pond largemouth

[drew03cmc]

I have a pond about thirty seconds from the house chock full of largemouth from 6" up to about 5#+. I want to try fly rod bassin, but do not know where to start. Would a 7WT be sufficient for this? Also, what would you use for flies? If I could, just have a general selection of flies for ponds, small lakes, and streams, as well as fishing tips...THANK YOU from a pseudo-newbie to this! I appreciate it

[Dan Pemby]

Drew

One method that works for me on small ponds is split shotting. Works well with light tackle. Here is an article that explains the method fairly well.

Split Shotting

If you did not live so far away, I would come up and give you some first hand advice

[jdmidwest]

Drew

A 7 wt will do, but if you are buying a new rod you might want to go with an 8 wt rod in at least 9'. It all depends on how far you will cast and how big of flies you will use. Make sure you get a weight forward or bass taper line to help you cast the bigger flies.

As far as flies go, poppers, streamers, and big nymphs will be what you will us for the most part. Bigger food for bigger fish. Fishing from at boat into the bank or cover will be most productive.

[drew03cmc]

Thanks Dan! I will try that, just need to get a ML rod. I am shopping for a setup for pond bass, and this made the decision easier! Thanks a million.

[Zach Bearden]

I have a Bass pro rod in 8wt that works great for me (at a good price 50$) with a white river reel and I can roll cast a big deer hair popper all over my local ponds and catch some big bass... Ive bought a new rod for got it for 20$ and its a medium fast action (Mill Creek Anyone heard of it?) but try going to a local fly shop tell them what you are going to do and they will probably let you try one of their rods out and when you get into the sport youll probably never want to fling a popper with a spin rod again... (I have completely given up bass fishing with a Spin rod and even Striper fish with a fly rod now its tons of fun!) Good luck and dont give up on it... You might also go into the Temperate bass part and look at Bill Butts post on gear.. Good Luck!

[drew03cmc]

Wow, sounds to me like I need to be checking out a 7 or 8wt, and get into some big hybrids here locally too! Thanks a million!

[Zach Bearden]

Depending on the size of these Hybrids you may even need a 9 or 10 wt... something around 40lbs a 9 could probably handle but if you have any nicks in your rod from falling, a big clouser hitting your rod and knicking the epoxy on your fly rod youll break it so maybe check out a 10wt... (also pm Bill Butts and tell him what your doing and he can give you tons of insight)

[Crippled Caddis]

Zach wrote:

<but if you have any nicks in your rod from falling, a big clouser hitting your rod and knicking the epoxy on your fly rod youll break it so maybe check out a 10wt>

Changing rod weights isn't gonna do it! It is the nature of the material. Ultra-high modulus of elasticity comes at a price. For pure toughness nothing beats fiberglass and many who pursue big fish still use it for that reason alone. It is particulary suited to casting heavy, bulky flies such as deerhair bassbugs and for casting and retrieval of full sinking lines. Many are 'discovering' that it's still a viable material for highly satisfactory rods that comes with the bonus of durability as well as pleasant casting. Watch for another major player in the flyrod wars to soon announce a new line of fiberglass flyrods.

[shawncat]

I have good luck with my 6wt for pond bass.Try brown or black wooley boogers under an indicator or stripping a white 1/16-1/32 jig.

[creek wader]

I also use a 6 wt. with a 6 lb leader for bass. A 2 lb. leader would work but, I've caught quite a few 5 - 8 lb cats. The big cats love to roll and will make short work of you light leader. By the way, what a hoot catching them on a fly rod. I use a large crawdad imitation. I wade out a few feet and cast parallel to the bank. It works great. Ive caught quite a few bass between 18" and 22". No problem with a 6 wt.