Fly Fishing for Bass

[CaptMikeStarrett]

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]

Waldorf Hair Bugs? Do describe.

On the Potomac we use 8wt's and tarpon tapers to lay the Waldorf Hair Bugs in the sweet spot.

[simplejoe]

As 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]

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.

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]

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]

Waldorf MD is known for big haired women and so are my bugs..

Capt Mike

[CaptMikeStarrett]

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]

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]

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]

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 .

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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

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.

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.

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]

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]

Great stuff, guys.  Good tips.  Thanks for keeping this thread going!!!

[bassfisher2]

" 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]

" 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]

I would  be interested in seeing your dragonfly pattern, or if you can tell us the tying materials ?

[bladeslinger]

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]

I 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.