Coach Potter
Life of the Party
EXACTLY! I came back to fly fishing so I could get some relaxation while fishing. Even when not tournament fishing, it's hard to bass fish without that f'ing clock running in the back of your mind.
A report from the bass pond
- Thread starter Billy
- Start date
wanderingrichard
Life of the Party
Agree 9 & 10 wts . Normally use a WF9F w/ 8ft straight section of 30 lb flouro. to fish weeds and pads.A 9 and a 10 wt. I've even debaited an 11 wt. But my goal in covering water is throwing big stuff as far as I can. A stiff rod helps set the hook at longer distances with larger hooks (5/0, 6/0). My style isn't for everyone though
Most excellent! Totally get your use of 9/10wts for throwing those poppers of yours. I use my Bandit to throw them for tigers...that shit is gonna work this year!
It's funny, I get side-eyed looks just fishing predominantly an 8wt for smallies...but when there's the possibility of legit 8-10wt fish, I'm not taking any chances.
It's funny, I get side-eyed looks just fishing predominantly an 8wt for smallies...but when there's the possibility of legit 8-10wt fish, I'm not taking any chances.
Coach Potter
Life of the Party
Heck yeah! Pick your rod based on what you hope to catch. You will never be pissed about catching small fish on a big rod but losing a big fish because of a small rod.....
that's cute...
The only time I ever fly fished for bass was shortly after I switched from chucking gear and was still using a Sevylor inflatable raft. I decided to hit this lake on the Key Peninsula and see how well poppers worked. That was such a long time ago, I can’t remember which fly shop I bought them at.
It was a good thing I was using that raft, as the lake was and probably still is choked with milfoil. Can’t imagine a float tube being worth a damn there.
So there’s this guy who was tossing gear for bass and knew something about top water presentations. He pointed to spots with overhanging branches and told me to flip a popper right there. Said I should catch something.
Boy, was he right. As soon as the popper hit the water, the surface exploded and I had a bass on. Every time it was pulling a jackpot on the slot machines. Pretty nuts.
It was a good thing I was using that raft, as the lake was and probably still is choked with milfoil. Can’t imagine a float tube being worth a damn there.
So there’s this guy who was tossing gear for bass and knew something about top water presentations. He pointed to spots with overhanging branches and told me to flip a popper right there. Said I should catch something.
Boy, was he right. As soon as the popper hit the water, the surface exploded and I had a bass on. Every time it was pulling a jackpot on the slot machines. Pretty nuts.
@Billy inspired me to make a quick 2 day trip over the hill while the W was down a bit.
First smallie of the season (not topwater; orange & olive craw jig) went maybe 14". Lost a couple others.
And after a couple misses on a popper from smallish fish, got one decent topwater LM on a jumbo gurgler
Bassing has commenced!
On another note, since I was in the area, I gave Evergreen a shot so I could test out one of the muskie flies @clarkman so generously gave me (without looking like a nut throwing an enormous fly with an 11wt on a stocker lake)
No takers, but dang that thing looked cool swimming!! I'll get them in front of some big Ontario northerns this summer
First smallie of the season (not topwater; orange & olive craw jig) went maybe 14". Lost a couple others.
And after a couple misses on a popper from smallish fish, got one decent topwater LM on a jumbo gurgler
Bassing has commenced!
On another note, since I was in the area, I gave Evergreen a shot so I could test out one of the muskie flies @clarkman so generously gave me (without looking like a nut throwing an enormous fly with an 11wt on a stocker lake)
No takers, but dang that thing looked cool swimming!! I'll get them in front of some big Ontario northerns this summer
Awesome!!!!!!