I was fidgeting in Church this past Sunday because it was cloudy and drizzling rain ahead of a front passage.  The bride had given me free pass to fish after.   From a lifetime of fishing ponds, both with conventional and more recently, the fly rod, I've found these conditions to be prime time for big bass.  Not to say fishing ahead and during front passages is a sure thing, but the number of big fish I've taken during these conditions has me convinced of its potential.  After Church I grabbed an 8 wt and headed to one of my favorite ponds with some Mangums Dragon Tail streamers.  They are six inches in length and provide a large profile for bigger spring fish.  I've found spring fish to take larger offerings than fall fish.  Anyway, after about and hour of "chucking and ducking," a large wake behind the streamer exposed a bass tracking the fly and I immediately dead sticked it, waited a second or two and stripped the line back and immediately felt weight.  The fish was fairly close and I was able to get two quick strip sets on her before she knew what was happening and gained control. I don't play bigger spring fish, but hustle them in quickly and release.  She was no match for the 8 wt and 16# tippet and I had her to the bank before she knew what hit her.   The Boga settled past the 6 and a quarter pound mark.  A new personal best for me on the fly rod.

 

That has gotta be a fight on a fly rod.  Congrats!

7 minutes ago, ratherbfishin1 said:

That has gotta be a fight on a fly rod.  Congrats!

That's a 8 wt. rod, not a fairy wand.  Similar to a MH.

 

Very nice catch!

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

That's a 8 wt. rod, not a fairy wand.  Similar to a MH.

 

Very nice catch!

 

Yup... you can accidentally back-cast a small bluegill with an 8-wt.

 

That sure is a nice fish!

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Incredible! Congrats especially on a fly rod. Can we see a pic of the streamer?

Bodacious Bass ~ 

Nice write up too.

Congrats on the Personal Best.

A-Jay

Very nice!  I'm actually gearing up to do a ton of flyfishing for the spawners this year.  As I type my old man (retired and jonsing for stuff to do) is tying up his take on a wacky worm fly.

 

Awesome post, thank you!

1 hour ago, Dorado said:

Incredible! Congrats especially on a fly rod. Can we see a pic of the streamer?

It is in the picture.

"Mangums Dragon Tail" on top.

 

A finished 6" streamer on bottom with #2 Gamakatsu B10S hook and some synthetic hackle.  Same streamer that took the bass.  The Dragon Tail can be used in a number of streamer applications.  They can be found online and most fly shops.  I did not tie this particular fly but picked it and another up at a fly shop on the way back from fishing in South Carolina three weeks ago.  The only two left were pink.  I wasn't purchasing it for its color anyway.  It has an articulated motion coming through the water that is plumb sexy.    A guide I've used a couple times drifting the Etowah River tied them and put me on them.  I will be tying up a bunch next week.  A friend has asked me to tie up some weighted and weedless, to be tossed with spinning gear.  I believe this basic streamer can be adapted for use on spinning gear.         

 

Do they hold a lot of water?  I casted a sand eel pattern of what looked like similar materials a few years ago for Cape Cod stripers.  It casted like a wet washcloth.  I disliked casting it enough that I never really found out if it was effective.

 

Tight lines,

Bob

Very nice catch on a fly. Congrats!

Very nice bass.  It is nice when a plan comes together!

@Pedigohornet Thanks for posting a pic of the flies and elaborating some. Great post my man!

"Do they hold a lot of water?"

 

Most of the water flips out when you backcast but it still casts "like a wet washcloth."  Learning the double haul to increase line speed helps.  I much prefer using a 7wt, but had moved up to an 8wt to make it work.  An articulated streamer, the "Game Changer," is really good on bigger bass, but is difficult to cast as well.  Next time out I will be using it.  Some cocky little guys will take it on occasionally.  I alternate between a handful of streamers this time of the year and only fish one type on any trip; don't have time to be changing them during these periods.  

 

 

 

Great fish, and on the fly rod as well, makes it even more special! Just picked up a fly rig, can't wait to give it a go this season and see what happens!

congrats, great fish 

Danged if I didn't catch another 6.25 pound largemouth on the fly rod on April 22nd.  Same conditions as the first, ahead of a fast moving front.  Only difference was I used a 7 wt this time and a different streamer.  What are the odds on that?  The first was a pre-spawn gal but the second was a spawned out gal, with a longer, sleeker profile.  She really lit things up for awhile.  She took all my slack fly line giving her best imitation of a bonefish, and I got her on the reel, letting her pull against the drag until I figured out how big she was.  There are some big bass in this four acre pond and two Decembers ago I'd taken and released an 8.25 pound bass along with a 5.5 pounder.  I really thought she was a bigger fish, but I'm sure not complaining.  :)

 

  

I caught this one on a popper yesterday.  It's front dorsal fin looks like someone took a pair of scissors to it.  I wonder what might have caused that.

 

Congratulations on your new personal best bass caught on a flyrod.

Nice fish! Using  fly rod on bass is a blast!