Catch Rate For Smallmouth

[stlfisher]

How does your catch rate differentiate between fly fishing for smallies and using conventional tackle? It seems a bit difficult to sneak up on the smallies with a fly rod on the small wadeable streems...especially when you know a long cast is essential but, there is not room to do it.

I am trying to figure out if I am doing something wrong or if my catch rates are the norm. I am getting from 8-12 fish and outing, but I am working hard for them. I can't quite figure out if I am spooking them or if they are just off in the hot weather.

[Guest]

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[Greasy B]

In my experience hardware will definitely out catch software, especially on larger streams and rivers. I would love to fly fish to Smallmouth exclusively but most of the time it would be a waste of effort. On any stream where the bottom is not visible in most places hardware is the way to go. On smaller streams If you can manage to show your fly to the fish before it sees your shadow or your line you may be able to catch as many as conventional tackle, false casting and noisy wading will put a lot of fish down.

[Gavin]

Depends on the day...but I usually do better with hardware. Water is low, clear, and hot. Conditions are perfect for some dusk/evening bass bugging.

[stlfisher]

Thanks guys, that is kinda what I figured. I know I have spooked some fish and some nice ones. It is a bit frustrating when you know the fish are there, but you can't quite get to them. When I was out yesterday there were multiple occasion's when i really wish I had a baitcaster in my hand. At the same time Smallmouth are so much fun on a fly rod.

Tried the evening bass bugging...I would say that has been my most effective fly...and the most fun. I need to tie a few a bit smaller for easier and longer casting when possible. Sneaky Pete's and Clouser's as well. Tried the Gurgler, but I am not sure if i am fishing it right. No dice on that yet. Always amazes me when panfish hit those huge poppers....

[Gavin]

Jack was a friend...but his Gurgler has never produced fish for me. Tim Holschlag is a blockhead...but his blockhead popper slays...dead drift it.

[Al Agnew]

No doubt that under most conditions, using fly tackle puts you at a disadvantage compared to "conventional" gear. On very clear streams where long casts are required as a rule, you have to be really good to be able to consistently make casts as long as you need to make with a minimum of false casting and mistakes, and even then you're often at the mercy of the obstructions to your back cast. And if floating in anything but a jetboat, it isn't easy to maintain the kind of efficiency you can do with baitcasting or spinning tackle.

I'm also convinced that there are certain characteristics of bass lures that simply cannot be duplicated with flies. True walk the dog action in surface lures is a good example; although there is now at least one streamer type fly system out there that purports to duplicate the WTD action, even on their video it really isn't very consistent, nor a true WTD. Another example is any kind of crankbait action, where the major attraction is a more or less steadily moving, wobbling, diving action. How many times have you caught bass near the end of a retrieve with a crankbait, fish that followed it in for a while before taking it? Ain't gonna happen with fly fishing, nor is it really possible to make any fly move steadily for very far, since you have to be continually stripping in line to keep it moving. A third example is suspending jerkbaits...it's the diving bill that gets them down several feet where they are most effective, but then they suspend. Only way to get a streamer down is to weight it, and then it sinks when you pause it, it doesn't suspend.

On the other hand, most of the best fly "actions" can be easily duplicated by lures. Dead drifting is just as effective with a Senko as with a Woolybugger. You can cast out a Pop-R type popper and let it drift and sit for a long time and then manipulate it in any way you would a fly rod popper.

The major advantage that fly fishing has over conventional tackle is the ability to cast practically weightless imitations. And for bass fishing, that's not nearly as important as it is in trout fishing.

Indeed, the only way that I can see where fly tackle is BETTER than conventional tackle is if you are floating, with a partner that is handling the boat, and you are drifting along good banks, a nice easy cast length away from the bank, the water has some color so the fish aren't too spooky, and they are lying along the banks looking for something to plop gently into the water. Then, a decent fly caster using some kind of surface bug can really comb those banks more efficiently than even a baitcaster, just continually casting, working the bug for a few feet, and picking it up and casting it again with no false casting.

In any other application I can think of, conventional tackle is more efficient.

[joeD]

As I've always stated, fly fishing is about FLYFISHING. It is a method to catch fish. Your chances of catching big fish are small. Moreover, flyfishing works best in a very narrowy defined, specific, type of water. Current is a must. Big, I mean BIG, flies are also a must. Otherwise, you're wasting you're time. Too, not to be obvious SIU, but you have to be on water that is productive. Streams that have both numbers and size of fish.

As much fun as I have giving the business to flyfishermen, I do use the long rod on occasion. I caught a nice smallie on Crooked Creek on Father's Day. Unfortunately, my partner has been regrettably slothful in his picture posting endeavors.

[Greasy B]

Indeed, the only way that I can see where fly tackle is BETTER than conventional tackle is if you are floating, with a partner that is handling the boat, and you are drifting along good banks, a nice easy cast length away from the bank, the water has some color so the fish aren't too spooky, and they are lying along the banks looking for something to plop gently into the water. Then, a decent fly caster using some kind of surface bug can really comb those banks more efficiently than even a baitcaster, just continually casting, working the bug for a few feet, and picking it up and casting it again with no false casting.

The key words are "with a partner that is handling the boat". First you have to find one who can handle the boat then you have to find one who's willing. That's a lot harder than just keeping one hand on the tiller and chucking a plug with the other.

[LittleRedFisherman]

Interesting topic, I would have to agree with the general consensus here, but the one time that I really like to flyfish for Smallies is in the Winter. This winter I would catch the water a little cloudy, and do a drift with the boat, and outcaught my friend usually who was using conventional tackle more times than not. Of couse the cloudy water was my friend with the flyrod on those days. This time of year with the clear low water, give me a gitzit and my spinning rod anyday when I head to the Eleven Point here in Arkansas.