Fly Fishing For Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass
You pile your fly fishing gear into the van and head out to a swiftly moving stream that you know of. You park the vehicle and head across a pasture. You're glad the owner is a friend of yours, as you have blanket permission to fish on his land. You walk down a steep incline to the crystal clear stream, slip on your thigh waders, fill your fishing vest with various types of flies and wade into the stream.
When you are in position, the tip of your rod should be in the four o' clock position with 20 feet (6 meters) of line extended beyond your rod's tip. Trap the line between the rod handle and your index finger. To begin the back cast, bend your elbow, raise your forearm and move the rod tip from four o'clock to eleven thirty and lift the line from the water. Pause for a moment at this point to allow the line to extend behind you before casting the rod forward. Allow the rod to follow through as the line extends to its full length in front of you. Then continue to work the line in this manner. Suddenly, as you work your rod and line, a fish strikes. The fight is on and you successfully land the fish. You've just learned the art of fly casting.
The smallmouth has gained a terrible reputation of being extremely hard to catch. People find smallmouth bass fishing totally frustrating because they are unable to understand that these fish are totally different from the largemouth bass. People tend to associate the smallmouth with the largemouth and use the same tactics to fish for them which becomes a fiasco.
Smallmouth are Nothing Like the Largemouth
An experienced hand will tell you that there are a few major differences that put the smallmouth a world apart from the largemouth. First of all they do not use or need cover the way the largemouth does. Smallmouth will rather use depth for hiding rather than bushes or weed beds. This difference makes it difficult for the angler to catch them if he is not prepared for its depth dive. You will, very seldom, find smallmouth bass further than 20 yards from really deep water.
Fly fishing is an ancient method of angling. It was primarily developed to catch trout and salmon. Today, it is still used to fish these species, but is also used to catch bass, carp, pike and a wide range of saltwater fish. The difference between casting and fly fishing is that in casting you use the weight of your bait, sinker and bobber to propel your cast. In fly fishing, the weight of the line propels your line forward and puts your fly into position. The fly cannot do this, as it is essentially weightless. The goal in fly fishing is to present the fly gently and to always be in control of it.
When you fly fish, you need special fishing equipment that includes a fly rod and reel, a special fly fishing line and artificial or live flies. These are tied onto your hook with feathers, fur, thread or other materials in colors and sizes that represent natural prey. The key to successful fly fishing is balance. The rod, reel and line, as well as the tippet all have to match in order to have a positive fly fishing experience.
Rod, Reels and Lines
Fly fishing rods are lightweight and long. The line provides the casting weight and is heavy. It can be of differing density, depending on whether you want the fly to sink or float. Line is matched to your rod by weight. Look near the fly rod butt to find out what line weight must be used. Graphite rods are best because they can produce any action that you wish to use. If you are a beginner, buy a basic and moderately priced rod, or borrow one from a family member or friend.
Flies and Leaders
Flies weigh very little. The fly is usually attached to the line by a leader that is two to three meters in length (6 to 9 feet). The leader often tapers to a fine end. This is called a tippet. Tippet size range from 8X, which is the smallest, to 0X, which is the largest. Tippets are set in units of .001 inches. To match the tippet to the fly, you must subtract from eleven and multiply by .001.
For example to find the diameter of a 4X tippet, you would subtract four from eleven. That equals seven. Now, multiply by .001. This size would be .007. What if you have a # 18 fly? How would you calculate tippet size? You would put eighteen over four and calculate. The answer would be 4.5. Since there is no 4.5 X tippet, you would move to the next largest size, which would be 5.
Have you ever been pulled overboard in the cold winter season just when you thought that you have the largemouth bass well within your hold? If yes, you will know what I mean when I say that splitshotting is an extremely fine line between success and failure of catching largemouth bass. Unfortunately, more often you land overboard than the other way around because largemouth bass fishing can be pretty tricky if you lack practice and experience.
The rewards of mastering the largemouth bass fishing techniques
It is easy to catch the largemouth bass once you know how to set the hook and pull it in. This is exactly like saying it is easy to fight a bull once you know how to subdue it. The comparison here is very apt since the largemouth bass is a quite as aggressive fish, known to struggle fiercely and capable of breaking good and very powerful rods and tackles. This is why the rewards of splitshotting are so great. You feel on top of the world when you get to outmaneuver this great fish.
Types of Fly Fishing
There are two types of fly fishing - dry and wet. Wet flies are fished beneath the water surface and are divided into several types, including live wet flies, lures and nymphs. Dry flies float on the water surface and are coated with a substance called, 'floatant' to make this possible.
If you are interested in fly fishing and can't decide which equipment you need to have a positive fishing experience, ask an experienced angler for help. This can be a family member, friend, someone from the local angler's club or a staff member of the local fly fishing shop. Fly fishing is not as hard to learn as it appears to be. Have fun and enjoy that big catch.
Bass Fishing
Bass fishing is one of the most common types of fishing. Many bass fish are found in bayou water and salt water. They also move through lakes, ponds, reservoirs and streams. If you know the basics regarding conditions and places where bass are likely to be, you will have more success when you fish for them.
Bass Fish
Several fish species that are being caught in the bass fishing events are the following:
- Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) - Largemouth Bass
- Micropterus dolomieui - Smallmouth bass
- Micropterus punctatus - Kentucky Bass
Other species of Micropterus are also caught but one that remains popular is the Largemouth bass. However, it should be emphasized that Australian Bass are different from the above North American Bass variants although most share similar features.
The angler who is used to the habits of the largemouth bass will do smallmouth bass fishing in a similar fashion, and hence search for these fish along the muddy waters of the shoreline. The smallmouth however will be swimming happily in the open waters. Another important difference is that the smallmouth bass will move in shoals that are based on size. In case you catch one smallmouth of a certain size, know for sure that in that area you will catch only that size.
The Smallmouth Bass is a Different Fish
Smallmouth bass fishing has made this difference extremely obvious and thank God for that. The assumption that smallmouth and largemouth are almost the same fish has baffled anglers for a long time. Besides the fact that they live differently, their habits are different, they also look different. The smallmouth are built to swim in the swift currents of the river while the largemouth, are more suited to their sedentary predatorily life.
Find Them First and Then Go for Smallmouth Bass Fishing
The smallmouth being always close to deep water can disappear right before your eyes. You will need a lot of patience in the first place, a keen eye and a deep understanding of their behavior. Smallmouth bass fishing is tough; but that is exactly what makes it such a great sport. It is wonderful when you manage to outwit this extremely shrewd fish. In the meantime, remember smallmouths are DIFFERENT!
Perhaps, the most robust success of Bass Fishing was in the 1950s. The popularity of the game during this period is the springboard to the development of modern fishing equipments from bass boats, rods, lines, lures and various fishing gears.
Electronic gears were also incorporated among the host of equipments bass fishers used at that time. Reels of different types, which function in hauling and hoisting, were also created.
Many variables change the location of bass, such as water conditions, water levels, weather, and light and food availability. There are three main elements that must be present in a body of water in order for bass to survive: Food, oxygen, and cover.
A bass' favorite meal is crawfish, which they prefer over shad. Basically, crawfish are usually more plentiful and they are easy for the Bass to catch. However, a bass will typically eat anything from rats, mice, ducklings, frogs, snakes, salamanders, worms, lizards, grubs, baitfish, insects, and leeches. Their ability to feast on one thing above another is why many people find such enjoyment from fishing bass.
Oxygen is another key component in finding bass fish. The basic rule of thumb is that the cooler the water, the more oxygen content. Therefore, if you are fishing in the spring, summer or early fall, you will find that the larger bass will drop down lower to find the cooler and more oxygen-filled water. They will also swim to find areas that are more concentrated in vegetation in order to find a better oxygen source. Trees, stumps, wind-blown banks, and power plants are all good sources of oxygen that will attract bass fish.
A bass relies on cover for a means of protection and way of ambush. Cover is part of a bass' survival. The bass is known as a lazy fish, so they will hide and wait for their prey to come to them. The other reason for cover is that bass fish do not have eyelids and the cover is a way to prevent blindness. Some common cover areas to find bass in are around fabricated wood structures such as fencerows, docks, and pilings. They have been known to hide under floating pieces of wood or decaying wood. Weeds are the second best place to hunt for bass. Finally, rocks are the third place that bass will find cover. Rocks are not as reliable as weeds or wood, but sometimes a bass will find decaying pieces of food to feast on within some rocks. Remember that rocks do not produce oxygen, so the source is not as consistent.
Spiltshotting is practicing the art of largemouth bass fishing to a perfection; it is the art of knowing when to land the hook, when to leave and when to pull to the fraction of the second. It definitely takes a lot of practice to be able to identify every bump that rubs your line under water and know exactly when the fish bit, so you can lower your hook. The slightest hesitation to set the hook will set the fish free, and many times you overboard.
The right technique
From the moment the fish bites your bait to the moment you pull it in your boat, a series of techniques are applied that classifies it as the right way for largemouth bass fishing. Each one of them complementing the other in such a way that it almost overlaps. You feel the tug in the line, and you will know that your fish has got the bait. It is important here that you maintain contact with the bottom so the fish does not bolt. Then as the line gets relaxed you will have to set the hook and get ready to pull in. It does seem simple when you think about it, but it takes years of practice to go through these movements automatically.
When it comes to fishing, everyone has a different opinion. You will often find that these opinions range in location and source. However, there are some lures and baits that are recommended for bass fishing that may be useful if you haven't tried them. Tequila colored 7-inch worms with added scent are recommended, as well as Rebel Wee-Rs. Hellgrammites are thought to be the best live bait, and many will say that you don't need big lures to attract big bass. Everyone will tell you to tie up to an embankment, or find a dock to get close to, but it is really an art that could take years to perfect.
Bass are notorious for slow moving and lack of distance in their movements. Logically, you could sit 30 feet from the biggest bass of your life, and he is not going to swim to your bait out of pure laziness. Finding the exact spot is difficult and a lot of fishing has to do with luck. The only part that you can control is finding the most likely places that a bass may be and exercise some patience. Weather is important to bass as well. If it is a cloudy day, you might have more luck than on a hot summer day. However, overcast is probably ideal for water temperatures, but then you have to decide what you are willing to sit through in order to catch a fish. The bottom line with bass fishing is you can only do your best with the knowledge at hand.
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