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Thread: Advice on Bass flies

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Santa Rosa
    Posts
    338

    Default Advice on Bass flies

    Since it's gonna be a while before trout come into play, I'm going to try some bass fishing. There's a small hike-to local lake called Lake Ilsanjo in Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa I've heard has lots of willing bass in the spring time. Nothing huge, but average size is 14".

    I've never done any bass fishing so I need to buy some flies. The Fly Shop seems to have good selection located here:

    https://catalog.theflyshop.com/flies/bass-pike/

    Anyone have any recommendations from that list? The water will probably have a couple feet of visibility.

    Thanks so much.

    ~Jeff

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Hidden Valley Lake, Ca.
    Posts
    174

    Default

    This time of year small sinking bait fish patterns such as the Baby Fat Minnow, Grave Digger, Tak's Mini Minnow, or the Masked Minnow should work. Later in the season you could try small top water patterns. By the way, since you are in Santa Rosa, you should check out the Russian River Fly Fishers. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Veterans building. Our website rrflyfisher.org will fill you in on club activities.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Santa Rosa
    Posts
    338

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by mike borba View Post
    This time of year small sinking bait fish patterns such as the Baby Fat Minnow, Grave Digger, Tak's Mini Minnow, or the Masked Minnow should work. Later in the season you could try small top water patterns. By the way, since you are in Santa Rosa, you should check out the Russian River Fly Fishers. We meet the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Veterans building. Our website rrflyfisher.org will fill you in on club activities.
    Thanks Mike! I'm not planning on heading out until April, but that information helps a lot. I'll check out your website too.

    ~Jeff

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Davis
    Posts
    756

    Default

    My pond experience is the bass are a little spooky and small flies are effective. Ken Hanley did a presentation once about damsels and dragonflies for bass. I would try a bead head wooly bugger.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
    Location
    California
    Posts
    111

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    I'll second John. My most consistent fly is a take off of Polly Roseborough Casual Dress. Marabou tail, shaggy body. I use a very buggy Krakin dubbing from Fly Tyers Dungeon. It has lots of small rubber bits that squirm all over the place. Check out the Krap streamer video. Size 8 hook, 2 or 3x long, stout wire, not dry fly hook. Great over or near weed beds.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2017
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    73

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    There will probably be fish on beds. Generally I fish slow sinking leaches to bed fish similar to what Mcfish referred to since they will be shallow and sight fishing. When they are on beds it’s not rocket science especially if it’s not a highly pressured lake

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    El Dorado Hills
    Posts
    3,715

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    Size 8 black wiggle tail. I've caught largemouth up to 8 pounds on it. It is my go to fly for stillwater for any and all fish. There isn't a fish species I have not caught on that one fly. I fish it 99% of the time.
    So long and thanks for all the fish!!!
    `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><((((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.. ><((((º>

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Fresno
    Posts
    140

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    Been fishing a few of my chocolate water ponds. Trying to find the warm days to get out and see if the bass are starting to transition to their shallows. but only found a couple decent warm days (60 degrees). This is the pattern I'm fishing the shallows, 3' to 5'. I'm throwing a SA Sonar WF-7-i (1.25" per second) SA Sonar WF-7-S (S2, S3 sink rate). So far I've had a LITTLE luck, but I'm limited to carry only 3 rods on my float tube.
    I've also been fishing one of my lakes close to the house for LMB and spotted bass. I've been watching the kayaker's fishing mourned some of the submerged humps pulling fish after fish. I started two weeks ago in between rain storms searching for the bass. I'm marking them down around 15' to 25'. So I went to using LC13 28' on a 8wt and also a T14 shooting head backed with Amnesia. On the LC13 head, I'm using a wacky worm and jigging. It's been pretty effective, but the s**** to cast.
    Sure do wish I had my TPL pram with my Honda 2hp 4 stroke
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    Jay Murakoshi

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Sacramento
    Posts
    7,786

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    KD Mat Rat bass fly. Altho, I don't use it often (requires a surface mat), its still one of my favorites. Its fun to tie and if you've ever had the absolute pleasure of seeing a Bass take from under a mat you'll understand. (hope the images post.)

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    "America is a country which produces citizens who will cross the ocean to fight for democracy but won't cross the street to vote."

    Author unknown

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Santa Rosa
    Posts
    338

    Default

    Thanks everyone!

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