Frankenfly is doing something similar to what The Fiberglass Manifesto did last year with "TheYearOfTheBluegill." The new thing is called the BucketMouthLeague. I'm usually not into stuff like this but I have to admit the logo FrankenFly is having made up looks awesome. I'd really like to get it for my kayak.
First things first though. I need to start catching some largemouths. The hot weather lately has turned me off to fishing. Today was the first day we had that wasn't above 90 and super humid. It was just 90 and dry. I tried to make the most of the last few hours of daylight. There was a pond I hadn't fished much but it has always been decent each time I've visited. The first 30min was dead. I didn't have so much as a sniff on my fly. I really wanted to catch something on top water so I stuck with a popper. I could see minnows all over near the bank. There were so many the water quivered. I tried every retrieve I could think of but nothing seemed to elicit a strike. I came to a cement intake and decided to try something different. I cast near the structure and my fly landed on top of it. I pulled it off and the fly landed next to the intake. I started to jerk the fly with violent strips. I wanted the action to look really abnormal. Nothing like anything you'd see in nature. After my 5th strip the fly was gone and a green flash shimmered along the surface then disappeared into the dark water. It happened so fast by the time I set the hook the fish basically hooked itself. I could tell from the bend in the rod the fish was good size. Then it shot out of the water and shook its head. I gave the rod a few more good yanks to ensure the hook set was good. When I landed the fish I was wondering where the heck my fly went.
I never get used to bass flies. Every time I use them I always think they are too large. This fly is a size 4 and you can see there is room to spare in this bass's mouth. The fish was very healthy and strong.
It swam away with ease after I released it. A few casts later I had another fish on. My retrieve seemed to make all the difference in the world. I had to really pop the fly and make a major disturbance to get any attention from the fish. It's the first time I've ever had that happen. A learning experience for sure. It was a great evening and I got my first fish for the Bucket Mouth League.
Kevin
ReplyDeleteSo impressed with this post, the tail walking on top of the water is what makes fishing for the largemouth so much fun. You never know how the bass is going to want the popper, at times it will kill the popper worked violently on the surface as you were doing and sometimes a more subdued approach will get their attention. On Smith lately the subdued action will get a hit. Have you tried fishing the popper at daylight? I have found that the bass seem more active at that time of day mainly because the water surface has cool some over night. I see you were using my favorite fly rod, the Redington, what weight is it? Great Post!!
The rod is a 5wt. I do usually fish with poppers earlier in the day and have had success. My usual success is when I give the popper hardly any action at all. Sometimes just leaving it there and doing nothing is the best. Last night was the first time I ever had success really slashing that thing through the water. I mean it didn't look like a struggling fish or frog. Looked more like bird trying to get back on land after falling in the water. The takes were more violent too. I had quite a few of those toilet bowl takes where all you said is a BLOOP and your fly disappears. I swear bass can displace two cups of water when they suck something in off the surface.
DeleteNice going Kevin - can't wait for the temps to get below ~93F + 93% Humidity, literally 93 squared so we can get the late summer early fall bit with the LMBs.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you can have a repeat of that one day on the Haw.
DeleteNice going Kevin! If at first you don't succeed throw the kitchen sink at em! Enjoyed this...good luck with the bucket mouth League.
ReplyDeleteThanks Howard.
ReplyDeleteGreat stuff, Kevin! Living here in the Midwest, bass fishing is a regular thing. I love it!!! Top water bass fishing is an absolute blast! I have a complete opposite thinking as you, thinking my flies aren't big enough. I love that Frankenfly logo, and would love one of those, as well.
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