I have a great little bass lake near my house (also some nice gills and carp). Only issue is that the entire lake is sorounded by trees and there is no wading allowed.
Right now I am using a standard 9’ 7wt to through some poppers and streamers (there is also a good risk of mild wind many days since it is sorrounded by large open fields).
My question is what type of rod would you recommend so I can cast on the banks without spending 50% of my time untangling myself and losing $5 poppers.
Sounds like the perfect place to use a float tube.
I have this one tool that has saved me many a fly from a tree.
No wading allowed would probably keep float tubes off the lake also. Maybe a kayak, raft, or small john boat. I’m going to go out on a limb and bet that those water craft wouldn’t be allowed either. Maybe a switch rod or spey rod and snake or double snake cast?
That’s right, its a local county park, no going on the water period.
I honestly don’t want to try learning a new type of fishing style (spey, switch etc). There is some casting room, right now I roll cast with my 7wt. Maybe just a shorter rod? Would that work for casting poppers and bugs?
Have you tried kneeling or crouching to cast? How about casting sidearm to stay under the trees? The traditional way to deal with a limited backcast area would be to use a roll cast.
Another method that works well, is to face the trees and forward cast to the open areas, then lay your line out on the water on your back cast. I fish a local lake where this is the most productive casting method. If you’re like most people, your forward cast will be more accurate than your back cast.
What about a Wulff Triple Taper line. They will roll cast a country mile!
Ok, these are all great strategies.
Where can I find the triple taper line? I searched and could not find it.
Also, anyone have any experience using a shorter style rod for casting larger type flies (I know people use shorter rods for light brook trout fishing, never heard of a short 7wt for big bass and carp.
Maybe a light 6.5’ spining rod with a fly reel would work. Or just use a spinning reel and a small float.
You actually want to go the other way. A flexible 9 foot rod will give you the ability to do a low sidearm roll cast (essentially a mend) that I just went out to practice with a whippy 9’/4wt under a pecan tree. It took a while to get the hang of it, but after a while I could manage 25’ or so without rod or line passing my body. It was a lot easier with a single fly rig and a LOT harder with a dropper on a long drop line. I also tried on a faster rod without as much success. The softer rod helps launch the line.
I would not go any shorter than 8.5’. You really don’t need to get directly under the bushes to catch these fish. Find the shaded side and cast to the edge of the shade. Also, a longer rod will allow you to roll cast. The rod your using should be fine but maybe use a shorter tippet or no tippet on a 7.5’ leader for more control on you accuracy and roll cast. You never said how you were fishing it. Are you fishing over the brush or are there open areas to fish from. If it is to tough, then there is now harm in using spinning gear and bait. Either way, you will have fun and at the same time catch some fish. There is no fun snagging brush all day and losing all you stock. I don’t know about you but, I can’t afford to rotate stock so quickly.
Single hand spey cast maybe?
Try Royal Wulff for the company name for the Triangle taper lines…they were a Sponsor here for a long time.
Don’t overlook the obvious, inquire why there are not watercraft allowed on the lake. The state of GA got enough backlash they removed this restriction from all the state park lakes, I have to work my country now myself. They likely do not have a good reason, if they counter with a safety concern ask why they allow football, lacrosse, hockey, skate boarding, etc., check to see what they do provided that is not safe to the population.