Make Bass Fishing More Exciting...

[Bumpus]

NGPC news release, 5/6/08:

Nebraska Outdoor Notebook by Tom Keith

...Use a Fly Rod and Deer Hair Bass Bugs

Do you want to know how you can save gas money, fish new waters close to home and have more fun catching bass than you’ve ever had before? Just get yourself a fly rod and a half-dozen bass bugs.


(c) NEBRASKAland Magazine/NGPC
A diver-type deer-hair bass bug floats on the surface then dives and floats slowly to the top again when properly retrieved.


Fly-fishing is most often associated with trout fishing, but in recent years anglers have learned they can take most game fish species, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, white bass, wipers and panfish on fly-fishing equipment.

The largemouth bass is a cunning, opportunistic predator. It’s coloration allows it to hide unseen in the weeds or near other cover and ambush unsuspecting insects, small fish, amphibians and even mammals that venture too near.

Using flies to catch largemouth bass requires the angler to move along the shoreline, casting to each bit of cover, probing each small pocket in the ragged edge of a shallow-water weed line. Many spots can be reached from shore, while others are best fished by wading or floating along the shoreline in a float tube, canoe, or small boat.

There are hundreds of small public lakes and farm ponds across the state and most offer good fishing, which makes it unnecessary for anglers to travel greater distances to fish the large reservoirs where most people go to fish. Landowners will usually allow fishing in their ponds, but the law requires you to receive permission before fishing private waters.

An 8-weight, 9-foot graphite rod, a weight-forward, 8-weight floating line with a bass bug taper and a 9-foot knotless leader with a 7- to 10-pound tippet is a good choice for most largemouth bass fishing in Nebraska. A second reel spool wound with 8-weight line having a 10-foot extra-fast sinking tip that can be used for fishing the mid-depths or near the bottom is useful for fishing deeper water.

Many bass bugs are made with deer hair, which is hollow and floats like a cork. Deer-hair poppers are a type of bug that has a flat or slightly cupped face, which makes it act like a wooden or plastic popper and allows it to make a kissing sound as it pushes water and bubbles ahead of it when jerked along the surface.

Seeing a bass explode through the water’s surface to smash a deer-hair bug is a thrill that will excite any fisherman. There’s no mistaking the strike of a largemouth bass hitting a floating bass bug. Often there is a splash and the bug disappears as the bass slices across the surface in an arc, engulfs the bug, then dives toward the bottom.

Occasionally, there is a sudden eruption of water as the bass propels itself into the air from beneath the bug, its entire body clearing the surface before it falls back in a larger splash. When the hook is set and the fish feels the relentless pressure of the line pulling against it, it may leap into the air, twisting and shaking its head, attempting to dislodge the hook from its jaw. Now, that’s entertainment!

A good technique is to cast a deer-hair popper into a pocket of vegetation growing along the shoreline or under heavily-leafed tree limbs bending out over or into the water, and let it sit motionless on the surface for as long as 30 seconds, then twitch the rod tip just enough to make the popper shimmy a little, creating little ripples by the movement. If there is no strike at that point, allow the popper to sit motionless again for a few seconds, then sharply raise the rod tip, making the popper dart forward. Let it sit motionless again, then make it pop a second time. Chances are, if there is a bass hovering in the weeds watching the popper, it won’t be able to resist striking the lure.

A hooked bass usually heads for cover, which can spell disaster for the angler. If the leader becomes tangled in weeds the hook can be pulled from the fish’s mouth, or the leader may become damaged and eventually snap after being rubbed over a rough surface such as tree bark, rocks, dock supports, submerged foundations, etc. The angler’s job is to keep the fish in open water, away from weeds and cover until it can be landed.

Diver-type deer-hair bugs are constructed to float on the surface until a sharp jerk or steady pull causes them to dive and swim beneath the surface. When the forward motion or pull of the line stops, the bug floats slowly back to the surface.

Fish the diver parallel to the ragged edge of a weedline, along the side of a log stretching out into the lake, or along the deep-water edge of a shallow flat. Cast the bug as close to the weed line as possible and allow it to lay motionless on the surface for 30 seconds or so. Jerk the rod tip upward to make the bug dive, moving it maybe a foot or so through the water, then let it float back to the surface. No strike? Try it again. If it does not draw a strike, make it dive and then swim it several feet before stopping the forward motion and letting it float to the surface. Most strikes occur as the bug dives after floating quietly on top for several seconds.

During periods of bright sunlight and during the heat of the day, largemouths spend time in deeper water, often near submerged weed beds where they can feed on minnows and insects in the comfort of cooler water and subdued lighting. Often the best fishing action occurs the first couple of hours after dawn or in the evening before dark.

Many anglers find largemouth bass fishing to be very addictive, but until you experience catching a four- or five-pounder on a fly rod, you have no idea what real addiction can be. Do yourself a favor and give it a try this spring.

[mrcold]

More like make bass fishing more work and more of a pain in the butt...

That's one thing I don't think I'll ever get, fly fishing just doesn't look fun to me.



I mean...look at all that effort. If there's one thing I can't stand...it's effort.

[OldBaldGuy]

I'll tell you what really sucks, mrcold, and that's trying to keep those damn green carp off your flies while you're trying for more discriminating fish. In just the first six days of May, I've had to unhook 28 of the doggone things while fishing for bluegill and crappie. They're such a nuisance!

[Fish Recycler]

I was giving seminars in Denver last week, where fly rods are synonymous with trout fishing. The three misnomers that I aim to overcome in every seminar:

- Fly fishing is hard
- Fly fishing is expensive
- Fly fishing is just for trout

Fly fishing is not hard. With a little help, anybody can cast 25 - 30 feet of line in 5 minutes. That's all you need to catch fish.

Fly fishing is not expensive. You can get a combo for as little as $30 these days. I can't take my wife out to eat for $30.

Fly rods can catch you any fish that spinning rods can.

All true!

But, but...fishing is supposed to be fun. If doing it on the fly rod makes it more fun - do it! If it makes a fun thing frustrating, forget it! The last things our lives need are more frustrations.

[mrcold]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

I'll tell you what really sucks, mrcold, and that's trying to keep those damn green carp off your flies while you're trying for more discriminating fish. In just the first six days of May, I've had to unhook 28 of the doggone things while fishing for bluegill and crappie. They're such a nuisance!

I just don't get you old bald guys (in the generic sense, not you specifically). My dad would rather catch 6 or 7 inch perch all day than go fish for bass or pike or any fish of substance. I don't keep fish, I don't clean fish, I don't eat fish. I fish for entertainment. I fish for the fight. Bluegill fight very hard for their size, but there's no way any bluegill could ever fight like a 5 lb. bass/pike/muskie/wiper/catfish, etc. Crappie suck, I just don't like them.

But I'm glad you guys are happy chasing after minnows.

Plus, bass are just much more user friendly since you can lip them...no gettin' spined by perch gills or bluegill fins.

[Harold]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

I'll tell you what really sucks, mrcold, and that's trying to keep those damn green carp off your flies while you're trying for more discriminating fish. In just the first six days of May, I've had to unhook 28 of the doggone things while fishing for bluegill and crappie. They're such a nuisance!

No serious self-respecting "green carp" fisherman would be caught using a "fly rod" to catch his favorite fish. Besides, hurling that 3/8 ounce jig with a jumbo pork trailer is dangerous as it is nearly impossible to control.

A 10" Power worm ain't any easier!

Harold F.

"Where you going, Honey?"
I'm goin' bass fishin', dear."
"With your FLY ROD?"
"Yep, targeting 10 inchers."
"Well, be sure to bring back a few trout for dinner."

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by mrcold

...Plus, bass are just much more user friendly since you can lip them...no gettin' spined by perch gills or bluegill fins.

It took you all the way to the end to admit it, but now we understand the real reason. 'Fraid to snag the old panty hose, huh?

Minnows, indeed!! Any of my one-pound "minnows" could tow your 3-pound green carp around by the tail.

Take a look around the bass fishing lure section of any sporting good store and then try to convince me that bass aren't the LEAST discriminating fish in the pond. They'd eat a red-haired kid with braces on his teeth if he kept them shiny!

[redhawk]

As a newbie to the fly rod I enjoyed the article. Basically I've got a rod, line and a small sampling of flies I bought but really don't know too much about technique, what flies to use etc.

I was trying to catch crappie a week or so ago with a small fly that sinks, I think they call it a nymph with no luck but I'll keep at it.

About all I learned from the experience was that I do enjoy the fly rod and casting side arm is the only way possible to get the line out in wind.........or at least I think that's what I learned. Then again maybe I'm doing everything wrong but it doesn't matter. I had a great deal of fun not catching anything.

[GenericAngler]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Take a look around the bass fishing lure section of any sporting good store and then try to convince me that bass aren't the LEAST discriminating fish in the pond. They'd eat a red-haired kid with braces on his teeth if he kept them shiny!

That is an interesting observation that goes along with my theory that as far as "tackle" goes (of the non fly variety mind you) -- without all of the Bass trinkets -- you could have a well outfitted cabellas or bass pro shop with about as much shelf space as is dedicated to magazines at walmart......With the Bass "bling" -- you end up with places like Cabellas and BPS. (Having whole isles dedicated to just 1 type of plastic worm).

[OldBaldGuy]

Originally Posted by GenericAngler

That is an interesting observation...

All my observations are interesting, Dusty. Unfortunately, most of them are only interesting to me. When you get old, you'll find talking to yourself interesting, too.

[vrentropy]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

All my observations are interesting, Dusty. Unfortunately, most of them are only interesting to me. When you get old, you'll find talking to yourself interesting, too.

If only you'd stop referring to yourself in the third person and answering yourself. It is REALLY disconcerting to listen to when I am down the bank catching all those fish and you are over there muttering audibly like that.

[OldBaldGuy]

Love the way you jump at ANY opportunity, Don, to remind me of the day you caught all the fish! I want a rematch!

[Willie Boy]

good point GA...

Looking forward to the first Trout Pro Shops...or Bluegill Pro Shops...

Actually, fly fishing is a lot of fun. Fish aren't always small...there are some pretty big ones to catch...(Trophy northerns come to mind)

But one of the keys to consistently catching fish is versatility. Bass guys used to be about tossing plugs to stumps...then, through tournaments lots of information began to be disseminated about different ways to find/catch bass...to the point that a 'typical' tournament guy has at least 10-12 specialized rod/line/reel combinations for applications.

Like a golfer has sticks.

Fly guys don't carry a quiver of rods (7 weight for windy condtions, 5 weight for calm; extra spools with sinking tip, sinking, WF etc)...although, I'm sure they'd like too...




Daryl once said something about 'the right tool for the job'...sure I can use a tack hammer to break concrete...but it won't be the best tool for the job.

[Willie Boy]

by the way, Tom Keith is an outstanding writer and has been very influential in my evolution as an angler. His book on fishing for warmwater species in Nebraska is still one of my absolute favorites.

Without fly-fishing in my past, I would not have begun to observe and target individual fish as quickly...like cross-training, lessons learned through fly-fishing get used quite often in my every day pursuit of green trout...

[Done]

If you want excitement, fish scum frogs on the surface. Many times the bass will jump completely out of the water and come down on top of the frog. When the bass is a 3-5 pounder, it gets the heart going.

[mrcold]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Take a look around the bass fishing lure section of any sporting good store and then try to convince me that bass aren't the LEAST discriminating fish in the pond.

At least my bass lures are pretty. You wrap some string around ball of rat fur and call it a "lure".

And, quite frankly, the giant selection of bass fishing lures has more to do with the nondiscriminating bass FISHERMAN than the bass.



(I was gonna make a comment about you old guys being more used to handling one of them floppy rods, but that would just be rude )

[vrentropy]

Originally Posted by OldBaldGuy

Love the way you jump at ANY opportunity, Don, to remind me of the day you caught all the fish! I want a rematch!

I never go for a rematch when I am ahead!

Actually, I would love to have another fishing lunch soon. I need to meet with Chad and get some flies to him. . . .

Originally Posted by Willie Boy

Fly guys don't carry a quiver of rods (7 weight for windy condtions, 5 weight for calm; extra spools with sinking tip, sinking, WF etc)...although, I'm sure they'd like too...

Actually, Willie:

Many of us DO carry more than one rod and line and all. Why I almost ALWAYS have at least the 3 and 5wt. Then I have some sinking tips (different sinking rates) for mainly the 5wt.

Then when you get to the lake and ocean guys, they will usually have multiple spools for each reel for the rod weights they fish and will change line, leader, tactic as the demand changes.

Most of us are just stubborn s though and refuse to 'get out of the fast lane driving slowly with our blinkers on' and take advantage of all of the tools we have available.

[Chad]

Fly fishing is where it's at.

PS - Yes to lunch. Let's line it up.

[Shorty]

Just an observation from this last weekend.
There was a guy out fly fishing in his float tube for 2-3 hours at my favorite farm pond on Sunday afternoon, he managed just two fish. I caught 3 bass in the the first 30 minutes walking the bank with my baitcaster. Once I put my jon boat on the water the LMB and BG bite got really good, and I wan't using a fly rod.

[Alex T.]

Until this thread came out, I thought Bumpus was an ok dog. Now,I can see where his heart truly lies. Hopefully,he'll see the mistake he's made,bite his owner in the ***** and go back to what he truly knows to be the right way to fish. It doesn't matter that he wants to catch bass;look at all the humans that have to pursue them cause they can't figure out how to catch any fish worth while.

Alex