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

Crick Bassin` - Video

Chasing Smallies in the Crick!

I got an opportunity to chase some smallies in a great lakes region creeks. Do not, I repeat, DO NOT pass up these opportunities.

Growing up I use to play in creeks. I was always surprised by the seemingly never ending list of species that one could find in water that does not even appear possible to maintain aquatic life. It amazed me to no end how such vulnerable creatures could survive through raging floods and hot summer droughts, and yet still thrive.
I've found dace and darters, chubs and suckers, bluegills, sunfish and the sometimes carp. But even as a creek exploring youngster I was on the hunt for bass. Decades later, every time I drive pass a river, stream or creek I still dream about stalking bass!
On this day, in this short video I fished with a Sage Method 690-4 paired with a Waterworks Lamson Force SL #2 equipped with a Scientific Anglers Amplitude Anadro fly line. Admittedly this was small water for this distance capable setup but I wasn't aware what I'd was going to fish before hand so I went with a rod that could adapt over a wide range of uses. The Sage Bass II Series Smallmouth rod would have been a great fit.
The fish were eager to check out a popper and made many close inspections of a feather game changer but in the end it was my personal creation no name bass fly that brought the most to hand.

Keep it real,
Greg

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

On The Hunt - Zero Bass Thirty - Froggin`

Operation Froggin`

If I have learned only one thing over decades of bass angling is that the only assumption one should make is to never assume! In order to avoid the aforementioned condition, I've come up with some guidelines for froggin` on a summer day @ zero bass thirty.

When is Zero Bass Thirty

Summer Bassin` is for morning people. Just arrive at any boat ramp before dawn and you'll witness a real bass angler. He is likely launching his boat before daylight. His rods are rigged and ready. He's already had his coffee and he has a plan. His day of fishing is done before most ever arrive at the water.

So what is his plan

In Summer conditions I generally kick off a day with topwater. Anytime before sun is on the water is a good time to call up bass to the surface. Bass really don't like sun all that much and will avoid it during mid summer days. On cloudy overcast days the topwater action may continue through noon and maybe even the entire day. Never assume that topwater is only effective in mornings and evenings.

Gear

My gear for topwater is simple. Eight weight frog rod. A large deer hair frog can catch fish coast to coast but it's not a lot of fun to cast. My froggin` brothers agree, if you want to fish the frog effectively, bring out the eight weights.

Reasons for an eight weight

1. The deer hair frog has a lot of wind resistance to overcome. Don't wear yourself out with a six weight. 
2. Throw caution to the wind and throw deep into heavy shoreline cover. Popular saying is "if your not getting snagged then you are not getting close enough". 
3. Once hooked up you will need power to pull a bucketmouth from heavy cover. This is no time to be thinking about line on reel or trout sets. You've got to strip set bury the hook and immediately get pressure on that fish before he takes you to the rock garden or bush pile you just coaxed him from.

My Rod Choice

I have two sticks I use for varying situations. If casting short distances, like river drift boat floats I reach for my Sage Bass II Largemouth Rod. The 7'11" stick provides a lot of control and this fly rod has the backbone to pull fish from heavy cover. When longer cast are key and fishing bigger lake type water I reach for my Sage Method 890-4. It casts shooting head lines and big frogs with authority and provides ample power for lifting and pulling fly for one shot backcast and re-cast. The ability to place your frog back on location in a one shot cast is very important for getting a second or third opportunity of a jacked up bass.

Topwater presentation is most fickle

What does that mean you ask? My point is not all bass respond to one presentation...some like fast...some like gentle radiating rings of water movement while others need to hear the kaplump noise made by a short hard strip and yet other fish won't strike it until it has sat motionless for a minute. Refer back to first paragraph regarding assumptions.

Until the fish tell me different, my approach loosely involves this pattern. Once landed allow the water rings to fully dissipate before moving your fly. Once dissipated follow up with a single small twitch and wait as long as you can stand before making another move. If no reaction has taken place at this point you can now experiment any way you like. Try a hard diving strip. Try a hard short kaplump strip. try several small twitchy strips. Make a cast to a new location and repeat.

While we anticipate an extreme surface ruckus on the strike don't assume that will always be the case. I've seen big bass slurp bugs under like a trout sipping a caddis. Always remain vigilant for any and all signs. Watch for a swirl or push of water. These are signs that a bass has come to investigate. Be very aware if a shadow appears under your fly.

Fly rod Froggin` is some of the best warm water action one can experience with a fly!

This is part of the hunt! Don't miss it! Be the Frog!

More "On The Hunt" Series Articles
> Never Sit Down
> Stand Ready
> Strip Like You Mean It!

Watch for my next article "Detect The Strike"

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
Read more Greg's Post...

"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"