+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Rigging question for smallmouth bass fly fishers....

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    3,545

    Default Rigging question for smallmouth bass fly fishers....

    If all goes well this summer, I plan to spend some time in my NuCanoe Frontier 12 fly fishing for smallmouth bass. I have caught some on my fly rod while trout fishing and now want to explore areas on the river where the water is too warm for trout but perfect for smallmouth.

    What I need to know is, for those who actually fish for smallmouth with a fly rod, what weight rod do you use and what kind of leader system do you use. I need to know the leader lengths you are using. Leader material you are using. Do you use tippet and if so, what length and pound test.

    I am thinking that straight 8 pound test material for leader and tippet, but, do not know. Do you use floating fly line or sinking?

    I know there will be many different set-ups and I would like to hear them all and I will be able to decide which will work for the river here.

    Thanks in advance....
    Warren
    Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Elida, Ohio
    Posts
    1,696

    Default

    Warren

    I usually use a 6 wt rod, either 8 or 9 feet long depending on the water I am fishing. The 9 footer is overlined with a 7wt line. These 2 set ups will cover 99% of the smallmouth water that I normally fish.

    I have several leader/ tippet set ups. For swinging streamers, I use a Flourocarbon furled leader, 4 or 5 feet long, and 2-3 feet of 6 or 8 pound flourocarbon for a tippet.

    If I am fishing poppers, I use a "Big Game" furled leader 5'6" long and 2-3 feet of 8 pound mono for tippet.

    I also use a standard 5 foot thread furled leader with 4-5 feet of 6 pound mono tippet for fishing wets and sometimes streamers depending on the water depth or how lazy I am at the time.

    Hope ths helps.
    "A woman drove me to drink and I didn't even have the decency to thank her."
    -W.C. Fields

  3. #3

    Default

    In July and August here in southern wisconsin my fishing switches from trout to small mouth. I tend to find that the heat of summer tends to improve the fishing in the rivers so do not fear the heat of the summer as you would with trout. Most of the rivers and streams I fish tend to "shallower" so I wade and only use floating line. I love watching the smallies nail flies on the surface so I tend to fish poppers, sliders, large dries, and divers. I use a floating 5 foot furled leader with 3 ft of 6lb tippet. I occasionally throw a minnow imitation streamer stripped through the current but they are not as much fun. Some of the flies can be rather large so I like a 6 wt for smallmouth. I think a furled leader will turn over the fly much better than a straight 8lb mono leader. By the way, do not be scared of "thinking out of the box" for smallies. One of my best days was on a 100 degree day drifting a size 12 scud from a trib that emptied into a large pool. The worm fisherman fishing 20 feet away did not even have a bite.
    caribe

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Nunica Mi U S A
    Posts
    2,509

    Default

    I also use a six weight rod for smallmouth. I usually use a nine foot knotted tapered leader going down to three x which is usually eight pound test. I have trouble turning over some of the bigger hair bugs and poppers so I will cut the leader shorter and have about a six foot 1 x leader that can easily be restored by re-attaching the segment I removed. In the rivers I fish I don't feel the need for a sinking line but I do carry a few heavily weighted flies as sometimes is is dredge the bottom or just have casting practice.
    I can think of few acts more selfish than refusing a vaccination.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Tioga Co. Pa.
    Posts
    297

    Default

    On another note warrenP how do you like the nucanoe, i just started selling them and would love some reports on what you think..
    sandfly/bob
    N.J.B.B.A. #2215
    I did not escape.....they gave me a day pass!
    from the outer edge of nowhere
    fly tying and fishing ghillie..

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    3,545

    Default

    Thanks to all who have responded so far. Just what I needed. I have been told that during the hottest months here in TN, surface poppers are the way to go and I am looking forward to that action! I have a 6wt and a 7wt and enjoy both, so, I just need to work on the leader. Since I make my own furled leaders, that should be no problem. I, also, have full sinking line on spare spools for the 6 and 7 weight rods.

    sandfly,

    I have been using a 10 foot NuCanoe for over 3 years and sold it last spring and purchased the 12 foot Frontier last February. I have only had it out a couple times because I have been the primary health provider for my Mom for the past 7 years since my Father passed and I lost her this past December. So, now I am planning on spending a lot of time in the Frontrier 12 this summer. I love the NuCanoe. I have owned a canoe, a 10 foot flatbottom and a Hobie 75 and the NuCanoe is the boat for me. I normanly put in and go up stream about 5 miles and float fish my way back to the truck. I find the NuCanoe very easy to paddle. If you go to the NuCanoe web site and check out the videos, you will find one on using the NuCanoe on the Duck River here in Tennessee and that is me. You should have no problems selling the NuCanoe and you cannot ask for a better person to deal with than Blake Young at NuCanoe. He is very customer service and works hard to assist anyone with any questions.

    So, I love the NuCanoe. Easy to paddle, easy to haul around in the back of my truck, it takes a beating, it will take you to the places others cannot get to and the Frontier 12 gives you the opportunity to stand with ease whenever you want. I had a local machine shop here make me up an alum. seat base to relplace the ones that come on the Frontier 12 because I did not like them and posted a picture of the seat base on the NuCanoe Forum and the machine shop has sold over 25 of them since. I provide their contact info there also. If you check out the NuCanoe web site, you will see that I am a Team Member of NuCanoe and can be contacted by e-mail through their web site. I am not a sales rep or anything like that. I am just a very satisfied owner and enjoy helping to answer any questions people may have.
    Warren
    Fly fishing and fly tying are two things that I do, and when I am doing them, they are the only 2 things I think about. They clear my mind.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. bass leader question
    By cklenske in forum Warm water Forum
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 06-09-2010, 03:52 PM
  2. Drifting the Menominee River for smallmouth bass.
    By David Higley in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-26-2008, 01:30 AM
  3. smallmouth bass on a flyrod!
    By fishaholic69 in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-02-2008, 11:03 PM
  4. Watercraft Rigging
    By Southside Sarge in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 06-09-2006, 04:37 AM
  5. Noob question pertaining bass
    By Jaredm2525 in forum Fly Anglers Online
    Replies: 27
    Last Post: 06-19-2005, 11:02 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts