Ready for white bass season now!!

[tangledup]

I've been wanting to get into fly fishing for bigger species for a little while now, but I spent so much money on duck hunting equipment this year this year I figured I better give the bank account a rest. Yesterday I was in the Bass Pro outlet and found a Redington 8wt, Cabelas SR3 reel, and a Rio sinking line all for about $100. They may not be the most elegant setup in the world but I ran it by a couple people who are better acquainted with fly fishing stuff than I am and they both said those pieces of kit will fish just fine. I also stopped by the fly shop and grabbed stuff to tie up some different fly patterns so hopefully I will be ready for some white bass on a fly rod this year!

[FishnDave]

That's great!  I hope you get enjoy your new equipment plenty this year.

Here's something I learned after trying a fair number of shad and minnow imitations for white bass.  Other's experience may vary.  I was missing/losing quite a few white bass strikes on hook-point-down flies.  White bass are berzerker-fast strikers, often coming from below, grabbing the fly, then diving down again.  They seemed to spit the fly on their way back down, and if the hook wasn't pointing up, they would often spit it successfully.  Hook point up grabs them in the upper jaw as the dive, even if they try to spit it.

So, Clouser Deep Minnows and variants with lead eyes or beadchain eyes worked MUCH better for me.  Regular bucktail clousers have worked really well for Hybrid Striped Bass especially.  But smaller versions tied with marabou instead of bucktail have caught more white bass for me. Although most folks seem to agree that matching the size of the forage is pretty important when fishing for white bass.

For what it's worth...

[tangledup]

4 minutes ago, FishnDave said:

That's great!  I hope you get enjoy your new equipment plenty this year.

Here's something I learned after trying a fair number of shad and minnow imitations for white bass.  Other's experience may vary.  I was missing/losing quite a few white bass strikes on hook-point-down flies.  White bass are berzerker-fast strikers, often coming from below, grabbing the fly, then diving down again.  They seemed to spit the fly on their way back down, and if the hook wasn't pointing up, they would often spit it successfully.  Hook point up grabs them in the upper jaw as the dive, even if they try to spit it.

So, Clouser Deep Minnows and variants with lead eyes or beadchain eyes worked MUCH better for me.  Regular bucktail clousers have worked really well for Hybrid Striped Bass especially.  But smaller versions tied with marabou instead of bucktail have caught more white bass for me. Although most folks seem to agree that matching the size of the forage is pretty important when fishing for white bass.

For what it's worth...

Thanks! I'll take all the help I can get. I've started watching/reading some stuff on white bass fishing with a fly rod and tying different types of baitfish patterns. You're suggestion about heavier weighted flies makes sense to me, coming from a spin fishing background until a couple years ago, because I couldn't figure out how guys were getting those airweight flies (unweighted craft fur patterns and such) down deep enough. Maybe they are usingpoly leaders and such. 

I bought an intermediate line but now I'm thinking I should also go get a Type III line as well. 

[Krazo]

rough year for the ducks around here.  

[tangledup]

6 minutes ago, Krazo said:

rough year for the ducks around here.  

You aren't kidding. I only totaled 29 ducks for the year and it definitely wasn't for lack of effort!

[Flysmallie]

Clouser minnows and wiggle minnows are all you need. Sinking line helps. Getting them to bite is usually fairly simple as long as you are patient. Finding the little bastards is the hard part. 

[tangledup]

10 minutes ago, Flysmallie said:

Clouser minnows and wiggle minnows are all you need. Sinking line helps. Getting them to bite is usually fairly simple as long as you are patient. Finding the little bastards is the hard part. 

I've got a pretty good spot. 

[tangledup]

Getting a start on the clousers.

 

 

[BilletHead]

2 hours ago, tangledup said:

I've been wanting to get into fly fishing for bigger species for a little while now, but I spent so much money on duck hunting equipment this year this year I figured I better give the bank account a rest. Yesterday I was in the Bass Pro outlet and found a Redington 8wt, Cabelas SR3 reel, and a Rio sinking line all for about $100. They may not be the most elegant setup in the world but I ran it by a couple people who are better acquainted with fly fishing stuff than I am and they both said those pieces of kit will fish just fine. I also stopped by the fly shop and grabbed stuff to tie up some different fly patterns so hopefully I will be ready for some white bass on a fly rod this year!

                   That will work. I am ready myself. Tying and restocking my boxes. Catching the white run at the right time and you will never be the same again. Have fun man!

[fishinwrench]

I'm not going to be able to wait until April, so I'll be trying to intercept them before they even start running up the creeks.   I've tried that in the past and failed...but I have some fresh new ideas and a renewed ambition. 

I know where they stage up before running up the creek, I've even been able to snag a few in the side.  Just have never gotten them to bite good until they make the migration.

I'll figure them out this year hopefully.