First post - Bass on the fly

[JonnyP]

Hi there!

This is my first report, so bear with me. I'm a novice 'wannabe' fly fisherman. I live out in Brentwood and mainly fish the Delta, I've just started getting deep into the fly (helped by Jay from Evolution). I'm 25 years + conventional gear guy, but I'm hooked deeply on the fleastick!!

So, I've been hitting the delta hard the last couple of weeks. I've been fishing exclusively with the fly recently, save for a couple of hours here and there where I broke out the frogs. The wind has been horrible lately and the water temps are well up, so I've been tuning my game for LMB and some finesse work on lighter gear...

I found this nice protected stretch of water off Dutch Slough to practice:

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07392.JPG

Rarely see any other boats

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07391.JPG

I was fishing with the frog last week in the wind, as soon as the sun got low, about 90 minutes before dark, the wind dropped and the insects cam out in force. DEET Matters

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07396.JPG

As the mossies and noseeums descended, the minoows and panfish stated feeding, that of course, drove the LMB crazy and pretty soon I had fish busting around me. I only had frogs and spooks and I think the spooks 'spooked' the fish, a couple of follows but no committment. I hatched a plan - I needed a 'non clouser/shooting head' solution.

Picked up an 8wt and re-tooled the fly box

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07395.JPG

So, the thing I love about the fly, is the stealth and lightness of touch that you can acheive. I hit the water Saturday and as soon as the wind died down, it was on. I needed to work in close;

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07393.JPG

By this time, I was practically sight fishing, I tied on a crawdad pattern and hit a swirl.

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07390.JPG

*BOOM* fish-on, my first 'unassisted' decent LMB on the fly.
Here's the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDxTHrDzkfE

Was a nice female - well conditioned

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07387.JPG

http://www.anglersunite.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSC07388.JPG

Thanks for looking!

[Hairstacker]

Jonny, welcome aboard and great report! Beautiful fish too, love that last picture. That spot looks like a good place to throw topwater up against the bank, especially when the bass are busting surface up and down the slough. :!: Anyway, congratulations on the 1st good bass on the fly -- I hope this report is just the first of many, many more! :D

p.s. -- are you from England?

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Unbelievable first post......welcome to the Kiene BB family and much thanks JonnyP!!!


Some day you might get out with a LMB guide in the Delta, even a half-day evening thing.

Kevin Doran, Jerry Neuberger or Andy Guibord can show you how to fish top water in the Delta in the AM and PM now.

We use the Umpqua weedless 'Swimming Frog' in a size 2 most of the time for top water.

We use 6 feet of 20# mono with a non-slip loop knot to the fly. Barbless too.

Put a WF10F 'Saltwater' floating line on that 8 weight rod or a Sage 330 grain Large Mouth Bass line.

PS: We will be out next Wednesday in the Delta for "top water only" with Captain Kevin Doran.......................yahoo.

[Phil Synhorst]

Damn Jonny, that's one hell of a first post!!! Great pics and narrative, look forward to seeing more.8-)

[JonnyP]

Thanks Bill, thanks for the warm welcome from all here, great bunch of people!