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

Predator Hunt - Warm Water Fly Fishing Lakes and Reservoirs

Smallies at Sunrise

On The Hunt

Over many years of warmwater lake fishing I can count on one hand how many other anglers I've witnessed fishing with a fly rod. I'm talking hundreds of days spent on the lakes and reservoirs, warm water fishing and rarely ever see another angler with a fly rod. Why is this water so barren of fly anglers!?

Do you have a warm water lake or reservoir near you? Let me provide you some reasons you might want to fly fish this water.

Let's start with the obvious...No one else is doing it!

These warm water fish have seen every lure known to man but they have never seen a fly. That is a HUGE advantage! They've never seen streamers or natural looking crawfish patterns. No one has ever fished a beetle, dragon fly, diving hair frog or fly popper to them.

Multi Species

Lakes usually have many different species inhabiting them. This fact can make the fishing interesting when you are never sure what you have hooked. It also can provide options. When some species are being hard to find others may be readily available to take your fly.

Crappie on the Fly

Room to Fish

When the local trout streams are crowded I can usually find solitude on lakes. Sure, you'll need a watercraft of some type to get there but that becomes part of the adventure. A boat or kayak, I've even ventured out in my Outcast Stealth Pro on lakes and found great fishing.

Stable Environment

When you favorite river gets blown out by a storm the day before you were all set to fish why cancel out the day and sit on the couch stewing about it. Go to a lake instead. Most lakes can take a pretty good storm without being disrupted. Sometimes the influx of fresh rain water can even turn fish on. Make your local lake a plan B and before you know it might become your plan A.

Wild Fish

The other day I had a trout fisher friend from Colorado with me on a local lake. We were having a great time catching smallies. At some point during the day he asked in a statement way, "so these fish are hatchery I assume?"

Largemouth Bass on the Fly

It never ever occurred to me that this could be a question but I guess if you only grew up around stocked trout fisheries then why would one assume warmwater would be any different. New  reservoirs may have had some original plantings of species but after that most warm water lakes and reservoirs are self sustaining and therefore the fish are wild!

The Pursuit

Remembering back many years ago the first time I took a fly rod to a lake I felt a bit like it was a needle in a haystack kind of situation. Armed with a craw pattern fly a friend had given to me it wasn't long and I found some smallmouth bass. Pretty soon I was spotting carp to cast to and after a few failed attempts I finally got one hooked up. Today I've caught on fly about every warmwater species you'll find in the most lakes.

2001 - My first Fly Caught Smallmouth

Funny Looks

I get funny looks from other anglers that I encounter during my day and many have even asked if I am actually catching anything. Little do they know while they were within my sight I was quietly releasing my catch on the opposite side of the boat so as to not give away any secrets. Today , I can out-fish most gear anglers with ease.

I'm Hooked

For me a fly rod on a lake is not only a viable, fun tool but I've also come to realize that in many situations in the right hands it is a superior tool. I can deliver pinpoint accurate cast with realistic presentations and offer to multi species, natural imitating fly patterns with an end result of incredibly fun fishing.

Now, Why aren't you doing this! Get More "On The Hunt"

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

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop

"Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"

Boats, Fly Rods and Warm Water

I grew up with warm water fishing. Bass, Bluegills, Crappie! Boats, Canoes, Creeks, Ponds. Mosquito, ticks, chiggers. Wouldn't trade it for anything.

Last few years I've really have embraced warm water lake fishing. Specifically fly fishing. It's funny to see the look on other anglers faces as you fly cast and catch fish after fish while they sit there in pedestal seats, casting spinning rods meanwhile complaining about the 6" of wind chop.

I have to remind myself the fact that I've gotten pretty good at this game over the years. Here is some hard fast rules to follow when fly fishing warm water lakes.

Never sit down

Fly fishing is a stand up sport and most lake fishing involves hitting targets. You need to spot your targets and remain vigilant at all times for fish reacting to you fly.

Embrace the wind

Wind brings more positive attributes then negative. Sure it can make casting tough and there is a limit to how much wind one can fish in but in my experience some wind is usually better then no wind. Wind breaks the waters surface providing you cover so fish don't see you or your fly line. Wind stirs the water and adds oxygen helping fish feel good. Fish may also remain more shallow in mid day sun on windy days. Face the facts fly anglers, our fly techniques are depth challenged. Wind, especially in mid day can help us more then it will hurt us.

Leave the 5 weights at home

Wind, heavy cover, big fish, big flies are all good reasons to step up in fly rod size. I equip my boat with 6, 7 and 8 weight rods. Six weights for the easy stuff like hard body poppers and eights for big hair frogs or big streamers. I know many think an 8 weight is too big for this fishing but consider that you may be casting 6 inch streamers all day long with wind. It doesn't sound too big now does it?

Bigger Flies...Bigger Fish

This is one case you don't always match rod to fish but instead match rod to what the conditions will require from you. If you're casting terrestrials to small fish then a five weight will do you fine. I will tell you as a fact that there is a strong correlation between fly size and fish size. If you want to consistently catch bigger fish you will need to throw bigger flies.

Risk your fly

If you're not willing to power cast a 6 inch deer hair frog into tight heavy cover then don't expect to reap rewards. Sure, snagging shore can become frustrating. Get use to it and in time you will naturally become, not only better at casting, but also better at un-snagging. One technique that I've learned which has helped tremendously is to roll cast a snag. You have to be within the head of your fly line to accomplish this but with practice you will be surprised what you can free your fly from.

Why Not

I see warm water predator fly fishing becoming more popular everyday. I can't just sit around and wait for some special week long fly fishing trip once a year. I've got to be fishing whenever I can and warm water is a part of that. I love the reactions from gear anglers...Are you catching any? You're fly fishing? Does that work? lol... In many ways the fly angler is some much better equipped for this fishing. I know this because I have years of gear angling warm water experience to compare it too.

If you have warm water fishing available to you I highly recommend you take advantage of it. Please feel free to reach out to me and tap into my experiences. I'd be thrilled to share my knowledge and promise to get excited for your success.

More "On The Hunt" Articles

Greg Darling 

Gorge Fly Shop
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"My Passion For Fishing Is A Lifelong Pursuit Of Discovery"