Anybody fish for Largemouth with traditional gear?

[Jay]

About all I have been doing for the last 4 or 5 years is chasing big largemouth. Kinda burnt out but just wondering if you all are fly rod purists or if you pick up gear from time to time.

[Darian]

Jay,.... I much prefer to fly fish but will not hesitate to go over to the "darkside" and use whatever gear is available to catch fish if they're not taking flies. 8) About the only type of fishing I don't like but sometimes will do is trolling. Drowning bait is even on the menu for me. :p

I'm proficient with spinning or revolving spool reels and rods. I'm gonna try to convince our Panguero to teach me how to use a cast net, this summer.... :unibrow:

[Garrett S]

yes i switch to a spinning rod while bass fishing

[Hairstacker]

Well, I still own about a half-dozen spinning reels with matching rods and a couple of the green curados in mint condition with matching baitcasting rods but I very rarely use any of 'em. To me, it just doesn't get any better than catching bass on topwater on a fly rod with deer hair bugs I've tied myself. :D

[Phil Synhorst]

and a couple of the green curados in mint condition with matching baitcasting rods but I very rarely use any of 'em.

Mike, that is sooooo wrong on so many levels. Those Curados are excellent reels, they're not made to sit around!!

Tell ya what, I still believe in the barter system. I have an 8 year old I'd be willing to trade for those set ups. He's a little skinny, but strong and smart. I'm sure he'd have no problem learning how to do chores, etc. for you.:unibrow::unibrow:

[Scott V]

I will always keep using conventional gear for bass. There is nothing wrong with using it. I love catching them on fly gear, but when they are not hitting the fly gear I will always grab my conventional gear.

[Jay]

Cool! Glad to know there are a few bubba rod chuckers on the board too.Thought I might share some fish porn, hope you guys dont mind.Havent done enough fly fishing to have many pics to share, but I got a few largemouth photos laying around.

13lbs-1oz ( Biggest of a 47lb-10.5oz 5 fish limit)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/13-12-1.jpg
11lbs-4ozs
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/11-4withworm.jpg
10lbs-11ozs (Biggest of a 42lb 8oz 5 fish limit)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/10-11.jpg
10lbs-10ozs (Biggest of a 41lb-15oz 5 fish limit)
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/10-10w.jpg
10lbs-0ozs
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/DD.jpg
Part of a 35+lb day
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/667-5.jpg
Staring down the barrel of a five gallon bucket :D
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/7-6-079lband7lb5.jpg
5lb spotted bass
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/5-0spot.jpg
4lb 15oz Smallmouth
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/4-15smallievert.jpg

[Phil Synhorst]

Damn Jay, those are some nice pigs.:thumbsup: That Smallie is beautiful.

[Hairstacker]

Ok, I take it back, it's possible that catching bass like that is better than "catching 'em on a fly rod." :lol:

Man, those are some serious fish Jay. You were obviously a very, very serious bass angler. All I'm wondering now is whether the line on those Curados is still any good and when do you start giving seminars? :lol:

Seriously, awesome fish and photos. Love looking at fish photos.

Phil -- thanks for the offer but I've already got enough of those. :lol:

[Hairstacker]

Jay, let me hastily add that I sincerely hope you become a regular contributor to this section. You obviously understand big bass behavior and habits -- I and maybe others would sure benefit from your insights and would love to hear them. Seriously.

[Phil Synhorst]

I second that motion!

[Jay]

Thanks guys. It sure CAN be fun, it just hasnt been for awhile.

Don't know how much I will be able to help, I am an invalid when it comes to the Delta. I'll keep an eye out here, feel free to ask any questions. Since I probably wont have a good answer, I'll just BS my way through it :D

[Ed Wahl]

Jay, the big question now is, " just how can we duplicate your feats with fly gear"?

I'm hoping to pick up some tips from you.

Late May, early June. Stay in touch.

Ed

[Jay]

Well Ed, youve got me on that one.

The easiest way to get a 10+ on the fly would be off of a bed. I have only got one 10 off a bed myself, and she was a real challenge, even with every odd I could muster stacked in my favor. For those that would not turn up their noses at a sight fish, a heavily weighted streamer 3 or 4 inches long, white, fished with a long leader and a floating line, would probably be off to a good start.

There was a guy that used to sell 10" streamers in a Rainbow Trout pattern on ebay. If you were at the right lake, low light conditions, when they were feeding on planters. There is an ever so slim chance you could get one by making long casts, probably with a two hander over the tops of long tapering main body points. I think you would have to strip as fast as you could and hope for a reaction strike out of them. It would be a tall order for all that to click in my opinion.

I think that a big bait is the best move to up your odds. Fish main lake structure, fish deep, fish slow. Big bass are a tough nut to crack. Everyone will get a luck fish from time to time. But the guys that do it consistently (not me necessarily ;) ) are working very hard, and very smart for their fish.

Of course a big, nasty topwater in the dark on the Delta would probably be a good move too. But again, the Delta is a mystery to me. Ive only managed a couple 6.5's in the probably 10 times I have been there. I dont quite get that place.

So there you have it, my first BS post that was a lengthy way of saying "Hell if I know how to get big bass on the fly" :D

[Jay]

Or you can learn how to cast one of these on a fly rod :D

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h223/fourbizzle/P4180051.jpg

[Darian]

OK,.... Here's my latest attempt at a Rainbow Trout fly for Black Bass/Stripers.... This fly is about 4.5" long. :cool:

http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o31/jockscot/DSCN0001-1.jpg

Can easily be scaled up or down in bulk/length.... :D (weird, the image was much sharper on Photobucket)

[David Lee]

The easiest way to get a 10+ on the fly would be off of a bed. I have only got one 10 off a bed myself, and she was a real challenge, even with every odd I could muster stacked in my favor. For those that would not turn up their noses at a sight fish, a heavily weighted streamer 3 or 4 inches long, white, fished with a long leader and a floating line, would probably be off to a good start.


Those are some really fine Bass you have there , Jay !! Good going !

I'm all for using whatever you like to use (gear , flies , bait) . In the end ..... it's all just FISHING -

Not trying to start a smear ........ but while bed fishing is legal , I don't think ANY of us would want to be pestered whilst ...... uhhhh ..... doing you-know-what . I do understand that it is more easy to specificly target BIG Bass while they're shallow , but I personaly have never been much of a fan of disturbing breeding .

No 'upturned-nose' here , I'd just rather see them left alone to do what nature intended .....

David

[Jay]

I totally understand people's desire to not target bedding fish. For me, I will do it, I dont think it is unethical with bass. But I get more reward from catching them on swimbaits.

I really do think that is your best chance of getting a giant on a fly though.

[David Lee]

Jay -

Thanks for not taking my PERSONAL opinion the 'wrong' way !

Having fished Bass for longer than I'd care to admit ..... I think the reason that flyrodders don't consistently catch 'big' fish is ...... they don't fish for them .

The vast majority of us just want to catch something - to chuck a much larger fly than usual and commit yourself to getting a huge one/not getting a bite at all is probably too much for the average FF'er . The swimbaits haven't been around for very long now (less than the past 10?? years) , but they have increased the # of 10+ Lb. Bass taken by the average angler by probably tenfold .

My PB LMB on fly was a bit under 7 - size #2 Olive/Yellow Clouser in a local river . While I am more than content catching 'normal' Bass ...... if I REALLY wanted a 10 , I'd do these things -

Fish something BIG (7-inch Black Mag Rabbit strip fly , large Dahlberg , 6+ inch Deciever)

Use a 9-10 wt. rod w/ 20 Lb. tippet

Concentrate on depths of under 12 feet in areas of heavy cover in LOW light .

NEVER get discouraged - it might take a week between bites ..... but when you DO get bit , it'll be worthwhile .

I'm glad you're here Jay - we all can learn a LOT from your catches !! Shoot me a line if you ever want a partner for a trip ......

David

[Rodney D.]

Great pics Jay. I wish I could have hooked up with you guys at the expo. but I was only there for about an hour as I had to rush off to my son's baseball game. I am still dreaming of a 10 pounder but I have caught an 8.5 pounder flippin' a jig. I grew up fishing the Delta for bass (and my beloved bluegills) and I was able to catch some good fish on conventional tackle but I have had a few problems since switching to flies. In the Delta a good way to catch big fish is to fish way back in the weeds with large weedless baits (preferrably during an outgoing tide). My problem has been getting a fly that is weedless enough to get through the matted vegetation and getting hooked fish out of the weeds. I use the Sage largemouth rod and although it is a stiff rod, it's still difficult to get them out of the weeds. I think David is right on with a 10 weight and 20lb. leader. I used to flip the Delta alot with 60lb. braid on my flippin stick but I switched to flies because I enjoy the experiece and fight much more. Jay, it looks as if you already know what your doing, you just need to fish the right spots and learn to fish the tides. I also try not to fish for bedding fish which makes catching a big bass a little tougher.

[Tony P]

Jay,

Great pictures. I'm right there with you, Swimbaits & Punkers! http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/smiley-bounce014.gif (http://www.freesmileys.org)

Tony P