| When we speak of bass, we are talking about | | | | make is to fish on top of the water, or |
| four main species in the U.S., all of which | | | | sub-surface. |
| are taken regularly on fly rods. In my | | | | |
| opinion, fly-fishing is the ultimate way to | | | | The classic bass fly for top water is the |
| enjoy the sport. Nothing can equal the | | | | Deer-Hair Popper. They can be purchased at |
| thrill of a Largemouth bass exploding from | | | | most stores carrying fly gear, or tied |
| the water and smashing your fly, or a river | | | | yourself. There are many different variations |
| Smallmouth making psychotic twists and turns | | | | and color combinations, and they all work. My |
| in an attempt to throw your fly. Hooking a | | | | favorite is a white and red one, because I |
| Stripped Bass on a fly rod is akin to | | | | can see it well on the water. Next, there are |
| battling a small submarine. | | | | many types of foam bugs, frogs and cork |
| | | | poppers available, and again, they all work. |
| Equipment for Largemouth bass is basic. You | | | | Some are the size of small birds and can be |
| will need a 6-8wt fly rod in the 8-9 foot | | | | difficult to cast in a breeze, so keep that |
| lengths. I recommend a medium action graphite | | | | in mind. |
| rod because you will need some backbone to | | | | |
| exert pressure on a hooked bass near cover, | | | | For sub-surface action, the two best flies |
| and will need some bend in order to cast the | | | | are the weighted Wooly Booger in black, |
| larger bass flies. Your reel should have a | | | | brown, olive or any combination, and the |
| disc drag. Largemouth bass do not make long | | | | Clouser Minnow in colors to match the local |
| runs, but they will put a lot of pressure on | | | | baitfish. If I could only have two flies to |
| your equipment. | | | | fish with, these would be it. They catch |
| | | | anything that swims in both fresh and salt |
| Largemouth bass tend to be lake and larger | | | | water, anywhere in the world! No fly box |
| river fish. They do not particularly like | | | | should be without a good supply of these two |
| current, and favor warm water. They are | | | | flies. My next choice is the incredible |
| ambush predators, and will attack anything | | | | Hard-Hackle Worm, invented by Richard Komar |
| they think will fit in their mouth, from | | | | of Plano, Tx. This is the fly anglers version |
| small nymphs to baby ducks, small mammals, | | | | of a plastic worm, except it works better. |
| frogs, and other fish. They are fearless and | | | | Purple and black are my best colors. On this |
| do not spook easily. They are not meticulous | | | | fly, you cast it near cover and just let it |
| feeders. | | | | float for a bit, then softly twitch it, and |
| | | | it will begin to sink slowly. |
| Largemouth bass respond to noises in the | | | | |
| water, and anything nearby that splashes, | | | | Give it an extra twitch every so often, and |
| gurgles or pops will trigger an attack. In | | | | Hang-On! Bass hit this fly very viciously! |
| addition, movement can trigger attacks. Bass | | | | Another fly I like for Largemouth is another |
| are not particularly color conscious so that | | | | of Mr. Komars creations, the Texas Bullfrog. |
| is the last factor to consider in selecting a | | | | Both patterns are very successful. Other good |
| fly. Usually, anything with a good contrast | | | | patterns are the Dahlberg Diver, and various |
| to the background that they can see well is | | | | leech patterns. |
| good enough. The main decision you have to | | | | |