Fly Fishing Bass BLOG

All Figured Out

Filed under: Reflections — admin @ 7:15 am

Just when I thought I had it all figured out - I bombed.

THE SPOT
Three weeks ago I was on a small river near home on my kayak and anchored near a well known run. I jumped off the kayak to wade fish. I took two smallies right off the bat on a yellow popper (the fly of the summer, so far) before the really hot ones shut down. I then switched to an olive Clouser and probed the depths finding three more fish to take the more subtle underwater approach.

This is a classic run, very similar to any good trout stream run where a shallow riffle gives way to a sweeping run that is perhaps 4 - 6 feet deep. There’s plenty for everyone in a run like this. A constant supply of shallow dwelling critters swept into the hole and enough depth to offer security from aerial predators.

I figured this is the perfect spot to film some cool on-the-water scenes for our viewers. On two separate occasions over the last two weeks I have returned to this hotspot. Two weeks ago I went in by land on my 4-wheeler only to be completely shut out after setting up a tripod, etc. for filming.

The other night I decided on a water approach and paddled my kayak UP RIVER for nearly 40 minutes straight (full bore) before dragging it that last 100 yards to the heralded spot.

Same result: Not one bite! As I floated down to the take-out spot, I managed three sympathy fish. Yes, the kayaking was invigorating and the summer’s evening beautiful. (But I am still pissed I did so poorly.)

THE HATCH
A week ago I stumbled down to the Mississippi on the head-end of a full moon. Although the water’s high for this time of year, I thought I’d take a look. Near dusk I noticed a robust ephoron leukons hatch commencing. The “Whites” were suddenly everywhere - like a blizzard. A few fish began rising on the duns, especially 2 -4 mayfly clusters which is a common characteristic of this specie.

I noted a large swirl about 20 feet in front of me as darkness descended. I always carry some Light Cahill standard dry fly patterns, just in case. On the second drift a fish took the fly and powered across the shallows like a train. Five minutes later, after a fabulous tussle the 20 inch smallmouth was released. I managed a few nice fish after on the trout-like dry fly scenario.

I returned the next night ready for action. The conditions were similar with two notable exceptions:

1. No Whites
2. No Fish

Morale: Don’t presuppose anything in this game. Treat every outing as a new adventure and don’t be too disappointed if things don’t work out quite the way you envision.

That’s the beauty of the outdoors!

May our pursuits always remain - unpredictable.

Fly Fishing Resolutions - ‘09 and ‘10

Filed under: Observations, Reflections — admin @ 7:27 pm

2010….Almost hard to believe for some of us who have seen a few years come and go. As I reflected on 2009, I felt I had a great year fly fishing for both smallmouth and largemouth bass. This had little to do with the size or numbers of fish caught. It had a lot to do about two key factors, one of which I hope to continue to expand in 2010.

2009 Goal #1:
In 2009 I accomplished my long-standing goal of fly fishing for smallies ALOT. During the low water period from July through September I fished at least 3 - 5 times per week! How could this be? I happen to live across the road from the Upper Mississippi, somewhere between Brainerd and Aitkin, MN. I have several spots I fish alot and almost know some of the fish by name.

With this kind of frequency, I’m bound to catch some fish. Yes, there were days when I got blanked and others when I didn’t. I floated sections of the Mississippi and other rivers at least once a week between July and the end of September. As some of you may remember September was more like August than August was….The fishing held up wonderfully due to the hot days and warm nights. The fish didn’t start to move out of the shallows until October, when the real lousy weather took over.

2009 Goal #2
I vowed to try more patterns, especially sub-surface on ‘09 and did. I continued to experiment with sink tip lines and a lot of lead. Some of my favorite discoveries of ‘09 were the efficacy of Barr’s Meat Whistle, basically a strip leech pattern. I forced myself to fish subsurface and found, when it was all said and done, that Wholly Buggers, in different colors, were the best all around patterns in my fly box. They worked better than several of the life-like Crayfish patterns I tried, such as Clouser’s Crayfish (which was fair at best).

Overall I believe I’m a better smallie fisherman by spending more time beneath the surface. I fish with some excellent subsurface anglers and have observed their productivity and technique. Subsurface fly fishing seems to be able to produce many more fish from one spot than top water. I presume this accounts for more fish being neutral and unwilling to bomb a surface lure - while willing to snap at a big leech, minnow, or crayfish pattern.

2010 Goals
I plan to fish at least as much as in 2010 and try new waters. There are some great rivers north of me - I’m dying to try them. I am going to fish the St. Louis near Duluth, the Bigforks, and Ottertail rivers this next season. I also have a BWCA trip planned specifically routed through great smallie water (unbeknown to the rest of the group…).

In addition, I will continue to experiment with new patterns and pass along their relative effectiveness to you. Please let me know how you are doing on your waters and send along any tidbits for the greater good of us all.

Reflections of Summer 2009

Filed under: Reflections — admin @ 2:01 pm

Fly Fishing Magazines

Filed under: Reflections — admin @ 3:05 pm

I just got the most recent editions of both Fly Fisherman and Fly Rod & Reel magazines. I don’t know why I get them, I don’t believe I subscribed - they just appear.

I am out-growing these kinds of periodicals.

I just don’t get anything out of them anymore. Most of them are thinly disguised high-brow travel magazines targeting big buck globetrotters planning their next $10,000 fishing trip to Tierra del Fuego.

Many now try to attract readership and re-establish credibility with a featured humor writer (usually at the very end of the pub) to be a main attractant to these rags. Some of the writers are entertaining, but most get old very quickly.

It’s the subject matter I can’t take anymore: British Columbia steelhead, Russian salmon, Argentinian trout. How many of their readers can actually expect to relate to fishing like this? I know I am naive, but I suspect very few anglers today, in this economy, are planning such destination trips. Hurray for you that are!

OK, maybe some of it is for dreamers vicariously fishing through others - not me.

I love fly fishing for just about any kind of fish. It’s my favorite activity and a big part of my overall fishing.

This recent turn-off reminds me of the tournament bass fishing world. Wild gonzo big buck fishing machines popping bass all over, etc.  It just doesn’t come close to reality and contorts a beautiful past time into an abstract surrealistic orgy of sorts.

The reality is: fishing is fun and often very peaceful. Fishing is about being outdoors and spending time either alone or enjoying the company of others. It’s one of the few pursuits today where anyone can get some inexpensive equipment and go to a local water resource and simply have fun.

So to you that are looking to send me free fly fishing magazines - save the postage.

When the Fishing Sucks…

Filed under: Adventures, Reflections — admin @ 9:51 am

When the fishing is tough on a river float trip, it’s easy to find other ways to enjoy the day. A float trip on a river can often stand alone as a worthwhile and fun activity in and of itself, regardless of fish activity.

We took a float trip yesterday on the Mississippi and fish were extremely inactive.

Why? Who knows? There’s always tons of plausible excuses, but it happens frequently in this game.

Instead of brooding during and after the trip, we instead focused on the aspects of the trip that made for a great day. Here are a few of the wonders we experienced yesterday. These are things often encountered, but rarely appreciated, as we fiercely flog away, hungry for the next fish.

Here are a few things that made for an intriguing day on the water:

• We saw deer and several bald eagles.
• We witnessed two giant snapping turtles surfacing close enough to the boat to cause excitement from those who had not seen them in their natural habitat. (Road kill is not a natural habitat for an animal).
• There were about six different colored species of damselflies, flittering about, showing off brilliant iridescent colors.
• Cedar Waxwings joined us periodically along the way, plucking mayflies and caddis from the blue sky above.
• My daughter tried and succeeded in fly fishing (as opposed to spin fishing), throwing from the boat and drawing reluctant rises from lethargic (or over-fed) smallmouth. Although she complained about my constant coaching, she was proud to be able to lay a fly out with sufficient skill to draw strikes.
• My daughter got her first lessons on the oars - handling a drift boat, learning how to position the craft to aid the anglers in executing precision target casting.
• I had the pleasure of my child’s company without interruption from today’s ubiquitous electronic devices.

When the fishing sucks on a river trip, chances are it will still be a memorable day - better spent here than almost any other place imaginable on the planet.

Get out there and do it.

Murdich Mania

Filed under: Observations, Reflections — admin @ 7:08 pm