Fly Fishing For Largemouth Bass
Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in
popularity. The largemouth bass is considered by many the
greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to just the Eastern United
States, the largemouth bass has been introduced all over the
continent. When most people think of bass fishing they think of,
stiff fiberglass rods, heavy lines and large lures. But more and
more fisherman are finding the advantage of fly fishing for this
game fish.
Advantages of fly fishing:
Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food imitations.
While large lures only imitate a small number of food sources,
flies can imitate virtually all the sources of bass food,
including small organisms like nymphs and even dry flies. Fly
fisherman can also cast out mice, frog, and a variety of other
food sources for these opportunistic feeders. Many times bass are
found in shallow water, hiding under or near logs or snags or in
weeds. Fly casters have the advantage of more accurate placement,
and being able to place their offering quietly without spooking
skittish fish.
Bassy Water:
Largemouths usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit sluggish,
but nevertheless with a speeding up metabolism, they are seeking
food. Most largemouth’s will seek food in the shallows, being
territorial the best hiding places will go to the biggest fish.
Recognizing a good bass hiding spot is the first step in
successful bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas will provide
cover for the wary lunker. Often times bass can be spotted by the
careful observer, in clear water bass will appear green to pale
olive across the back and white to pale yellow in the belly. In
some areas a partner system will be beneficial with one angler
standing above the water to provide a bird’s eye view. Float
tubes can also be helpful allowing an angler to cover a lot of
water in shorter amount of time, although you give up some of the
advantages of sight angling.
When to Fish:
Largemouth Bass emerge in the early spring from deeper water. The
exact timing depends on the region and the severity of the
winter. But when ice begins to thaw and the water warms up, the
largemouths metabolism begins to quicken albeit slowly at first.
The strikes won’t be as hard, as the reticent fish, slurp in
minnow patterns. Much like a trout slurps up an emerger pattern.
But once the water begins to warm to 60 degrees. The largemouth’s
thoughts turn to spawning. In many areas this is around April.
And the bass feed furiously, and seemingly without much thought
to selection. It is during this time, that the bass fly fisher
can found in their true natural environs. Bass cruising the
shoreline in 1-3 feet of water, needing to bulk up for the
upcoming spawn. It is then that the bass are the easiest to
catch. Being fiercely territorial and in a feeding frenzy, they
will attack anything in their path with a ferocity that makes
this fish legendary.
After the spawn the bass seeks out deeper water, however, early
morning and evening in particular can give one great action all
summer long. And with the cooler waters of fall, bass return to
activity that makes a trip to your favorite bass whole a worthy
endeavor.
Techniques:
Early in the morning, I usually fish the banks with steamers.
Casting out Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, Muddler Minnows, and
even a leech pattern or two. One to three feet of water is where
I concentrate, while the bass cruise actively looking for fish to
eat.
In the spring time by afternoon I have switched to floating bass
bugs. The very thing that makes bass fly fishing so fun. Casting
one toward a nice looking bass hiding spot, I allow it to sit
there for a few seconds. If you allowed the fly to ‘pop’ upon
landing and have a nice bass picked out, often times this all
that is needed for the bucketmouth to inhale your offering. Make
sure your rod tip is at the proper angle to absorb the hit, or
the game will be over before it begins.
If after a few seconds the ‘hit’ doesn’t occur, begin retrieving
your fly at intermittent intervals like would occur in nature.
This ‘popping’ action is what attracts the bass to your offering.
Watch for the wake as the great hunter is not at all shy, and
remember especially trout anglers, the bass’s mouth is huge and
these animals were built for eating.
Flies:
Well, The Big Y Fly Co. (http://www.bigyflyco.com) is about
selling flies, so you didn’t think we would forget that did you.
If it is still unclear bass are opportunistic carnivores with
huge mouths, that will eat anything. There are the usual bass
bugs that float like the Frog, and the Mouse Rat. Then there are
the divers, that float and then sink when you retrieve them, like
the Dahlberg divers. And then there are the streamers, like the
Woolly Buggers, Clouser minnows. Furthermore for those hot days
or big reservoirs, there are sculpins and leeches, that like bass
will seek deep water.
The great Largemouth Bass has soared in popularity like few other
game fish. If you haven’t ever experienced fighting one of these,
you are missing out on something special. Now introduced
virtually everywhere throughout the continent on North America,
there bound to be some great bass fishing not for from your door.
Cameron Larsen is a retired commercial fly tier and fly fishing
guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company.
Http://www.bigyflyco.com
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