Fishing for bass can provide some of the most exciting fly fishing in the country. The largemouth bass is probably the most popular game fish in America. The widespread availability of bass make it very popular for sport fishing. Largemouth bass can be found from southern Canada to South America. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass is also exciting but since they prefer cooler water they are not as widespread as largemouth.
Generally, the warmer the water, the larger the bass will grow. In southern states, fish of 10 pounds or more are not unusual while in colder nothern states a five pound fish will be considered large. The temperature of the water is a key factor in the food available for bass to eat.
The best time to fish for bass is usually just after the bass have spawned. This will also depend on water temperatures. For largemouth bass, spawning takes place when the water temperatures reached the low to mid-60s. In Minnesota for example, a female bass may not deposit her eggs until mid-June, while in Florida the female bass may spawn as early as February.
The behavior of the largemouth bass is also influenced considerably by the temperature at the top of the water. On hot summer days, they usually feed during the early morning hours and then again during the last few hours of daylight, when the sun isn’t as bright and the water temperature is cooler. Bass are generally found in areas of the water that have a lot of vegetation and cover. They spend a lot of time near the water’s edge among the grasses, reeds, and other plants.
Bass bugs and poppers are used by many fly fishermen. Surface lures, including poppers, should be retrieved quickly on top of the water. Other good fly patterns for largemouth bass or the Muddler Minnow and the Wooly Worm. There are some fly fishermen that prefer to use streamers and bucktail.
Techniques for bass fly fishing differ from those used for trout. Poppers are worked not only for their appearance but also for their sound. Generally, when a fly is cast for bass it should be allowed to remain unmoving for a longer period of time than for trout. It is estimated that 60% of bass strikes are made on a still fly. Bass tend to inspect your fly for some time before making the decision whether to take it or not.
At times, fly fishermen like to tease the bass with repeated casts over the area where they think he’s hiding. Teasing can sometimes be a very effective method in bringing a lazy fish up for a strike when nothing else seems to work.
Fly fishing for largemouth bass is a great outdoor sport and can be a challenging as well as a rewarding experience.Don’t miss out on the fun!
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