is also close to the world record Bass on a Fly rod, that came out of a reservoir in California. Fly rodding for Bass will present new challenges, and opportunities. Tying Bass flies and bugs, has still more opportunities for fly tyres. 

 

I would love to see Bass tournaments for fly-rodders,

MSG Leum

 

 

Good observations on fly rod fishing for bass ... Yes , a #7 or #8 weight fly rod with weight forward floating #7 or #8 line would be ideal for bass poppers .

[Manifestgtr]

Fly fishing for bass is highly under appreciated, imo. I just went tonight as a matter of fact. One of the reservoir brooks I fish has been really low and it’s formed pools about an acre in size apiece. The water is deep enough and free flowing enough to keep them healthy and feeding but they just can’t get past the rocks downstream. 
 

I keep it simple for the most part...black or olive woolly buggers in different sizes and a few other streamers. They really smash em good. It sounds like you have the equipment and the motivation to work poppers as well. Me, not so much...all my “bass” fly fishing gear is repurposed trout stuff. I can imagine that getting hold of a 7-8 pounder on a fly rod would be unbelievable though...trying to keep them up and out of cover is difficult enough with casting gear.