Our Buddy Charlie Reading

[nomolites]

8 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Oh man, I could write a book. 😊

To me they are the perfect warmwater fly-fishing target.   Not a lot is written about them and very few "studies" have ever been done, so basically you are on your own to figure them out.  I find that to be a very rewarding challenge.  Since I mostly fly-fish for them I only target the ones that are in the shallows (6ft. or less), and I actually like Summer/Fall out on the flats better than the Spring spawning run up the creeks. 

They hit like a freight train, fight like hell, are delicious to eat, and they often run in large schools so once you find them you can usually load the boat in under 30 minutes.  Not always though, sometimes they'll throw you a curve and you may not be able to figure out if they've changed locations or just changed their feeding strategy.  

The technique I use to find them involves a fly that you can see underwater, and a high speed erratic retrieve.  They can't seem to resist a RACE, so if you zip a sexy pattern by them real fast usually one (or 15+) will rush after the fly and either body-slam it or flash at it.  Once you see THAT then buckle down and try to figure out a way to catch a few.  As you start catching them the rest of the school often gets all fired up by the activity and becomes more and more aggressive.  It's fast, furious, and even after doing it hundreds of times I still get all excited and have to work at staying calm so I don't blow it.   If you make a really sloppy cast, or make too much noise you'll put them off and they'll either move or quit biting/chasing.   

Throw a few double didgit hybrids in with them and you’ve got summertime on LOZ.  I’ve not tried them with the fly rod yet but I will make sure I have plenty of quality backing before I do......

Mike

[tjm]

1 hour ago, nomolites said:

will make sure I have plenty of quality backing before I do......

what pound test line can they break?  Can they pull the boat?  What I'm asking is can you not stop or slow them  in the length of a fly line? 90'?

Are they in the rivers or tributaries at any time but spawning? Sounds like they might be fun wading for.  You are right wrench, nobody talks about sandies on fly or whites on fly and I have intended to make an effort to catch them up the Elk or Buffalo some time and rip a Mickey Finn through them just to see what happens, but I always  forget when they run.

[fishinwrench]

If they hit while you're mid-strip they can bust 12# line easily.....and I'm just talking about a 18" White.   Hybrids are a whole 'nother story and I claim no knowledge of THEM.   I actually don't like them mixed in with native White bass and wish they didn't even exist where I fish.  

A Mickey Finn ain't gonna cut it, you'll do much better with fat headed patterns that push water, or something akin to a Clouser that has some jigging action.   For top-water action nothing beats a Crease fly in the right size.  And actually a Crease fly on a sink tip line is a killer too.  

[snagged in outlet 3]

Hybrids are the king of freshwater for fly fishing.  Better tape up your fangers!!!

[fishinwrench]

17 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Hybrids are the king of freshwater for fly fishing.  Better tape up your fangers!!!

Ahh!  Snort! Stomp! Pfffft !  😤

[snagged in outlet 3]

That's my opinion.  10 pounds of hybrid is a hand full....25 pounds is two!😀

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, tjm said:

what pound test line can they break?  Can they pull the boat?  What I'm asking is can you not stop or slow them  in the length of a fly line? 90'?

Are they in the rivers or tributaries at any time but spawning? Sounds like they might be fun wading for.  You are right wrench, nobody talks about sandies on fly or whites on fly and I have intended to make an effort to catch them up the Elk or Buffalo some time and rip a Mickey Finn through them just to see what happens, but I always  forget when they run.

               What do you mean no one talks about whites and hybrids on the fly? Where have you been tjm and do you read posts on this forum? 

  What pound test line can they break? That just doesn't make sense. How tight are you going to have your drag set? What pound tippet are you using? For hybrids better have something stout and if you don't want your rod to break lighten up your drag.

      Are they in the rivers or tributaries at any time but spawning? Whites sometimes, Hybrids most defiantly!

 Sounds like they may be fun wading for? Again where have you been looking on this forum?

          Forget when thy run? Dang   Tail end of walleye and just before crappie on the whites. Hybrids a bit after the whites for the best fishing although some smaller ones will be mixed in with whites. Pay attention man there is a wealth of information on here. Reports, reports, reports. I don't report like I used to.

            tjm you had better be paying attention or you may forget when it happens. This is just a sample of what is out there.

BilletHead

10 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

Ahh!  Snort! Stomp! Pfffft !  😤

         Oh and Wrench sounds like sour grapes to me  

[nomolites]

5 hours ago, tjm said:

what pound test line can they break?  Can they pull the boat?  What I'm asking is can you not stop or slow them  in the length of a fly line? 90'?

Are they in the rivers or tributaries at any time but spawning? Sounds like they might be fun wading for.  You are right wrench, nobody talks about sandies on fly or whites on fly and I have intended to make an effort to catch them up the Elk or Buffalo some time and rip a Mickey Finn through them just to see what happens, but I always  forget when they run.

I spend a lot of time hybrid and striper fishing and my personal experience with hybrids is trying to stop them is going to result in the fish breaking tackle(normally leader) or pulling off a good percentage of the time.  I have had great success scaling down (normally 10# flouro leader) and letting the rod and reel do what they are designed to do and wear the fish down.  If your drag is too tight, they are gone before you realize what the heck happened.

They will make a great run on hook up, fight mightily, and when they see the boat take off again for parts unknown before you can actually consider bringing them to hand - I love catching them and they eat mighty good too.  They false spawn(at least in theory) in the spring and will run up tributaries from lakes, but they can be quite easy to catch once a thermocline sets up in the same places one might look for walleye and usually will shallow or surface feed late in the evening where a fly rod could be effective.

I have tinkered with bugs and such on an old glass rod all my life but recently purchased a couple decent outfits and plan to spend more time learning....Wrench, you see me out there on LOZ next year chasing your pets.  

Mike

[fishinwrench]

21 minutes ago, nomolites said:

Wrench, you see me out there on LOZ next year chasing your pets.  

Mike

There's plenty of room.  I'm the only one up here doing it.  Some show up occasionally to try, fail, and never come back to try again.   Gotta pay your dues 😊

[tjm]

Actually I've never seen a book dedicated to fishing for white bass with any tackle. Maybe I wasn't looking.

I don't pay much attention to the boat and lake stories, Billet, no lakes in my three  county area and the Navy cured me of needing to ride in boats.  Didn't even know white bass existed for most of my life and the ones I ate were unimpressive. Your pictures are impressive but I don't really know what the fish are. I guessed hybrids by the broken stripes?  Never seen either of them, so..

I guess they have both in Grand and Beaver but I think the non res permits cost too much for the number of times I might fish there.

Who is Charlie anyhow? The vid still don't work on my machine.