Fly Fishing for Bass
Brian Smith asked:
When I cannot get away for a few days to the mountains or the coast I can always take a few hours and do fly fishing at a local lake or farm pond. Bass fishing with a fly rod in the spring and early summer can be a lot of fun.
First let’s find pond or lake close to you that you can go fly fishing. If you have a float tube or inflatable small boat you can use these are excellent choices for lakes and farm ponds. If not, most lakes have enough cleared areas that you can easily use a fly rod. Farm ponds can actually be a great place to catch large bass. If you approach the owners of farm ponds and politely ask permission to fish there ponds and explain to them that you will release the fish you catch and take care of their property you will be surprised how many will give you permission. Also tell them that you will pick up any trash you find around their pond. Be sure to always take a trash bag with you and pick up any trash you do see and when you leave stop by the house and ask if you can put the trash in their cans. If you do this you will always be welcome on their land.
Next you will need an assortment of bass flies with you. In mid spring to early summer I prefer to use dry flies, working them along the banks and any obstructions and cove I can find. Along brush piles or logs in the water often hold large bass. Any tree limbs or brush over hanging the pond or lake will also hold bass. The flies I take with me will always include; bass popping bugs, rabbit strip divers, deer hair bass bugs and some mouse rats. Chartreuse, olive, yellow, purple and red are probably the beat colors to have with you. The mouse rats, of course, will be brown or black. I also always have a woolly worm assortment with me. If you are not having any luck with the bass you can always switch to small woolly worms and have a lot of fun catching large brim.
As the summer progresses and the water warms many large bass will go to deeper cooler water. When that happens I will use bass flies that do not float. My three favorite flies for this are bead head woolly buggers, weighted zonker flies and leaches. Again I always have some small woolly worms with me and catch some brim when the bass are not biting.
I hope my suggestions will help you catch more fish and always remember to take of the lake or pond you are fishing like is was yours. When fishing someone else’s pond always share with them what you have learned the fish populations on their pond. Many farm ponds will become over populated with small fish and at times will need to be thinned out. Likewise they can also be overfished. The owner will appreciate the fact that you are interested in helping him maintain a healthy fish population.
Tight lines and clear water,
Brian
fly fishing
When I cannot get away for a few days to the mountains or the coast I can always take a few hours and do fly fishing at a local lake or farm pond. Bass fishing with a fly rod in the spring and early summer can be a lot of fun.
First let’s find pond or lake close to you that you can go fly fishing. If you have a float tube or inflatable small boat you can use these are excellent choices for lakes and farm ponds. If not, most lakes have enough cleared areas that you can easily use a fly rod. Farm ponds can actually be a great place to catch large bass. If you approach the owners of farm ponds and politely ask permission to fish there ponds and explain to them that you will release the fish you catch and take care of their property you will be surprised how many will give you permission. Also tell them that you will pick up any trash you find around their pond. Be sure to always take a trash bag with you and pick up any trash you do see and when you leave stop by the house and ask if you can put the trash in their cans. If you do this you will always be welcome on their land.
Next you will need an assortment of bass flies with you. In mid spring to early summer I prefer to use dry flies, working them along the banks and any obstructions and cove I can find. Along brush piles or logs in the water often hold large bass. Any tree limbs or brush over hanging the pond or lake will also hold bass. The flies I take with me will always include; bass popping bugs, rabbit strip divers, deer hair bass bugs and some mouse rats. Chartreuse, olive, yellow, purple and red are probably the beat colors to have with you. The mouse rats, of course, will be brown or black. I also always have a woolly worm assortment with me. If you are not having any luck with the bass you can always switch to small woolly worms and have a lot of fun catching large brim.
As the summer progresses and the water warms many large bass will go to deeper cooler water. When that happens I will use bass flies that do not float. My three favorite flies for this are bead head woolly buggers, weighted zonker flies and leaches. Again I always have some small woolly worms with me and catch some brim when the bass are not biting.
I hope my suggestions will help you catch more fish and always remember to take of the lake or pond you are fishing like is was yours. When fishing someone else’s pond always share with them what you have learned the fish populations on their pond. Many farm ponds will become over populated with small fish and at times will need to be thinned out. Likewise they can also be overfished. The owner will appreciate the fact that you are interested in helping him maintain a healthy fish population.
Tight lines and clear water,
Brian
fly fishing
