The buddy I was talking about throws it in 25-40 foot of water on ledges haha. Low water not a factor 

He's a patient angler.  I couldn't wait 50 seconds for 6 ips line to sink 25 feet...much less almost a minute and a half for it to sink 40 feet.

Dude, he will throw it for 8 hours without catching a darn thing. You fly guys are a different breed, looks exhausting 

 

he does get some stuff now and then, I put him on a 43” and 45” gar in the same day and a big striper once. And he has caught smallies on those ledges, it just takes a lot of effort 

There's a reason I don't limit myself to fly fishing. 

 

When gear makes more sense,  I'll use it.  Or if I'm just sick of chucking flies.

 

...but an 8 hour float is about average. 

I don't get how people force themselves to use a tool that isn't suited for the job.  I am sorry but deep water is not the realm of the fly rod.  Sure you can do it but why?  I love fly fishing and it is my primary choice but I also know it isn't the best for every scenario.  

You know how them fly guys are……..

I think its because they get caught up in the idea and just don't think about it.

I see lots of effort to recreate conventional fishing baits in the world of flies...and you just can't do it.

...but sometimes what you learn comes in handy for other things:





You absolutely cannot believe how buggy these jigs look in the water.  Neither, apparently, can smallies...

 

3 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

You know how them fly guys are……..

Some are.  Most are not.

My last two outings have been 100% fly free.

 

 

 

Those are awesome.  I have actually been itching to get out and go after smallies with conventional and I think my next trip will be just that.....

I'll be up in Ontario next week.  The odds are the smallies are going to be in 20 to 30 feet of water which will make using my fly rod a bit of a challenge.  I have a box of flies tied on 1/32nd and 1/20th

jigs which I plan to fish off a fast sinking line with a long leader.  These are the bucktail and marabou ones.

 

I've have a couple "Ned" flies to try.  Tied on 1/20th oz  Ned Jigs

 

One of my most successful flies the last two years has been my crayfish pattern.  This year I tied a dozen or so on 1/4 oz jigs

At least I won't feel guilty using some scent on them.

1 hour ago, flyfisher said:

Those are awesome.  I have actually been itching to get out and go after smallies with conventional and I think my next trip will be just that.....

Taking a break from flies feels good sometimes.  Less complicated, less stress...just fish...
 

1 hour ago, Fallser said:

I've have a couple "Ned" flies to try.  Tied on 1/20th oz  Ned Jigs

Those look like they are tied almost exactly the same way as those nutria zonker strip jigs above.  I thnk they're going to work great!

I furl behind the hook bend to create the tail, then palmer forward around the hook shank.  Super easy tie - with the nutria zonkers, I have to pay attention to keeping the fur side out, with the material you're using, I think it's be easier.

 

1 hour ago, Fallser said:

At least I won't feel guilty using some scent on them.

I like MegaStrike...I use it less as an attractant, and more to get the fish to hold for a moment longer.