Float-n-fly

[Stasher1]

How can anybody watch this and not pick up a 8'+ rod and a few flies...

[Gatorbassman]

That's by the Dead Sea Mafia.

Great video

[eastkybass]

I was about to skip this post but I am glad I took a look. Being stuck at work all night it is great to see any fishing at all.

[b.Lee]

Awesome technique

[Crestliner2008]

I just know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. Not to worry. Great video. Wonder how much that "special" 8 1/2' St. Croix rod cost? Betcha it was a bunch of bucks. I also betcha that I can do the very same thing with ANY rod and a slip bobber set up (and I have).

The real kicker was his proclamation that his "special" jig was chartreuse with a bit of copper. Of course. That's what did it! Give me a break. If a bass sees a food source making itself available, it's going to take it. It has no choice. Depth & speed control in the right place. Simple. And you don't have to spend big bucks and use only "special" equipment to achieve it.

I am a believer in the "Float N' Fly" technique. The proponents of it - with all their hype - leave a bad taste in my mouth however. Why can't they just explain a technique to us common folks and not make it appear to be "scientifically special"? I'm sorry, but fishing is just NOT all that complicated.

I apologize for offending some of you. Is it spring yet?

[TommyBass]

I like the float n fly techinque and it definately works.  I feel though that there are usually other better techniques to use in those situations where the float n fly would be used, so it never really comes out of my box.  It is, however, a GREAT way to teach someone (ie kids) about bass fishing / fishing in general.

[grimlin]

I'm getting very heavy into it...I've already begun modifying my cork bobbers.

Awesome video.

[bassfisherjk]

Great video!

[Thad]

I just know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. Not to worry. Great video. Wonder how much that "special" 8 1/2' St. Croix rod cost? Betcha it was a bunch of bucks. I also betcha that I can do the very same thing with ANY rod and a slip bobber set up (and I have).

The real kicker was his proclamation that his "special" jig was chartreuse with a bit of copper. Of course. That's what did it! Give me a break. If a bass sees a food source making itself available, it's going to take it. It has no choice. Depth & speed control in the right place. Simple. And you don't have to spend big bucks and use only "special" equipment to achieve it.

I am a believer in the "Float N' Fly" technique. The proponents of it - with all their hype - leave a bad taste in my mouth however. Why can't they just explain a technique to us common folks and not make it appear to be "scientifically special"? I'm sorry, but fishing is just NOT all that complicated.

I apologize for offending some of you. Is it spring yet?

So what rod do you use when you FnF and how long of a leader do you use with it?

[stratos 375]

the fact that he does it in a farm pond means absoloutely nothing to me. From seein how fast the first fish grabbed it, you could have had a piece of cheddar cheese on the hook and still caught it. If you're going to make a video on this wonderful technique, do it on public , pressured water. Then I'll take notice. This is a really neat system, and I have seen it in action. However, it's a little too much like drownin minnys to me. In the conditions that dictate this style, I'm sure I could do just as well on a Bear hair jig & a 101 pork frog w/the fat trimmed down. That's just my silly opinion.

[Paul Roberts]

I just know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. Not to worry. Great video. Wonder how much that "special" 8 1/2' St. Croix rod cost? Betcha it was a bunch of bucks. I also betcha that I can do the very same thing with ANY rod and a slip bobber set up (and I have).

The real kicker was his proclamation that his "special" jig was chartreuse with a bit of copper. Of course. That's what did it! Give me a break. If a bass sees a food source making itself available, it's going to take it. It has no choice. Depth & speed control in the right place. Simple. And you don't have to spend big bucks and use only "special" equipment to achieve it.

I am a believer in the "Float N' Fly" technique. The proponents of it - with all their hype - leave a bad taste in my mouth however. Why can't they just explain a technique to us common folks and not make it appear to be "scientifically special"? I'm sorry, but fishing is just NOT all that complicated.

I apologize for offending some of you. Is it spring yet?

> > >

I hear you, I've been a little grumpy lately too.

The techniques are one thing. Trying to make a living from it I guess is another. Creating that balance has to be difficult -more want to do it then can probably, and keep their credibility intact (remember the bare jighead/Gulp! guy -I've forgotten his name already ;D). From what I've seen from him, Mike Whitten does a pretty good job with that balance.

I don't begrudge anyone for an honest attempt at it either. It can be a buyer beware market though -the last bastion of the snake oil salesman. Read almost any lure description and you'll have to agree. And IMO the technique specific marketing deal has gotten some people thinking they NEED to split hairs.

That said, if one wants to jump on a new technique, the right equipment can help, or even make or break. Not everyone has time to re-invent the wheel. And we aren't all somehow owed these techniques.

No, I won't be buying a FnF rod, but a long rod IS a help with a float and long lead, even with a stop. I'm going to guess that that tackle was designed for river fishing. I believe that's where FnF began?

But for that farm pond and a 3 ft lead, a 7M spinning rig will make that cast we saw, and still allow you to lip that fish. If you need a 6 ft lead? Use a bobber stop, although it does help to keep line off the water to feed line into one, esp in cold dense water.

I'm getting very heavy into it...I've already begun modifying my cork bobbers.

Hey, are you doin' that too? I was just headed out to the garage to see what I had. ;D

[Crestliner2008]

Thad's

[grimlin]

Yup fairly easy too.All you need are those cork cigar shape bobbers with the weight on the bottom of them.I just cut them in half and put the weight inside middle the bottom half.

I love it when the bobber lays on the side for a light bite.Best Idea I've seen yet.I've missed enough bite due to not seeing my bobber going down,yet there was a fish on the other end.No sign of setting the hook was a receipt for disaster and another fish lost. 

I river fish a lot here...so my intentions of adding that technique for that reason.

[Randall]

That's my buddy Matt Driver. Craig Miller and his partner Charles started winning a lot tournaments on the F&F on Lake Allatoona and started the F&F craze here on the local lakes. We got Craig to do a seminar on the F&F last year when I was doing a swimbait seminar at the local tackle shop he runs. After it got out that he was winning tournaments with the F&F and everybody knew how he was doing it everybody here was fishing it. Now it's the main pattern for winter and everybody seems to be fishing it here.

[Wild Bill [NY]]

Randall,

Hope all has been well with you.

Are the guys there doing it there with the float fixed in place, or a slip bobber? From the video, it seems fixed in place.

While I have never done it yet, I have read a lot up on it, and talked a bit to guys that do use the technique.

Some guys I have read articles by, or talked to that do f&f , say they use a three-way swivel, with one of it's rings directly attached to the bobber, and that the bobber is weighted, so it lays sideways until hit, when then it goes upright [and hopefully doooown].

I have seen some the flies sold in tackle shops around Dale Hollow, and many are 1/16 of an ounce, or 33/32, or an 1/8th, and many there seemed to favor a duck feather be incorporated in the fly. they looked really nice, but my wallet stayed put.

The guys I talked to said it was important not to use a slip-bobber, because the bobber would not be so sensitive to bites then as a fixed bobber would be.

I went out and caught fish the ways I knew how to, using what I already had, instead of getting into it all float & fly stuff.

I heard it is at it's best right after ice-out[yeah, you guys don't know that stuff-LOL], or when facing really cool waters and suspendiing fish.

Clue me in , buddy .

I know you're not trying to sell me anything.

{LOL}

[Paul Roberts]

...Main line is 6# test Crystal Fireline (flows through the bobber so much easier than most other lines and keeps your slack on the surface of the water for better control). ...

Light Fireline. Neat.

We didn't have braid when I was using slip bobbers for steelhead. Always had difficulty getting line to feed with mono.

Bill,

In the video, Driver is using a plastic float fixed to a 3-way swivel.

[Randall]

I just know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. Not to worry. Great video. Wonder how much that "special" 8 1/2' St. Croix rod cost? Betcha it was a bunch of bucks. I also betcha that I can do the very same thing with ANY rod and a slip bobber set up (and I have).

The real kicker was his proclamation that his "special" jig was chartreuse with a bit of copper. Of course. That's what did it! Give me a break. If a bass sees a food source making itself available, it's going to take it. It has no choice. Depth & speed control in the right place. Simple. And you don't have to spend big bucks and use only "special" equipment to achieve it.

I am a believer in the "Float N' Fly" technique. The proponents of it - with all their hype - leave a bad taste in my mouth however. Why can't they just explain a technique to us common folks and not make it appear to be "scientifically special"? I'm sorry, but fishing is just NOT all that complicated.

I apologize for offending some of you. Is it spring yet?

I know all the guys who are in the DSM videos. All are great honest and good people. I have been in the store where some of that equipment is sold and heard them tell people it's not all that complicated. I have heard them tell people to just get a cheap flyrod to start if they don't want to invest alot in it. My F&F rod cost me eight bucks. ;D

They are promoting some products though they think are best. I have seen the color as well as type of fly make a huge difference in getting bit or not. In the case of Red Rooster fly in the video it has a larger hook and I feel I land more big largemouth on it and it matches larger bait fish better since it is cut longer. Still not rocket science but I don't think all baits and bobbers are the same.

[Randall]

Randall,

Hope all has been well with you.

Are the guys there doing it there with the float fixed in place, or a slip bobber? From the video, it seems fixed in place.

While I have never done it yet, I have read a lot up on it, and talked a bit to guys that do use the technique.

Some guys I have read articles by, or talked to that do f&f , say they use a three-way swivel, with one of it's rings directly attached to the bobber, and that the bobber is weighted, so it lays sideways until hit, when then it goes upright [and hopefully doooown].

I have seen some the flies sold in tackle shops around Dale Hollow, and many are 1/16 of an ounce, or 33/32, or an 1/8th, and many there seemed to favor a duck feather be incorporated in the fly. they looked really nice, but my wallet stayed put.

The guys I talked to said it was important not to use a slip-bobber, because the bobber would not be so sensitive to bites then as a fixed bobber would be.

I went out and caught fish the ways I knew how to, using what I already had, instead of getting into it all float & fly stuff.

I heard it is at it's best right after ice-out[yeah, you guys don't know that stuff-LOL], or when facing really cool waters and suspendiing fish.

Clue me in , buddy .

I know you're not trying to sell me anything.

{LOL}

The float is fixed in place attached to a swivel. I use a two way swivel myself with the braid and and bobber attached to one end and the leader attached to the other. Everybody else likes the three way but I see no need for it since I have never had my line damaged by the bobber.

I like the fixed weighted bobber. It is more sensitive to bites where the fish eats the fly coming up and taking the weight of the fly off the bobber causing the float to lay over. You can also give the float little twitches which just barely shakes the fly on the fixed bobber on calm days.

The braid line makes all the diference in the world. It floats on top better and makes a much better cast.

As far as flies/jigs the duck feathers are light but have very little movement in the fly in the water and work better in colder water like low forties. Craft hair jigs have more action and most use them in warmer water like upper forties. I use many other things myself alot like tiny flukes, and flukes on 1/16 oz shakey heads, and wacky rigged flukes on dropshot hooks with a splitshot just above for weight.

We had ice out this year. :(The pond in the video was completely frozen over a few weeks back and most of the small lakes I fish were more than 1/2 to all the way frozen over for about a week or two. I don't know how you guys make it all winter with no water to fish.    

[Stasher1]

I just know I'm going to get a lot of flack for this. Not to worry. Great video. Wonder how much that "special" 8 1/2' St. Croix rod cost? Betcha it was a bunch of bucks. I also betcha that I can do the very same thing with ANY rod and a slip bobber set up (and I have).

The real kicker was his proclamation that his "special" jig was chartreuse with a bit of copper. Of course. That's what did it! Give me a break. If a bass sees a food source making itself available, it's going to take it. It has no choice. Depth & speed control in the right place. Simple. And you don't have to spend big bucks and use only "special" equipment to achieve it.

I am a believer in the "Float N' Fly" technique. The proponents of it - with all their hype - leave a bad taste in my mouth however. Why can't they just explain a technique to us common folks and not make it appear to be "scientifically special"? I'm sorry, but fishing is just NOT all that complicated.

I apologize for offending some of you. Is it spring yet?

According to the St. Croix catalog, MSRP for that "special" rod is $200.

While I am a big fan of SC rods, I passed on the big buck rod in favor of a 8'6" ML BPS Micro Lite "Float and Fly" model for $50. It has those flimsy all-metal guides that I despise, but I'm not really worried about the longevity of the guides on a $50 rod. I've got it paired with one of the two Pflueger Trion GX-7s that I picked up in the Flea Market for $45 shipped.

I've also got a bunch of jigs on the way from NorthStar Custom Baits for $1.70 each, which I think is a fair price for hand-tied jigs. Throw in some modified Walmart floats, and my total investment in this technique-specific setup is less than $100. I don't think that's too bad at all.

[Stasher1]

Randall, you seem to be fairly knowledgeable on this subject so please give me your $.02 on the use of Punisher's Fish Dope. Does it really make a difference? I see that it's used to form the hairs into the shape of a minnow, but wouldn't plain petroleum jelly do the same thing?

[Paul Roberts]

I still have an 8'6" 6wt flyrod I used for light steelheading. I simply replaced the tip-top with a ceramic. I taped (vinyl) the spinning reel to the handle. It was fine for trout, too light for steelhead and would be for bass too IMO.

Randall, we northern bass fishers don't fair too well in the winter. I, for one, go rabbit hunting, and get ready for ice out -now about 3 weeks out here.

[Randall]

Randall, you seem to be fairly knowledgeable on this subject so please give me your $.02 on the use of Punisher's Fish Dope. Does it really make a difference? I see that it's used to form the hairs into the shape of a minnow, but wouldn't plain petroleum jelly do the same thing?

I don't use the fish dope myself but all my freinds swear by it. The problem with vasoline is it is almost to thin like a liquid and not a soft solid so it don't last a long time or stay on as well. Something more like a wax like chapstick would do it though. I usually have some chapstick in my pocket anyway in winter.   

[Ern]

Loved that video.  Proves what I know.  The F-n-F is Crappie fishing.  Guys around here were fishing that way when I was a kid.  Works great for Crappie.  And smallmouth too. For some reason I just get tickled when I see an article about it.

Whole Idea, be it crappie or bass is find the depth the fish are at, set the bobber that deep, cast out, bring back just fast enough to keep slack out of line, and wait for bobber to go down.

Marketing has jumped on it.  Now you NEED special equipment. 

[Stasher1]

Randall, you seem to be fairly knowledgeable on this subject so please give me your $.02 on the use of Punisher's Fish Dope. Does it really make a difference? I see that it's used to form the hairs into the shape of a minnow, but wouldn't plain petroleum jelly do the same thing?

I don't use the fish dope myself but all my freinds swear by it. The problem with vasoline is it is almost to thin like a liquid and not a soft solid so it don't last a long time or stay on as well. Something more like a wax like chapstick would do it though. I usually have some chapstick in my pocket anyway in winter.

I do too, but I don't think the bass will appreciate the "medicated" version.  ;D

[bilgerat]

Marketing has jumped on it. Now you NEED special equipment.

Yeah. Nothing like taking a form of fishing that an 8 year old can do and making it quantum physics Now if you'll excuse me I'm off to go buy some $500.00 Float-n-Fly sunglasses to see my $15.00 float........