Favorite fly setup for bass

[avidone1]

I love fly fishing 

Ive caught caught most of my bass on bait casters and spin outfits but I love using a fly rod and have had good success   My favorite bass rod is a 9’5” 6 wt lined with rio elite gold  I tied an ugly but effective dragon fly imitation that works when the bugs are active   I have also caught bass on 5 and 4 weights too but the six wt is perfect 

what’s your favorite 

[Fallser]

Mainly, I fish a 9' 6 wgt for bass.   It's a rod I built on a Loomis blank, several years ago.  I use a weight forward floating line, most of the time.  I do have two spare spools for my reel.  One holds an intermediate line, the other a sink tip line.   I also have an 9' 8 wgt, also built on a Loomis blank that I use for heavy cover, weed beds and lily pads.  I can throw all of the flies I tie for bass with my 6 wgt, but sometimes it's easier to toss the larger ones with the 8 wgt.  It also gives me a little more back bone when tossing frog patterns in the lily pads.  I'm not very sporting, I use a 6 to 8 foot 25# fluorocarbon leader with both rods.  They're both slow to moderate action rods.

[flyfisher]

So many to choose from   I absolutely love my 9'7wt Sage XP with a SA titan floating line for smaller gamechangers but primarily it is a topwater rod.  My other favorites are the TFO mangrove and Mangrove coast in 8wt one with a sink tip and one floating.  When I want to throw big meaty flies that are wind resistant or heavier I go with my Sage Bass II LM rod matched up with a 10wt floating magnum line.  My TFO mini mag is also in the mix paired up with a 7wt SA titan line for when I am wading the smaller flows and the shorter rod length helps with overhanging branches.

[Deleted account]

I have an 8'6" #6, and a 9' #7 that I use for bass. With small(ish) fish, being able to cast the fly effectively is the key, everything else falls into place, so depends on what you are throwing. 

[bigbassin']

6 wt with floating line is typically what I reach for. Chartreuse/white or all white clousers get the most action from me, I’ll occasionally throw a shminnow or a popper though.

 

Fly rod pb (5 lbs 6 ounces) came off of a 6wt with a size 8 popper.

 

If I don’t need to make long cast I’ll step down to a 4, or if I’m throwing a popper I’ll go up to an 8.

3 hours ago, avidone1 said:

I love fly fishing 

Ive caught caught most of my bass on bait casters and spin outfits but I love using a fly rod and have had good success   My favorite bass rod is a 9’5” 6 wt lined with rio elite gold  I tied an ugly but effective dragon fly imitation that works when the bugs are active   I have also caught bass on 5 and 4 weights too but the six wt is perfect 

what’s your favorite 

Not sure what size hook you tie that on, but add some rubber legs and you’d have a perfect bluegill fly.

[Fallser]

The fly looks a bit chewed up.   A good sign.  You've got the basic shape down.  One suggestion check out the colors of the dragonflies in your area.  Up here they seem to be blue or green.   Tie up a couple and see if you get more hits with ones that match the colors.

[casts_by_fly]

I used to fish a fly rod exclusively for a number of years and built tons of them, lots for bass. The st croix bob clouser rod (8’9” 8wt) was one of the best ever made for smallmouth and largemouth.  Perfect action and feel.  I have a 9’ 8 wt Dan craft blank I built that is my go to.  For me, if I’m fishing a fly rod for bass I am throwing a hefty fly for big fish so I want a bigger rod. 

[PaulVE64]

9ft 7wt with a floating WF rio line.

My leaders are all mono - 4' x 20#, 2ft x 17# , 2 ft of 12#.

I throw big streamers and I have an 6"/ sec sinking polyleader for deeper rumours.

 

I dont nymph, I dont dry fly.

[padlin]

Same here, 9’ 7wt. Not much of a fly fisherman, The only thing I can get to cast right is streamers, I’ve tried some of the big floating bugs, but they don’t go anywhere.

[Luke Barnes]

I'm a very novice fly fisherman. Have caught small bass under a pound. Maybe 10" or less. I want to target bigger bass and crappie with flies but I'm worried my setup won't handle it. 

 

I have a 9' 5wt Pflueger I bought at BPS as a combo. No idea what kind of line and backing it has but I have a 2# mono tippet on the leader. Probably will bump that up to 8# mono if I get more serious about bass. Mainly I use it to catch panfish and sometimes to use them as bait. 

 

Guess I should add I have a pretty decent assortment of flies. My favorite are hand tied ants, bees, and bugs that were given to me. I have nymphs and other flies but not sure what they imitate. 

[avidone1]

On 11/5/2022 at 5:15 PM, bigbassin' said:

6 wt with floating line is typically what I reach for. Chartreuse/white or all white clousers get the most action from me, I’ll occasionally throw a shminnow or a popper though.

 

Fly rod pb (5 lbs 6 ounces) came off of a 6wt with a size 8 popper.

 

If I don’t need to make long cast I’ll step down to a 4, or if I’m throwing a popper I’ll go up to an 8.

Not sure what size hook you tie that on, but add some rubber legs and you’d have a perfect bluegill fly.

You must be a Florida guy ? “schminnow” lol  I always have some in the box and have caught bass on them   Norm Ziegler is dearly missed   FYI   He sold his fly shop on Sanibel last year and Hurricane Irma totally destroyed the new shop    Timing is everything I guess ?‍♂️

[Msl819]

On 11/5/2022 at 11:26 PM, casts_by_fly said:

I used to fish a fly rod exclusively for a number of years and built tons of them, lots for bass. The st croix bob clouser rod (8’9” 8wt) was one of the best ever made for smallmouth and largemouth.  Perfect action and feel.  I have a 9’ 8 wt Dan craft blank I built that is my go to.  For me, if I’m fishing a fly rod for bass I am throwing a hefty fly for big fish so I want a bigger rod. 

Same here. If I am fishing for bass it is usually a beefy fly so 9’ 7wt or 9’ 8wt. But when you have the 3/4wt and a small popper, you never know what can happen. I have had more than one small gill come out of the water on a hook set only to be crushed by a LM one it way to the bank. Never landed the LM though.

[avidone1]

On 11/6/2022 at 12:26 AM, casts_by_fly said:

I used to fish a fly rod exclusively for a number of years and built tons of them, lots for bass. The st croix bob clouser rod (8’9” 8wt) was one of the best ever made for smallmouth and largemouth.  Perfect action and feel.  I have a 9’ 8 wt Dan craft blank I built that is my go to.  For me, if I’m fishing a fly rod for bass I am throwing a hefty fly for big fish so I want a bigger rod. 

I use a 9’ 5” Burkheimer 6 wt   effortless casting distance with all but the heaviest frogs etc   I have  9’ 8wt Asquith that I use exclusively in the salt for snook redfish and trout 

[Msl819]

On 11/6/2022 at 10:36 AM, Luke Barnes said:

I'm a very novice fly fisherman. Have caught small bass under a pound. Maybe 10" or less. I want to target bigger bass and crappie with flies but I'm worried my setup won't handle it. 

 

I have a 9' 5wt Pflueger I bought at BPS as a combo. No idea what kind of line and backing it has but I have a 2# mono tippet on the leader. Probably will bump that up to 8# mono if I get more serious about bass. Mainly I use it to catch panfish and sometimes to use them as bait. 

 

Guess I should add I have a pretty decent assortment of flies. My favorite are hand tied ants, bees, and bugs that were given to me. I have nymphs and other flies but not sure what they imitate. 

I have a buddy who site fishes redfish with a 4wt. For me, the choice of rod and line is about the fly I am throwing, not the size of the fish, most of the time. 

[Luke Barnes]

20 hours ago, Msl819 said:

I have a buddy who site fishes redfish with a 4wt. For me, the choice of rod and line is about the fly I am throwing, not the size of the fish, most of the time. 

I know next to nothing about fly lie and all the flies i throw are pretty small. I'm thinking more about being able to maneuver a fish out of cover without breaking off. 

[bigbassin']

On 11/19/2022 at 5:53 PM, avidone1 said:

You must be a Florida guy ? “schminnow” lol  I always have some in the box and have caught bass on them   Norm Ziegler is dearly missed   FYI   He sold his fly shop on Sanibel last year and Hurricane Irma totally destroyed the new shop    Timing is everything I guess ?‍♂️

Yessir I am.

 

I’d be comfortable throwing that schminnow for any warm water fish out there. Because of water logging I’ll go with the clouser more but effectively they are 1A and 1B in my opinion.

[Msl819]

7 hours ago, Luke Barnes said:

I know next to nothing about fly lie and all the flies i throw are pretty small. I'm thinking more about being able to maneuver a fish out of cover without breaking off. 

That’s part of the joy of trying different options out. The fly line, leader, and tippet can be plenty strong no matter the rod. If it can stop a running 7# redfish, it’ll stop a bass. But if I am fishing nasty timber I probably am not throwing a fly rod. Sure is fun to fight them on the ol’ long rods though.

[Further North]

Most of my bass fly fishing is done with an 8 wt.  I have several, each set up for a different presentation.

I have an 8 wt. Orvis Helios 3F for poppers, a TFO Axiom II for intermediate sinking line (mid water column streamers, or shallow water streamers), and a Chippewa River Custom Rods one piece Predator for big streamers with sinking lines.

I'll occasionally drop down to a 7 wt. for smaller streamers - there I use a St. Croix Bank robber.

I have a few flies I'll go down to a 6 wt. for:  Small poppers (like on a size 6 hook), Ol' Mr. Wiggley flies, and stuff like woolly buggers...I had a custom two piece made for these by Foxtail Custom Rods...and it's a sweet set up.

I've got a couple back-ups: A Scott backs up the Helios, a St. Croix SOLE is a great big popper rod, A Risen Goliath backs up my Axiom II...and I have a 6 wt. TFO Mangrove to back up the Foxtail.

[Luke Barnes]

11 hours ago, Further North said:

Most of my bass fly fishing is done with an 8 wt.  I have several, each set up for a different presentation.

I have an 8 wt. Orvis Helios 3F for poppers, a TFO Axiom II for intermediate sinking line (mid water column streamers, or shallow water streamers), and a Chippewa River Custom Rods one piece Predator for big streamers with sinking lines.

I'll occasionally drop down to a 7 wt. for smaller streamers - there I use a St. Croix Bank robber.

I have a few flies I'll go down to a 6 wt. for:  Small poppers (like on a size 6 hook), Ol' Mr. Wiggley flies, and stuff like woolly buggers...I had a custom two piece made for these by Foxtail Custom Rods...and it's a sweet set up.

I've got a couple back-ups: A Scott backs up the Helios, a St. Croix SOLE is a great big popper rod, A Risen Goliath backs up my Axiom II...and I have a 6 wt. TFO Mangrove to back up the Foxtail.

You really know your fly fishing.  

 

Do you use flies where and when you would certain lures on traditional gear? Like do you use flies for bass in certain weather or locations only? 

[Further North]

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

You really know your fly fishing.  

My knowledge is pretty specific to what I do (smallies, pike and musky) and I have a lot more to learn.

 

 

1 hour ago, Luke Barnes said:

Do you use flies where and when you would certain lures on traditional gear? Like do you use flies for bass in certain weather or locations only? 

That's a tough question, and I"m not sure how to give you a complete answer.

I'll use flies anywhere, at any time, when I feel like it - they are often (but not anywhere near always) at least as effective as gear (which I also use a lot).

One place flies are more effective than gear is on the days when even a finesse bite isn't what I was hoping for.  Flies can be even "finessier", if that makes sense?

They can also do things gear can't...I suspend a fly and let the current pulse the fibers, hair, and feathers in ways that lures can't emulate.  I can do similar with rod tip pulses, wiggling the rod, or tiny micro strips with my line hand.  I've seen this set off neutral fish plenty of times.

One thing worth noting:  Your connection to the hook is much more direct than with gear, if you are keeping your line tight.  You are holding the line in your hand and not relying on the rod to transmit subtle bites.

I don't see a lot of reason to try to emulate gear presentations with fly rods...that's what I have gear for...but I will go to similar profiles and colors because they are known to work.  Lots of baitfish streamers have a profile similar to Rapalas...