Techniques Of Fly Fishing For Bass

Bass fly fishing is not one of the most popular ways of catching bass. However, it is a learned art and must be practiced to perfect. While fly fishing won't add to the number of fish you catch in an outing necessarily, it can make your trip more fun and interesting. Here are some tips on preparing for such an exploration of this age old technique.

First of all, don't get reeled in (pardon the pun) by expensive technology or name brand equipment. The rod that is best for your fly fishing trip is the one that feels right in your hands and is most comfortable when you cast it. Don't place a lot of emphasis on the action of the rod; mistakenly choosing a fast action rod because it can cast farther might actually cause you grief when you are only aiming out 30 or 40 feet to a lily pad in a small pod. Choose the rod weight based on the size of the bass you intend to target. Nine foot rods are excellent in most cases, and for larger species like largemouth bass, you can use an 8-weight or 9-weight rod, while a 6-weight or 7-weight rod is sufficient for fly fishing for white bass, since you will use smaller flies in this instance. Choose your rod for the largest size flies you intend to use so that you don't run into problems casting a large, heavy fly on a lightweight rod. If you are a newcomer to the sport, be sure to get some help from an experienced fly fisherman to learn the art of casting. You can even find clinics that will teach you the basics so that you learn to feel comfortable using your rod.

When you buy your bass fly reel, you again should not be overwhelmed by the name brand product. High cost equipment is usually geared for fishing multiple fish species. Opt for an inexpensive reel, and make sure that there are several extra inexpensive spools available, since changing the spools can give you multiple options without spending a fortune on more reels. Also, pair your reel with the rod carefully. Note that getting into reels rated for larger line sizes can start to get large and heavy themselves, which causes an increase in drag. Keeping your bass fly gear as light as possible is important for saving your arm strength as you cast many times over, so a 9-weight rod will pair just fine with a reel rated for 7-8 lines.