Fly Fishing

A fly rod allows the rock bass to show its real mettle as a sport fish. The angler who fishes with a light four- or five-weight fly fishing outfit will have a lot of fun. Rock bass weigh about the same as a six-inch trout and tend to fight harder. Their flat side against the water gives them greater purchase. A six-foot leader to five pound-test is ideal. The outfit is easily cast and not tiring to the angler. With the lightweight boron or graphite fly rod, an angler can use a ten-foot rod which will provide several advantages when fishing most pan fish.

The long fly rod is able to keep more line off the water and above the weeds. This facilitates lure manipulation. The angler is able to sit in a boat or use a belly boat and still keep fly line and fly out of snags and weeds. At times the angler can dip the fly over a break in the weeds, enticing fish to rise when no other cast is possible. The short line and leader used in dipping reduces the chance of losing the fish.

The longer fly rod has other advantages. The ease of landing a fish using a long fly rod has less ill effect on fish, making it possible to release the smaller ones relatively unharmed. In addition, the longer rod casts easily and does most of the work. Like a noodle rod in steelheading, the long, sensitive fly rod can feel the take more readily.

The fly rodder seldom needs to double-haul when fishing pan fish, but he should be capable of left- and right-hand casts and be able to make the fly land softly. It is also important to consider that accurate casting and a variety of casts are necessary to consistently produce big rock bass and other pan fish. As important is fly manipulation. Seventy percent of the time, rock bass will hit any fly put near them. The other 30 percent makes fishing interesting.

There are a few tricks which help to slow down or speed up the retrieve. Tie a spider pattern of dry fly, size ten. This fly is designed to skitter over the surface. Use a short line and at least a six-pound leader tippet. Fish will hit very hard. The spider fly is several stiff dry fly hackles tied in just behind the eye; no body, no tail, and no wing. Cast the fly to a spot where you know there are fish but none will bite. On a short line, with the rod held high, keeping most of the line and leader off the water, skitter the fly across the surface so that it seems to be struggling to take off. It must be on the surface, not in it or above it. The speed of skitter will vary. Repeat the successful cast, and watch the fish hit.

A second so-called trick involves the "sudden inch." A caddis dry fly, cast to the edge of weeds, is allowed to sit for several moments. Then a slight pull on the line will cause the fly to move. A fish sitting beneath the fly will believe it is alive and trying to escape. Another fish for the pan!

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