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rustyhook.ultralightflyfi... |
throwing bass flies feels like Im lobbing hand grenades!!!! |
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Hi guys.....I have rekindled my interest in Fly fishing recently. I havent started tying flies yet so i went down to the local BPS to pick up a couple of bass
flies. I found a couple of "worm like" flies and something called a "Tsumoni" that is a top water slider type thing that is at least six
inches long. My problem is that throwing these things is like lobbing a hand grenade. I'm using a TFO proffesional 9wt with a 10wt saltwater line. I
thought I had plenty of rod and line, but evidently not. The flies are on 1/0 hooks. I dont guess a different leader would help. I think I have a salt water
bonefish leader on there. thanks
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B52 bugger |
Leader may be the problem | #1 | ||
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Not knowing the leangth of your bonefish leader. I would suggest straight 5 ft. mono at least 20 pound test in weed, lily pad infested waters.
12 pound test for clear water. don't forget we are throwing air resistant flies and bugs. Give it a try and let me know how you are doing. Straight mono is definetly cheaper. I have two spools of Berkley Big Game mono - one 12 pound and the other for salt water 25 pound test and keep from sunlight. |
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spinzo |
#2 | |||
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Two tips that might help:
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gillbuster |
throwing bass flies feels like Im lobbing hand grenades!!!! | #3 | ||
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What do you guys feel about furled leaders??? Are they helpful??
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gillbuster |
Throwing bass flies feels like Im lobbing hand grenades | #4 | ||
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Welcome Rustyhook!
I see this is your first post, welcome to "da Pond" Glad to have you join us, pull a chair and jump in .... add your comments and questions... You soon find out their is a wealth of information and good fly fishing fellowship among the website members |
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JeffSod |
#5 | |||
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I took B52's advice on fishing traditional bass bugs last summer and it helped me a great deal. I would also add that you might consider picking up a fiberglass 8wt for bass fishing or a mid flex graphite. I find they are much better at lobbing bass flies which as mentioned require an open loop and a short stiff leader. I have been experimenting with glass rods for bass bugging and find they excel at lobbing these big deer hair bugs. If you peruse the fiberglass flyrodders (another YUKU forum) and search the archives with the keyword "bugging" you will find some specific rod models endorsed that you can usually find on ebay for less than 100.00. A good inexpensive line I have found is the Sci Anglers Mastery Headstart line which is about 20.00 cheaper than their bass bugging line. |
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rustyhook.ultralightflyfi... |
#6 | |||
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thanks guys.......I did cut the leader down today. It maybe was just a tad better. I'll try the straight mono. I think I need lighter flies. I'll
look around for an internet fly source. any suggestions?
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JeffSod |
#7 | |||
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A local shop of ours has a pretty good selection at www.bearsden.com I have also purchased some good bass flies from mad river outfitters in Ohio. |
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agedsage.clarksclassicfl... |
Leader Might be the Problem | #8 | ||
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This is right out of "Ripley's Believe It or Not", 15# Spiderwire makes an outstanding leader for throwing bass bugs! I heard one of the top
guides on Lake Fork in Texas (THE place for monster bass) extol the virtues of Spiderwire some years ago. Having a son who is a hardware chunker, I conned him
out of some and made a couple of leaders, each about six feet long. You cannot believe how skeptical I was, but that stuff turns a big bushy deer hair bass bug
over in "text book" fashion.
Try it; You might like it! Agedsage |
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agedsage.clarksclassicfl... |
Furled leaders | #9 | ||
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Gillbuster:
I find furled leaders to be great with bugs in hook sizes 6-10 (5 & 6 wt rods) I fish a lot of size 8 with a 5 wt rod and the furled leader (6.5 ft) is a dream. Within the past week I made furled leaders (6.5 ft) for my 8 & 9 wt rods, but haven't had the opportunity to "christen" them yet. Hope to next week. Agedsage |
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Flytackle |
#10 | |||
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Agedsage thanks for the tip! I will try the spiderwire this season - Alec
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spinzo |
#11 | |||
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I always figured that spiderwire would be way too soft to turn over a big fly, but if it works, it might also help w/wrangling the occasional pickerel.
Mike |
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rustyhook.ultralightflyfi... |
#12 | |||
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Thanks guys.......Ive been gone for a couple of days so tomorrow I'll see if I can find some spider wire around here. I had some on something. I have
furled leaders for my 5wt but none for my 9wt. I might try one of those on the 9wt and see what happens. I think I need some lighter flies. A vise might be
my next purchase.
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harleydeen |
#13 | |||
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Also with your existing set-up you might try it with a double-haul thrown in there...
Tight Lines,
Harley Lk. Stevens, Wa. |
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waynebh.fiberglassflyro... |
#14 | |||
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Hi Rustyhook;
Question, do you always use on line weight heavier on that rod? I wonder if between the line and the fly your casting, your rod could possibly be overloaded? Have you tried it with an 8wt line? Otherwise casting big bass bugs can be a challenge, I find that 9wt & 10wt rods work best with some of the more wind resistant flies, you know the ones you can hear whistling by as you cast them. Wayne |
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B52 bugger |
Overloading a rod | #15 | ||
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I have found in throwing air resistant bugs, it is best to overline by one size, providing your rod can take it. (For example I have an Orvis 9 x 9 graphite
rod, tried overlining it just doesn't handle well). One has to consider if you are in a canoe or kayak sitting, overlining will help you cast.
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pearow |
#16 | |||
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I have used spiderwire for years as a leader; what it does that other leaders cannot do is cut thru the salad; you get a big bass on and the chances are good
youre gonna lose it under the veggie mat, in the lilly pads, etc. Well, the spiderwire will cut thru that stuff like a knife; better than anything else
i've found. However, its not ideal for turning over big flies. I've found the best way to cast really big bass bugs is to shorten the leader, use a
glass rod, and keep the casts short, 40 feet or under. Where I fish for bass youre not gonna land a bass that hits over 40 feet away, anyway; too much salad-p-
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rustyhook.ultralightflyfi... |
#17 | |||
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I tried a piece or 25lb mono and it was WAY better than the leader I was using. Now if I could just catch a fish!
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pearow |
#18 | |||
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a hint on the spiderwire; the stuff is expensive so what I do is ask my bait chunking friends for their old spiderwire line when they take it off their casting
or spinning reels; even if its a big birdsnest, you can easily get a ton of leader material from it. A lot of sporting good stores have gobs of used line
theyve taken off reels; ask them if you can cut some pieces to"try out" before buying a $25 spool for a five foot leader.
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rustyhook.ultralightflyfi... |
#19 | |||
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thanks pearow........I'll have to hang around the boat ramp begging for scraps!
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