Fly Fishing Tips For Bass

The following fly fishing tips for bass may help to ease your frustration over this difficult method of fishing. Fly fishing for bass, when you think about it, is almost counterintuitive. Bass fishing is typically a high-octane style with heavy baits and high-performance gear. Fly fishing, meanwhile, is a delicate technique that takes real dedication to master. These two styles naturally conflict. But you can work to reconcile them into a solid bass fly fishing technique with these tips.

1. Don’t worry about tying your own flies. Fly fishermen who mainly go after trout make a big deal of tying the perfect fly to fool Rainbows or Browns into thinking it’s an actual bug. In short, they are exceptionally picky eaters. Bass, on the other hand, will inhale just about anything you put in front of them under the right conditions. The best way to go about finding the right fly for bass fly fishing is to see which conventional lures work best, and go out and buy flies with matching colors and shapes.
2. Learn the right presentation. As most fishermen know, flies don’t sink. They float on top of the water, and look much like top water bait to bass. You can use this resemblance to your advantage in your fishing presentation. Induce strikes in stagnant ponds or lakes by jerking the fly lightly, much like you would with a top water popper lure, to simulate movement. If you’re lucky, nearby bass will notice and go after the fly quickly.
3. Become a jack of all trades at fly casting. As a bass fishermen, you’re probably not going to beat out the expert trout fly fishermen at one specific casting technique. This, however, doesn’t mean that you can’t develop a versatile skill set. Because you’ll likely be on banks or near overhead branches when fly fishing for bass, learn how to cast overhead, at forty five degrees, and sidearm. The techniques are very similar, and will allow you to cast in almost any situation.
4. Use a strong leader line. The principles of bass fishing take precedent over the principles of fly fishing in this aspect. Though many born and bred fly fishermen will tell you to use as light a leader line as possible, you’ll just end up with loads of lost fish if you follow their advice. Instead, choose a stiff, strong monofilament leader that can stand up to the intense pressure that big bass put on the line.
5. Find some cover, and you’ll find fish. Just because you’re bass fishing with different equipment doesn’t mean you should ignore the basics of catching them. Though you may be reluctant to attempt the difficult fly fishing cast into cover, it’s really the best way to consistently catch fish. You’ll certainly lose a few leaders in the process, but learning to pinpoint spots in cover is well worth the effort and occasional frustration.