Fly Fishing For Largemouth Bass
by Cameron Larsen
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 commericial fly tier
and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly
Company.
www.bigyflyco.com. He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com.
The above article will appear in the Big Y Fly
Fishing E-Zine at
www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html |
