I have been fishing for as long as I can remember. It started in farm ponds here in Indiana where I grew up. I could catch stringers full of bass and bluegill with a beetle spin and a closed-face Zebco. Things evolved as my dad would take me to the occasional creek. I will never forget the excitement of wondering what was on the other end of the line when creek fishing. Fly fishing at this point was an art that I had never considered.
I’ve noticed that outdoorsmen are constantly evolving. Things always start simple. However, as hunters or fishermen gain experience, they often morph their techniques into something new. I suppose the reason for this is the increased challenge of trying a new technique. A classic example would be a deer hunter moving from a slug gun to a compound bow.
For me, that new exciting challenge is putting away the spinning rod and using the fly rod for nearly every type of fishing. I had always used a fly rod for trout when my adventure took me to the Smoky Mountains or the clear waters of the Colorado Rockies. That was a given. However, I had never considered using it for bass or bluegill at home. Boy has that changed recently!
Use your Fly Rod to catch Largemouth Bass
Bass are known for biting nearly anything that moves through the water, especially in farm ponds. Watching a bass come out of the water to strike a fly is an experience that never gets old. We have all used soft plastics and jigs to catch largemouth. However, landing a bass with a fly rod is a different experience that can completely re-ignite the fun you once had in fishing for them.
Fly Fishing Gear for Largemouth Bass
Rod: For bass, I like to use a stouter rod. A good place to start would be a 7 weight. This will give you some backbone to set the hook and fight a 5-pound bass to the bank or the boat.
Flies: As we all know, largemouth bass aren’t too shy when it comes to attacking things that move through the water. They will eat anything from worms and bugs to frogs and small fish. It comes down to two types of flies I like to use for bass: streamers and poppers.
Use topwater poppers in low-light situations like mornings, evenings, and cloudy days. Be prepared for a show when they strike. For the rest of the weather conditions, I like to use streamers, which move under the surface and replicate small fish.
Check out this article for more bass fishing techniques.
Try Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Over the last few years, I have become hooked on smallmouth bass fishing in streams. However, it wasn’t until this year that I finally did what I wanted to do for a long time. I started to fly fish for them. This has been one of the most exciting hobbies I’ve ever had.
Smallmouth bass are quite a bit different than largemouth. They tend to be in clear moving water and hunt their prey much like trout. This makes fly fishing extremely effective for smallmouth.
Fly Fishing Gear for Smallmouth Bass
Rod: Just like with largemouth, I would opt for a 7-weight rod. Smallmouth can get somewhat large, and you will need to fight them through current in most situations. Therefore, I like a stout rod for these guys as well.
Flies: Unlike largemouth, I like to use more natural color patterns when targeting smallmouth. Unless the fish are spawning, I would avoid the bright reds, oranges, pinks, and other wild colors. I would recommend using more natural colors like greens, browns, and yellows. Streamers work well for smallmouth as they replicate baitfish.
Other options are nymphs which stay under the surface, and dry flies that float on top. Smallmouth will feed on insect hatches much like trout, so these insect patterns can be effective. Just be sure to use a dead drift method if using insect patterns.
Check out this article for more smallmouth fishing techniques.
Fly Fishing for Panfish is a blast!
This is where things get interesting. We have all used a bobber and live bait to catch bluegill and red ear. In fact, fishing gets its boring reputation from the thought of waiting for a bluegill to take your bobber under.
Everything changed for me when I began using my fly rod to target bluegill and red ear.
Fly Fishing Gear for Panfish
Rod: With panfish, I have been using a 4-weight rod. These guys are a little smaller, and the fight of a large bluegill on a light rod is where the fun is at.
Flies: A nymph works well for panfish. Hang one under an indicator and drag it over beds. Bluegill won’t be able to resist the easy meal. Another method would be to hang a nymph under a dry fly. This is called a dry dropper. This will increase your chances of catching a fish. They might strike the dry fly on top!
If things aren’t working, don’t be afraid to tie on a small hook and throw a wax worm or cricket.
Try using a Fly Rod to Catch Crappie
Although crappie are considered panfish by some, I thought they deserved their own category. I honestly don’t have any experience with catching crappie on a fly rod, but I have been thinking hard about how to make it work. Let’s use some common sense and come up with a method together.
Fly Fishing Equipment for Crappie
Rod: I would imagine a lighter rod would work well for crappie. I would start with a 4-weight.
Flies: Crappies are not known for striking top water lures. Therefore, we can eliminate poppers, dry flies, and anything else that is used on the surface.
Crappies love to eat minnows, so I think a streamer would be awesome to start with. Streamers can be flicked through the water to resemble a swimming baitfish. Since crappies tend to be at least 6 feet below the surface most of the year, we are going to need a fly with some weight to it. We need the fly to get down to the right level for crappie to strike.
I would imagine that catching crappie with a fly rod would be much easier during the spring spawn. During this time, they will be in shallow water near the banks where they are easy to target. Could you imagine hauling in 25 crappies with a 4-weight fly rod this spring?
Give crappie fishing a try and leave a comment below if you have some experience. Stay tuned for future articles as I put these strategies to the test.
Check out this article for more crappie fishing techniques.
Conclusion
Fishing has always been a go-to hobby for me. However, the sport has taken on a new layer of thrill since I started using the fly rod more. I hope this article has inspired you to give it a try.
If you don’t know the basics of using a fly rod, I’ve got you covered here. Fly Fishing-The Best Guide for Beginning Anglers.
Good Luck!
