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Springtime Bass: Bigger on a fly rod?
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March 17, 2009
Springtime Bass: Bigger on a fly rod?
Yup, that's a big bass. Really big. Our friend Conway Bowman, better known for his TV shows and affinity for catching Mako sharks on the fly turns his thoughts elsewhere in the spring. Bass and carp on the fly. He caught this cruising fish two days ago on a southern California coastal reservoir.
Conway grew up throwing spinning gear for bass, but recently has decided that a fly rod catches more and larger bass. Bowman states, "I sat there the other day watching a number of bass boats compete by chucking huge jigs along this piece of water for a couple hours. I watched from shore, let them all leave and waded shallow throwing a small Meat Whistle and absolutely cleaned up."
Bowman seems to catch many large fish on the fly rod when the spinning guys can't buy a fish. He attributes his success to the smaller size of the fly, being stealthy, and wading shallow instead of using a huge over juiced boat to chase down fish.
I'm thinking he's on to something here. Should we call the boys over on the pro tour and let them know they might be approaching it all wrong? Bigger and more bass on a fly rod or is Conway nuts?
Many thanks to Conway's talented wife and fishing fanatic Michelle for use of her photo above.
TR
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Comments (16)
I went bassing on Sunday in 40 degree water. The fish were still slow and lethargic(?). They would take nothing on the strip but mouthed my fly (#14 black stone) while it slowly sank straight down to the bottom. I guess in this senerio the fly rod would be the ideal tool.
I've always told my bass tourney buddies that I could outdo them in a tourney with a flyrod throwing flies that look just like a meat whistle. Conway just proves it better. Must be nice to make a living in the fishing industry.
Let me add to my last comment. The fly rod is superior to the spin and bait cast rod with respect to presenting the lure in a manner that induces fish to strike. The only problem is you can cover a lot more water with a spin or baitcaster.
Wow! He should have entered the bass tourney! A lot to be said about stalking bass - finding your target and then casting specifically to them. Up close and personal.
Caught my two biggest largemouth with a flyrod. Kinda cheated though - both attacked the bluegills that I caught with foam spiders and guided past their noses. Should I put those down as dryfly or bait catches?
buckhunter makes the case in point on why tournament bassers go with conventional tackle. Its all about covering water and find the fish that are actively feeding. Could you take a tournament on fly? Of course. But could it consistently win during the whole of a season probably not.
Before I started using the buggy whip I would toss hair jigs designed for crappie at bass. Its the same principle. Natural materials and a bait that bass haven't had land on their heads 400 times.
Same goes for speckled trout in heavy pressured creeks here. After seeing Berkley gulp shrimp and mirro-lures for two weeks a little pink zonker strip will drive them crazy.
For us in the winter the smaller the minnow the biger the fish and that probley works for the spring because the fish are on the same diet as the winter. i got to start to use the small jigs and flys when spring fishing.
I think the fish become accustomed to the boats and clunkier baits being presented to them. Then, when the fly is finessed and offered, it's a more natural and appetizing affair ... fish on.
In Alaska without a hook we try to lay the line over a Sea Gulls flying over.
in maine fly fishing is a very good tactic for bass, we have caught quite a few smallies between 4 and 5 pounds on them. The best fly for us is suprisingly enough a size 14 wooly bugger.
I don't know if I catch bigger bass on average with a fly rod, but it's seriously effective, even for a bad caster like me.
I have said it before- nothing is funner than watching a big bass come out of the water to hit a damsel fly. Even big bass go nuts for them and will hit a damsel fly over and over.
Seems people from the north have no problem throwing normally trout sized nymph or streamer at bass. I had some buddies in college from north of the mason dixon who tried it in some rivers and lakes here with very little success. I think it has something to do with the fact that in the south any ditch that will hold water year round will also tend to hold more of the various panfish species than there are dollars in the stimulus plan. It only takes a couple of minutes of contant 2" bluegills to make you tie on something size 6 or larger(much larger) to cut your sunfish catch to 20 and hour from the 100 an hour you couldn't beat off with a stick when you let a size 14 bugger hit the water.
Conway is one of the best! I've met him numerous times, been warmly met and have been enthusiastically drawn into whatever conversation there is. Mostly, I'm impressed by his knowledge of all the species of fish he challenges. There is no surprise when I see an article that he is able to place a fly and pick a fish where others can not. His experience is top notch. If you ever want a great experience have him guide you on any of the small lakes for Carp, Bass or other warm fish...and don't forget the Mako!
I still can't believe more of those professional bass fisherman haven't flipped to a fly rod. Hey Conway enter a contest and show them how it's done.
Ariel
I think that a lot of it has to do with the are and what the bass are liking. It also depends on how many times the bass see a specific lure. They become un-interested in that lure. I would also like to believe that bass are smart enough to know that when they hear a certain sound or see a certain bait that they get caught and it is not safe to eat that bait when they hear that sound or see that bait. Not many people fly fish for bass so, they do not hear motors and do not see the usual bait so they snag it thinking it's safe.... I think he is on to something
If you are fishing spawning beds I think it is much easier to spot and taunt a strike with a feathery/hairy streamer than a hard bait. Can't fish for bass in some areas during the spawn.
I love catching Bass and the ever elusive Chain Pickerel on the fly. More of a challenge, especially with dry flies.
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For us in the winter the smaller the minnow the biger the fish and that probley works for the spring because the fish are on the same diet as the winter. i got to start to use the small jigs and flys when spring fishing.
I think that a lot of it has to do with the are and what the bass are liking. It also depends on how many times the bass see a specific lure. They become un-interested in that lure. I would also like to believe that bass are smart enough to know that when they hear a certain sound or see a certain bait that they get caught and it is not safe to eat that bait when they hear that sound or see that bait. Not many people fly fish for bass so, they do not hear motors and do not see the usual bait so they snag it thinking it's safe.... I think he is on to something
I went bassing on Sunday in 40 degree water. The fish were still slow and lethargic(?). They would take nothing on the strip but mouthed my fly (#14 black stone) while it slowly sank straight down to the bottom. I guess in this senerio the fly rod would be the ideal tool.
I've always told my bass tourney buddies that I could outdo them in a tourney with a flyrod throwing flies that look just like a meat whistle. Conway just proves it better. Must be nice to make a living in the fishing industry.
Let me add to my last comment. The fly rod is superior to the spin and bait cast rod with respect to presenting the lure in a manner that induces fish to strike. The only problem is you can cover a lot more water with a spin or baitcaster.
Wow! He should have entered the bass tourney! A lot to be said about stalking bass - finding your target and then casting specifically to them. Up close and personal.
Caught my two biggest largemouth with a flyrod. Kinda cheated though - both attacked the bluegills that I caught with foam spiders and guided past their noses. Should I put those down as dryfly or bait catches?
buckhunter makes the case in point on why tournament bassers go with conventional tackle. Its all about covering water and find the fish that are actively feeding. Could you take a tournament on fly? Of course. But could it consistently win during the whole of a season probably not.
Before I started using the buggy whip I would toss hair jigs designed for crappie at bass. Its the same principle. Natural materials and a bait that bass haven't had land on their heads 400 times.
Same goes for speckled trout in heavy pressured creeks here. After seeing Berkley gulp shrimp and mirro-lures for two weeks a little pink zonker strip will drive them crazy.
I think the fish become accustomed to the boats and clunkier baits being presented to them. Then, when the fly is finessed and offered, it's a more natural and appetizing affair ... fish on.
In Alaska without a hook we try to lay the line over a Sea Gulls flying over.
in maine fly fishing is a very good tactic for bass, we have caught quite a few smallies between 4 and 5 pounds on them. The best fly for us is suprisingly enough a size 14 wooly bugger.
I don't know if I catch bigger bass on average with a fly rod, but it's seriously effective, even for a bad caster like me.
I have said it before- nothing is funner than watching a big bass come out of the water to hit a damsel fly. Even big bass go nuts for them and will hit a damsel fly over and over.
Seems people from the north have no problem throwing normally trout sized nymph or streamer at bass. I had some buddies in college from north of the mason dixon who tried it in some rivers and lakes here with very little success. I think it has something to do with the fact that in the south any ditch that will hold water year round will also tend to hold more of the various panfish species than there are dollars in the stimulus plan. It only takes a couple of minutes of contant 2" bluegills to make you tie on something size 6 or larger(much larger) to cut your sunfish catch to 20 and hour from the 100 an hour you couldn't beat off with a stick when you let a size 14 bugger hit the water.
Conway is one of the best! I've met him numerous times, been warmly met and have been enthusiastically drawn into whatever conversation there is. Mostly, I'm impressed by his knowledge of all the species of fish he challenges. There is no surprise when I see an article that he is able to place a fly and pick a fish where others can not. His experience is top notch. If you ever want a great experience have him guide you on any of the small lakes for Carp, Bass or other warm fish...and don't forget the Mako!
I still can't believe more of those professional bass fisherman haven't flipped to a fly rod. Hey Conway enter a contest and show them how it's done.
Ariel
If you are fishing spawning beds I think it is much easier to spot and taunt a strike with a feathery/hairy streamer than a hard bait. Can't fish for bass in some areas during the spawn.
I love catching Bass and the ever elusive Chain Pickerel on the fly. More of a challenge, especially with dry flies.
Post a Comment