Fly fishing for bass

[moguy1973]

Headed to the pond this weekend and will probably take my fly rod to try for bass for the first time.  How do you all set up your line?  Just tie straight to the  fly line with some 6-8lb mono/fluoro/hybrid line?  Or are there heavier test leaders and then use a tippet?

[BilletHead]

31 minutes ago, moguy1973 said:

Headed to the pond this weekend and will probably take my fly rod to try for bass for the first time.  How do you all set up your line?  Just tie straight to the  fly line with some 6-8lb mono/fluoro/hybrid line?  Or are there heavier test leaders and then use a tippet?

          If you want a 7.5 foot tapered leader then attach some tippet of choice. Depending on the fish size you are targeting for X size of Lb. test.

 Sink tip line just a couple feet of straight line. I am cheap and bass are not the smartest fish in the gene pool I use two foot sections of floro and do loop to loop connections and make my own leaders.  I actually have not used commercial tapered leaders for freshwater fish for years. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FishnDave]

Most of my bass rods are 6 wts.  I use store-bought tapered leaders. 7.5' is fine, 9' works too.  0X for bass, and then I cut off most of the thin part of that (about 1/3 of theader), and make a loop where the taper starts to get thicker.  Then I add @5'-6' of 12 lb fluoro as my tippet.  That's just what I do...there's lots of ways to do it.  A leader can last me several seasons, I just replace tippet when it gets too short.

[tjm]

 For 5-8wt floating fly line,  I use Chameleon ~3'-5'  of  25# or 20# + ~2'-3' of 8#  ( 8# to facilitate breaking of tippet when hung up); On the rare occasion  that I use a sinking line I use  ~3' total  leader.   If hang ups requiring breaking of the tippet are not a problem of if working in lilies/weeds , then 6-7' of level 20# is fine.  Although I use Chameleon almost always, the Berkley Big Game  or similar works about as well.

I prefer permanent knots like Albright, nail knot or fisherman's bend in all leader applications, but surgeon loops can be used for loop to loop.

I think any set up that lets you deliver the fly is fine, bass are not especially shy.

[trythisonemv]

Keep it simple starting out. Floating line with 4 feet of 10 to 15 then blood knot to 8 lb . if popper fishing this is great. If need sinking set up I defer to billethead above.

[fishinwrench]

Strike detection is the confounding factor when fishing anything subsurface for stillwater bass.   They are notorious for slipping up behind the fly and just slurping it in. And they typically won't hold on to it for more than 2 seconds.   You really have to be on your toes with a leader that is as short, straight, and tight as possible, or you'll never detect the bite soon enough.   

Whatever leader you choose, try to always keep every bit of the slack out, and keep the rod tip right at the waters surface so there isn't a bow of slack line between the rod tip and the waters surface.  

Learn to tie a no-slip loop knot that is only 3X the size of the hook eye.  That will let your fly dance sexier and I guarantee it will get you more bites than tying tight to the fly.

[laker67]

1 hour ago, fishinwrench said:

Strike detection is the confounding factor when fishing anything subsurface for stillwater bass.   They are notorious for slipping up behind the fly and just slurping it in. And they typically won't hold on to it for more than 2 seconds.   You really have to be on your toes with a leader that is as short, straight, and tight as possible, or you'll never detect the bite soon enough.   

 

i fish subsurface like I use to fish a jig and pork chunk. When you feel nothing, is the time to set the hook. Sometimes you might get a slow swim off to one side or the other. All good advice from everyone responding.

[trythisonemv]

1 hour ago, laker67 said:

i fish subsurface like I use to fish a jig and pork chunk. When you feel nothing, is the time to set the hook. Sometimes you might get a slow swim off to one side or the other. All good advice from everyone responding.

White flies really help with visual strike detection. Especially when going sub surface. Also get rid of weed guards they just cause missed fish

[Flyfisher for men]

I often take straight monofilament in three sections: 20lb., 12or 15 lb., 8lb.   

[Flysmallie]

While a good leader does make for a smoother cast, I usually just grab a straight piece of mono or flouro. Something 6 to 10 lb test. 
 

And for the love of Bigfoot, if you or anyone is going to be fly fishing for bass you have to learn to skate a fly across the top of a run or a tail out. You aren’t going to catch a bunch of big fish, and the hookup ratio absolutely sucks, but you just aren’t going to have any more fun than that. Period.