Comments on: Fishing: Once you go Bass, you never go back? http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back Fly Fishing ~ Living Life Outdoors Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:48:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Clif http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-500 Clif Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:28:40 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-500 So...this bass trip must be coming up soon. You haven't changed your mind have you? So…this bass trip must be coming up soon. You haven’t changed your mind have you?

]]> By: James Mann http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-286 James Mann Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:56:44 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-286 Smallmouth bass are great fun to fish, especially on the ole fly rod and from my float tube. I have introduced a lot of people to float tube fishing for smallies but I have to say that fly fishing for chain pickerel from a float tube is right up there with smallmouth bass fly fishing. I start fly fishing brook trout from the float tube first and we caught some nice brookies but most were in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just right for a shore lunch. I got so caught up in fly fishing for bass, pickerel and salmon I sort of left trout fishing behind. I have to get back to fishing some of my old trout hot spots. Love your blog by the way. Smallmouth bass are great fun to fish, especially on the ole fly rod and from my float tube. I have introduced a lot of people to float tube fishing for smallies but I have to say that fly fishing for chain pickerel from a float tube is right up there with smallmouth bass fly fishing.

I start fly fishing brook trout from the float tube first and we caught some nice brookies but most were in the 8 to 10 inch range. Just right for a shore lunch.

I got so caught up in fly fishing for bass, pickerel and salmon I sort of left trout fishing behind. I have to get back to fishing some of my old trout hot spots.

Love your blog by the way.

]]> By: terry battisti http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-262 terry battisti Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:20:02 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-262 I see this one little article triggered by Rob has opened Pandora's box Rebecca. Seems like most if not all of your "fly fishing" buddies has, at one time or another, fished bass (GASP!). I'll be over in the April/May timeframe to get you on the water. I know you'll enjoy the fishing aspect of it. I'm just worried about getting you IN the boat. By the way, I'm heading to Lake Powell in the morning for a week of bass and striper fishing. Hopefully it'll be a lot warmer than the Arctic Tundra of Idaho Falls and the fish will cooperate. Be good and a very good read as usual. Terry I see this one little article triggered by Rob has opened Pandora’s box Rebecca. Seems like most if not all of your “fly fishing” buddies has, at one time or another, fished bass (GASP!).

I’ll be over in the April/May timeframe to get you on the water. I know you’ll enjoy the fishing aspect of it. I’m just worried about getting you IN the boat.

By the way, I’m heading to Lake Powell in the morning for a week of bass and striper fishing. Hopefully it’ll be a lot warmer than the Arctic Tundra of Idaho Falls and the fish will cooperate.

Be good and a very good read as usual.

Terry

]]> By: terry battisti http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-261 terry battisti Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:11:54 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-261 Hmmmmm..... two women in the boat at the same time? That's a lot of estrogen. :-) I think I can handle that. Hmmmmm….. two women in the boat at the same time? That’s a lot of estrogen. :-) I think I can handle that.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-256 Rebecca Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:37:25 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-256 @Mel, I'll be sure to write about my experience here....hopefully it's a fun and positive one rather then a comedy of errors and mishaps~ @FishingPoet excellent point! Catch more fish...... @Dave Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Now, I'm sick if I lose one little fly. I imagine I would dive into a lake to retrieve a lure that costs upwards of 15 or more dollars! So basically, the bass fisherman put the big bucks in their lures. We fly fisherman put the big bucks into our fly rods. A sense of balance in the force..... @Mel, I’ll be sure to write about my experience here….hopefully it’s a fun and positive one rather then a comedy of errors and mishaps~

@FishingPoet excellent point! Catch more fish……

@Dave Thank you for sharing your words of wisdom. Now, I’m sick if I lose one little fly. I imagine I would dive into a lake to retrieve a lure that costs upwards of 15 or more dollars! So basically, the bass fisherman put the big bucks in their lures. We fly fisherman put the big bucks into our fly rods. A sense of balance in the force…..

]]> By: Nerveracker http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-255 Nerveracker Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:10:22 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-255 Ok, coming from someone who has walked on both sides of the proverbial fence here. I'll say this.. The first fish I ever caught was a trout. I spent most of my younger years fishing lakes in South and North Carolina with my grandfather (being born and raised in Western NC was kinda nice to have the best of both worlds right in your back yard). I've caught many bass, largemouth and smallmouth. They are extremely fun fish to catch, VERY particular fish as well. Rebecca, you WON'T be disappointed. Yes, take your shiny new 7 or 8 wt with you. Grab up some poppers, leeches, clousers, and other streamer patterns, and hang on! I had a friend that I used to bass fish with back in the old days. He would bring a fly rod in the boat, and when we could catch them on top, well, he'd put down the casting gear and whip out his 7 wt and go to town with poppers. He caught quite a few that way and some decent sized bass. Now, if you're going to fish for bass, there's a thing or two you might want to unlearn, or at least segregate from trout fishing. When you're bass fishing, if it's over 12" it is measured in pounds, not inches. You rarely ever hear someone say, I caught a 28" bass. What you normally hear is.. I caught a 7lb bass or simply a 7 pounder. On to lures, you have Swimbaits, jerkbaits, top water poppers and stickbaits, crank baits, soft plastics, jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jitterbugs, devils horse, zara spook, are all very productive lures, and every tackle box should be outfitted with some of each in various colors and sizes. Also varied hooks from 1/0 to 4/0 and sinkers from a 3/4oz egg sinker (for Carolina rig) to a 1/8 oz bullet sinker (Texas rig) and different sizes of each for those really fussy fish that won't bite anything else. Oh and don't forget the swivels. In our world of fly fishing the cost is absorbed in the fly rod, reel, and line. Our flies are inexpensive compared to bass lures. One lure can cost upwards of $15.00 sometimes more. Now to loose one of those makes one cringe at the thought. Figure a bass angler has several tackle boxes full of lures at an average of $5-$6 each and he may have several hundred different lures. Now tack on the cost of his rod and reel (average @ $100 for a fair to decent rod and $100 for a fair reel) his hobby is looking about just as spendy as ours is! Not to mention his bass boat! All in all Bass fishing is a wonderful sport and a helluva great time! I think you're gonna love it! Enjoy your time on the lake! it'll be fun! Dave Ok, coming from someone who has walked on both sides of the proverbial fence here. I’ll say this.. The first fish I ever caught was a trout. I spent most of my younger years fishing lakes in South and North Carolina with my grandfather (being born and raised in Western NC was kinda nice to have the best of both worlds right in your back yard). I’ve caught many bass, largemouth and smallmouth. They are extremely fun fish to catch, VERY particular fish as well.
Rebecca, you WON’T be disappointed. Yes, take your shiny new 7 or 8 wt with you. Grab up some poppers, leeches, clousers, and other streamer patterns, and hang on!
I had a friend that I used to bass fish with back in the old days. He would bring a fly rod in the boat, and when we could catch them on top, well, he’d put down the casting gear and whip out his 7 wt and go to town with poppers. He caught quite a few that way and some decent sized bass.
Now, if you’re going to fish for bass, there’s a thing or two you might want to unlearn, or at least segregate from trout fishing. When you’re bass fishing, if it’s over 12″ it is measured in pounds, not inches. You rarely ever hear someone say, I caught a 28″ bass. What you normally hear is.. I caught a 7lb bass or simply a 7 pounder.
On to lures, you have Swimbaits, jerkbaits, top water poppers and stickbaits, crank baits, soft plastics, jigs, spoons, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, jitterbugs, devils horse, zara spook, are all very productive lures, and every tackle box should be outfitted with some of each in various colors and sizes. Also varied hooks from 1/0 to 4/0 and sinkers from a 3/4oz egg sinker (for Carolina rig) to a 1/8 oz bullet sinker (Texas rig) and different sizes of each for those really fussy fish that won’t bite anything else. Oh and don’t forget the swivels.
In our world of fly fishing the cost is absorbed in the fly rod, reel, and line. Our flies are inexpensive compared to bass lures. One lure can cost upwards of $15.00 sometimes more. Now to loose one of those makes one cringe at the thought. Figure a bass angler has several tackle boxes full of lures at an average of $5-$6 each and he may have several hundred different lures. Now tack on the cost of his rod and reel (average @ $100 for a fair to decent rod and $100 for a fair reel) his hobby is looking about just as spendy as ours is! Not to mention his bass boat!
All in all Bass fishing is a wonderful sport and a helluva great time! I think you’re gonna love it!
Enjoy your time on the lake! it’ll be fun!
Dave

]]> By: fishingpoet http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-254 fishingpoet Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:40:54 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-254 I've got a good bunch of buds in Virginia/MD/WVA who are die hard smallie fisherman on the rivers, and all they cast are hand-tied flies on 5 wts. I grew up chasing bass. I've got to tell you, learning how to fly fish gave me a whole new appreciation for my time on the water...regardless of the species I'm after or what I'm after them with. The only thing you need to fight, Rebecca, is more fish on your line. ;) I’ve got a good bunch of buds in Virginia/MD/WVA who are die hard smallie fisherman on the rivers, and all they cast are hand-tied flies on 5 wts.

I grew up chasing bass. I’ve got to tell you, learning how to fly fish gave me a whole new appreciation for my time on the water…regardless of the species I’m after or what I’m after them with.

The only thing you need to fight, Rebecca, is more fish on your line. ;)

]]> By: Mel http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-253 Mel Sun, 20 Dec 2009 06:40:43 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-253 Kind of like me going from (30) years worth of fly fishing only, to fishing plastics for trout, perch, bluegill, and "Bass". The dark side ain't so bad, if that is what they call it. I will wait to hear how your experience goes with those big lures. Kind of like me going from (30) years worth of fly fishing only, to fishing plastics for trout, perch, bluegill, and “Bass”. The dark side ain’t so bad, if that is what they call it.

I will wait to hear how your experience goes with those big lures.

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-252 Rebecca Sat, 19 Dec 2009 15:56:42 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-252 I don't know Clif, I liked your first idea. I like the idea of using a mega-fly rod to heft those massive lures around. In doing so, I could still hold onto my fly fishing religion and add a touch of the dark side in. I don’t know Clif, I liked your first idea. I like the idea of using a mega-fly rod to heft those massive lures around. In doing so, I could still hold onto my fly fishing religion and add a touch of the dark side in.

]]> By: Clif http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-251 Clif Sat, 19 Dec 2009 04:59:56 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-251 Fine, use a bait caster instead. Fine, use a bait caster instead.

]]> By: trout whisperer http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-250 trout whisperer Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:38:03 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-250 Let's be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. . . . And, gentle friends, Let's kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; Let's carve him as a dish fit for the gods, Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds; Let’s be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius.
. . . And, gentle friends,
Let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully;
Let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods,
Not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds;

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-249 Rebecca Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:50:36 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-249 @Wolfy ~ duly noted. If I find I can't handle them, it's good to know they have a home already offering adoption. @Shoreman ~ Your experience sounds about on par with my experiences Bass fishing. Accidental catches. I shall try and resist the dark side (and will repeat that mantra a hundred times when I go out for my first 'official' bass experience) @ Clif ~ LOL well, at least I would have an excuse to buy a tougher fly rod and if the Bass fishing fails, I could take it to some big waters. Ocean fly fishing anyone? @Wolfy ~ duly noted. If I find I can’t handle them, it’s good to know they have a home already offering adoption.

@Shoreman ~ Your experience sounds about on par with my experiences Bass fishing. Accidental catches. I shall try and resist the dark side (and will repeat that mantra a hundred times when I go out for my first ‘official’ bass experience)

@ Clif ~ LOL well, at least I would have an excuse to buy a tougher fly rod and if the Bass fishing fails, I could take it to some big waters. Ocean fly fishing anyone?

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-248 Rebecca Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:47:16 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-248 LOL the child in question has been fishing with me since she was a baby and I threw her in one of those baby backpacks. She's personally been fishing since she could hold a rod....fly fishing since she was about 5 years old. I promise, she is not abused or left out in any way. LOL the child in question has been fishing with me since she was a baby and I threw her in one of those baby backpacks. She’s personally been fishing since she could hold a rod….fly fishing since she was about 5 years old. I promise, she is not abused or left out in any way.

]]> By: clif http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-247 clif Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:11:45 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-247 You're going to need at least an 11 or 12wt to throw those swimbaits around. You’re going to need at least an 11 or 12wt to throw those swimbaits around.

]]> By: trout whisperer http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-246 trout whisperer Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:09:24 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-246 is this child asking to go fishing...because not taking a child fishing.........is child abuse....... is this child asking to go fishing…because
not taking a child fishing………is child abuse…….

]]> By: Kaitlyn http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-245 Kaitlyn Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:03:27 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-245 Okay, how about this: Swimming pool for summer, pond for spring, fall and winter. Deal? Now will you take me fishing? Please? ~K Okay, how about this: Swimming pool for summer, pond for spring, fall and winter. Deal? Now will you take me fishing? Please?

~K

]]> By: Shoreman http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Shoreman Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:52:46 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-244 I guess I'm too late trying to keep you from the dark side. Seems you've already slipped. I, on the other hand, have only caught one Bass, that being by accident. I was fishing for trout with a Gold Panther Martin and a Small Mouth took it. Oh, wait! I did catch one, other again on a PM, but it it was so small I could hardly tell what it was. Keep resisting. May the force be with you. Mark I guess I’m too late trying to keep you from the dark side. Seems you’ve already slipped. I, on the other hand, have only caught one Bass, that being by accident. I was fishing for trout with a Gold Panther Martin and a Small Mouth took it. Oh, wait! I did catch one, other again on a PM, but it it was so small I could hardly tell what it was. Keep resisting.

May the force be with you.

Mark

]]> By: Wolfy http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Wolfy Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:03:55 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-243 There is virtually NOTHING on the planet that I need or want for ANY type of fishing, but... If you end up having too many of those Huddlestons, I have a good home for them! :) Wolfy There is virtually NOTHING on the planet that I need or want for ANY type of fishing, but…

If you end up having too many of those Huddlestons, I have a good home for them!

:)

Wolfy

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-242 Rebecca Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:03:05 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-242 Hmmmm....I don't know Kaitlyn. I guess I might have meant to say that if you have changed your vote over the whole swimming pool/trout pond debate. I've just realized, I'm going to love holding the pool over everyones head.....My Mothering skills continue to improve with time :-) Hmmmm….I don’t know Kaitlyn. I guess I might have meant to say that if you have changed your vote over the whole swimming pool/trout pond debate.

I’ve just realized, I’m going to love holding the pool over everyones head…..My Mothering skills continue to improve with time :-)

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-241 Rebecca Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:00:45 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-241 Kirk! "Big bass poppers can entice violent surface takes by bass" Sure sounds like something you've experienced....do you go both ways but have been hiding in the closet about it on your blog? I can't verify the smell. I'm leaving them in their pristine packages until I can open them up and send them into the water all fresh and juicy~ Kirk!
“Big bass poppers can entice violent surface takes by bass”
Sure sounds like something you’ve experienced….do you go both ways but have been hiding in the closet about it on your blog?

I can’t verify the smell. I’m leaving them in their pristine packages until I can open them up and send them into the water all fresh and juicy~

]]> By: Kaitlyn http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-239 Kaitlyn Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:09:15 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-239 I'm sure you meant to say: Rebecca, the fly fishing, trout loving disciple will be going bass fishing with my new Huddleston Swimbaits and my daughter Kaitlyn come April or May with Terry as our bass guide. I’m sure you meant to say: Rebecca, the fly fishing, trout loving disciple will be going bass fishing with my new Huddleston Swimbaits and my daughter Kaitlyn come April or May with Terry as our bass guide.

]]> By: Kirk http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-238 Kirk Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:53:06 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-238 By no means should you leave your fly rod at home just because you're going to the dark side...big bass poppers can entice violent surface takes by bass...or so I am told. I've only angled with a fly for bass once, and all my hookups were on woolly buggers down deep in the weeds. And BTW, those Huddleston Swimbaits look remarkably like Air Fresh Trout, to me! How do they smell? By no means should you leave your fly rod at home just because you’re going to the dark side…big bass poppers can entice violent surface takes by bass…or so I am told. I’ve only angled with a fly for bass once, and all my hookups were on woolly buggers down deep in the weeds. And BTW, those Huddleston Swimbaits look remarkably like Air Fresh Trout, to me! How do they smell?

]]> By: Rebecca http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-237 Rebecca Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:14:43 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-237 Rob, I don't think the bass get that big around here in my parts....Boise Idaho area.....but I can't confirm. Feeding on a 12 inch rainbow trout??!! Good hell, the monsters! Ok. Bass first, then it will be redfish and pretty soon I'll be one of those good all around fisherman. Saltwater flies?? Sounds like I'll have to plan a trip to the great big blue body of water. Darn, I hate it when that happens.... Rob,
I don’t think the bass get that big around here in my parts….Boise Idaho area…..but I can’t confirm. Feeding on a 12 inch rainbow trout??!! Good hell, the monsters!
Ok. Bass first, then it will be redfish and pretty soon I’ll be one of those good all around fisherman.
Saltwater flies??
Sounds like I’ll have to plan a trip to the great big blue body of water. Darn, I hate it when that happens….

]]> By: Rob http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-236 Rob Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:12:38 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-236 Oh yeah....I forgot to tell you....don't tell anyone but (whispering now) I've got an 8 foot 6 weight that i take bass fishing from time to time. Golf course ponds never see anglers and are always stocked with bass.... Oh yeah….I forgot to tell you….don’t tell anyone but (whispering now) I’ve got an 8 foot 6 weight that i take bass fishing from time to time. Golf course ponds never see anglers and are always stocked with bass….

]]> By: Rob http://www.outdooress.com/2009/12/fishing-once-you-go-bass-you-never-go-back/comment-page-1/#comment-235 Rob Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:09:31 +0000 http://www.outdooress.com/?p=1115#comment-235 Nice! I'm not sure about the bass where you and Darth live, but the bass here can get quite big. Funny thing is, they stocked lakes in California with the Florida strain and they pull 20 pounders out of there all the time. They get big while feeding on 12 inch rainbow trout. I'm telling you Rebecca, after you get Popeye arm casting to tailing redfish one day, the next move you'll be making is to Florida.... I've got a nice little package of saltwater flies that I tied for you. As soon as I'm able to actually get into the post office (maybe after Christmas) I'll mail them off for you. Rob Nice!

I’m not sure about the bass where you and Darth live, but the bass here can get quite big. Funny thing is, they stocked lakes in California with the Florida strain and they pull 20 pounders out of there all the time. They get big while feeding on 12 inch rainbow trout.

I’m telling you Rebecca, after you get Popeye arm casting to tailing redfish one day, the next move you’ll be making is to Florida….

I’ve got a nice little package of saltwater flies that I tied for you. As soon as I’m able to actually get into the post office (maybe after Christmas) I’ll mail them off for you.

Rob

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