On the Hunt - Warm Water and Fly Rods

Do you warm water fish with fly rods? 

I've got to say in the past decade I can count on one hand the total number of fly anglers I've witnessed warmwater fishing with a fly rod on my local lake meanwhile on the trout stream you have to set up camp and claim your rock. What's up with that! I luv fishing trout but forget the crowds! I guess that's why I do most of my trout fishing in the winter time.

I know what you are thinking. Well Greg, you need a boat and I don't want that hassle. I get that! But wait, I've fished all spring on warmwater without a boat and have quite a rack up of species including bass, crappie, sunfish, walleye and catfish. 

Topwater bugs account for a lot of bass but weighted crawfish and streamer patterns fished around rocky structure will produce the majority of your multi species catch. 

Mr. Walleye fell to my float and fly technique. He was positioned right on a vertical dropping rock face. Perfect for a fly to fall in and hang several feet down under a float. With a little wind movement and a couple twitches, it was game on!

So when your trout water has a larger angler hatch than caddis flies and your favorite steelhead run is being swung through tighter than a flea comb maybe consider your local warmwater. You might not only find some solitude but also some eager multi species.

Check out tricks and tactics in my many other On the Hunt Articles
Greg

On the Hunt - Walleye on the Fly

One never knows what One might encounter!

So I've been keeping pretty low in all this COVID-19 mess. To avoid crowds I've taken to much more angling on foot than boats or inflatable craft. It's actually been a fun challenge to find accessible water and to find a tug.

The other day I watched my float disappear to the depths and set a solid hook into what I would have guessed to be a good smallie. When I finally got a look and saw the wally I couldn't have been more excited though I knew the chance of landing the toothy beast was still quite slim.

If you've followed any of my On The Hunt Series of articles than you know that I am a fan of float-n-fly fishing. While personally I find indicator nymphing for trout to be quite boring but something about this float and fly technique for warmwater predators just excites me to the very core. Maybe because it does not select a particular species instead it crosses over all species. Maybe it's because when nothing else wants to work I can count on this technique to produce something. 

This is not the first walleye I've hooked on float and fly but it is the first one I've landed. I for sure have hook at least a couple others and they have either thrown the hook or bit me off. I've also encountered a couple bite offs that I never saw the fish and suspect these were walleye as well.

My System

I have found my Thomas and Thomas Exocett SS 200gr rod to be the most ideal one rod to carry while on foot. It responds with authority to every command I give it. Lift, strip, hookset and cast are all commanded with this rod. It easily crosses over from topwater bugs, streamers and float-n-fly providing a truly universal shore stalker tool.

A Galvan Torque Reel size #6 in blue is a great look and fit. A #7 would also fit well and give you a little more backing capacity

Line is a Scientific Anglers Amplitude Smooth Titan Long WF7F. I feel like this line was made for this rod. It will move anything in short cast and in capable hands go for any distance you want even to the end of the line.

I custom make my own float and fly leaders from Maxima for the butt section to Scientific Anglers Absolute Fluorocarbon Tippet. This tippet proved its worth against those sharp walleye teeth, or maybe a got lucky! Regardless the tippet did its job.

I tie my own flies but the new Solitude Drop Dead Minnow will get you started in this technique.

The addition of this walleye boost my total Float & Fly species count now to fifteen. Who's up for some fish tacos!

I'll see you on the water...But you won't see me!

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop

Read more "On the Hunt Series"

"Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"