Don’t think of this rig as being suitable for small buck bass alone. Make certain that the drag on the reel is relatively loose for the light monofilament, especially if you are using a low-stretch main line, and set the hook by raising the rod straight up. The float-and-fly rig works wherever bass suspend in cold-water conditions. Float trips for smallmouth bass can give you some of the finest fly fishing you can find. AOA fishing guides Jim Richmond and Charlie White have been guiding river float trips for over thirty years. There are a number of different style bobber stops available, and I’ve tried them all with varying success. Little Tennessee River Fly Fishing Guides for Smallmouth Bass, Guided Float Trips in drift boats starting at $225.00 per boat, all tackle and flies provided Staying with a heavier 1/8-ounce jig usually solves that problem. Had good luck with simularh technic with fly rod on Littel ossipe lake in Maine. For those of you who are more visual learners. “When the water is 56 or even 54, the smallmouth all run back in the creeks and they chase down all the shad and crawfish they can eat,” says smallie expert and fishing guide Jim Duckworth. If we had to choose one trip as a favorite, it would be without hesitation, the full day Float Trip for Trout or Smallmouth Bass. The fishing was fast, and in roughly an hour we blew through three-dozen live shiners while anchored up on a point bordering the main pond and a weedy back cove. Assuming you are using sharp fine-wire hooks, that is all that is required to set the hook. Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in North Carolina. • Back coves that warm in early spring; woody cover is a bonus. If you've ever wanted to fish the Float 'n' Fly you've got to try this new method! Great article. The Float N Fly was born in Eastern Tennessee and it started when the crappie anglers in the area were complaining about catching smallmouth while fishing for crappie by fishing crappie jigs under a float. The float n’ fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols in Eastern Tennessee. This technique was aimed at targeting suspended smallmouth and spotted bass when the water temps started creeping into the low 40's. Sign up for our FREE Fishing Reports Today! Run the line through a small glass bead, then through the slip bobber. During the offseason he brings his passion for the sport to his middle school classroom with Trout in the Classroom. Like any new fishing technique, success brings confidence, but I didn’t find either in my early trials. You should experiment with a couple styles to see what works best for you. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the New River can be simply fantastic!From mid-river feeding flats to shady bank cover to rocky-cobbled runs, the New River has ample structure to target big, mature (18"+) smallmouth effectively on the fly. I finally thru try and failur landed on woolly bugger patterns, darker worked better with a thingamabobber fishing them in the same way as described above. After a few fish, retie and adjust the depth of the jig. A small package of glass beads will round out the terminal tackle. For bobbers, I’m partial to the 4 3/8-inch Thill Center Slider balsa slip bobbers. If you've ever wanted to fish the Float 'n' Fly you've got to try this new method! Your email address will not be published. Afterward I switched to a suspending crankbait, but was met with limited success. 2021 Ice Fishing Guide - Tactical Gear. Say you have a straight bluff; right where the river hits the bluff is a sweet spot. I first experimented with float-and-fly rigs early one spring. 2020 Fly Fishing Made Easy Buy A Copy. “When the water hits 52 degrees they come out to the main lake where they suspend. Smallmouth Float trips "They eat like a fish should" Join us for a float trip targeting Smallmouth Bass on the fly. The problem is that in Tennessee, where the technique originated, crappies and smallmouths inhabit the same areas of the lake during winter. Float a Fly for a Bass. Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guide Trips Guided smallmouth bass trips are one of the most popular trips requested in Asheville, NC. For those who might be braver than me, however, I’ll describe those traditional southern rigs for comparison. The southern experts are firm believers that craft hair breathes best, but I’ve had good luck with simple ties utilizing bucktail in natural colors. It wasn’t until my brother-in-law joined me for a fishing trip that same year that I saw the true potential of the rig. It's guaranteed he'll be throwing it in February, but his tactics may differ slightly with the bobber set from 10 to 15 feet. SUCCESSFUL FLOAT TRIPS FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS. Read more about The Float-N-Fly In Depth Float & Fly Lesson from a Smallmouth Guru Winter is here and for some it can be the most challenging season for many bass anglers with lethargic bass and cold water many fishermen hang up their gear as they wait for spring to return. This float fishing trip gives you three full days of great West Virginia Smallmouth Bass fishing, riverside camping, and delicious meals. John had been having great success using the float and fly for smallies where he lived in Ellsworth, Maine, and it didn’t take long for him to show me why. Maine’s Mystery Buck: The Obscure Tale of Maine’s 110-Year-Old, Non-Typical Record Whitetail. The day before I was casting Sinkos and doing well but was getting board and wanted to switch it up. There’s no need for that “summertime, jig-n-pig fishing, cross your eyes” hookset here. You can easily get away from the crowds and fish sections of the rivers that receive less angling pressure than many parts of the streams. January 17, 2015 ODU Admin Bass Fishing Comments Off on Float-N-Fly for Smallmouth Bass. Well, this week I’ve had a chance to give it a try. From the swivel, attach a length of light 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon fishing line. If you have any info drop me a line . Join ODU Magazine on Facebook here at this LINK….. Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter fishing site here at this LINK….. Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter hunting site here at this LINK….. If you tie your own, I recommend Owner or Gamakatsu jig hooks; both offer good-quality fine-wire hooks in these weights. I don’t know about you, but at the time I was experimenting with this rig, the last thing I wanted in my tournament bass rig was a 12-foot noodle rod – talk about an accident ready to happen! Charlie drowned in a boating accident in 1996, just as his revolutionary bass system was gaining a following among southern smallmouth anglers. Some strikes will be easy to detect, with the bobber being pulled completely under the surface, but that’s not the norm. The fly used in this technique is actually a lead-head jig tied like a fly. The bobber might simply move differently or suddenly lie flat on the water, indicating that a fish has taken the weight of the jig off the bobber. When most people hear float n’ fly they think smallmouth and it makes sense. Float-N-Fly for Smallmouth Bass. Anywhere there is a nick in the bluff, or any point on the bluff is a sweet spot. September 18, 2007. I think I know more about it. Techniques Used Usually this dropper is 9 to 12 feet in length. If you want to go slip bobber, a mediumlight 6 ½- to 7-foot rod is all you need. In colored water, he'll switch to a 1/8-ounce fly with chartreuse highlights and back to the routine 1/16-ounce gray and blue jig in clear conditions. Look for jigs with size 2/0 hooks and weights of 1/16 ounce and 1/8 ounce. Here's all you need to find under-the-radar float-fishing trips for smallmouth bass on several of our state's best rivers. you're no longer limited to a set length, nor do you need the long rod! He targets smallmouth bass, trout, and muskies throughout the season. If you're like me, you miss the warm sun on your back and the bend of a 8wt rod with a bronzeback on the other end. Normal spinning rods proving inadequate, anglers who caught onto this technique adapted fly rods to fling the tiny floats and hair jigs. In a slight chop, move the float only occasionally to change position. It has a future in smallmouth angling, if it’s adapted to conditions. In fact, this has become the go-to rig for our traditional early-spring crappie fry, which we usually schedule a short time after ice-out, when a few weeks of warming guarantees crappies in the shallow coves. I’ve always been a subscriber to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and I’ve found simple ties with natural bucktail colors work just as well. I was amazed that he was able to almost duplicate the catch rate we had with live bait, and after he landed a number of nice bass in very short order, I was begging him to set me up with a similar rig. Float n Fly Bass Fishing Video. For me, one of the less obvious rewards to mastering this technique is that it instantly connects me to my youth, bringing back those wonderful memories of waiting in anticipation for my bobber to go down. Charlie Nuckols is considered by many to be the father of the float-and-fly rig. It was eventually adapted by tournament bass anglers in Northern California to fish for spotted bass on reservoirs like Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta, and Bullarads Bar Reservoir. Before you say, “ I’d never!” read on and see how this technique has accounted for some hefty tournament wins during the winter and early springtime, often outperforming other baits to catch above-average bass. My rod of choice would typically be spooled with 10-pound-test Fireline, so when it’s time to break out this rig, I only need add a 12-foot leader of 6- to 8-pound-test monofilament or fluorocarbon. Buy A Copy. How to Fly Fish Smallmouth Bass. You can repeat this until you are out of the strike zone, but I can’t emphasize enough the importance of going extremely slow. Plus, this video includes some footage of the float and fly in action. Stay focused on the bobber at all times. It’s a relaxing way to start or finish your season, watching patiently for your bobber to telegraph a subtle hit, and wondering as you set the hook whether it’s a crappie or a nice bass that has taken your jig. Fly tackle or spinning tackle is also the most admired fishing tools for many anglers hunting for this fish. Buy A Copy. Stay away from fast-action rods that flex mostly in the tip; instead, look for a more parabolic bend and a rig rated for 1/8 to 3/8 ounces and 6- to 15-pound-test line. It works extremely well for cold-water largemouth bass, pickerel, perch and crappies. Patience is the name of the game, especially in cold water, which is when this rig works best. All Rights Reserved, Where and When to Float-and-Fly for Smallies. The Float n' Fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols in eastern Tennessee. From the rod, 6- to 8-pound-test braided line is typically attached to a three-way swivel with a uni knot. Some of the larger mail-order fishing tackle companies offer float-and-fly kits, though I have opted to have a friend make my jigs, which guarantees me a good-quality hook. Whether you want to kick off your season early or extend it well into the fall, I can’t think of a more versatile rig to fish for a multitude of species. The third swivel loop is where you attach the bobber. Duckworth anticipates this occurrence each year so he can fish the suspended smallies with a technique called float and fly, a simple system that suspends a fly 8 to 10 feet below a bobber. Those same experts are also firm believers in using fixed bobbers with jigs set from 6 to 14 feet, which necessitates using lightweight noodle rods in 9- to 12-foot lengths. Im thinking about trying something new and instead of using a fly, Ill use soft plastics on a light ball head jig! In the flattest conditions, I’ll work the bobber ever so slowly back to the boat with slight rod twitches, letting the fly sit for minutes at a time between movements. “The suspended fish will be on the main lake bluffs and the main lake points,” says Duckworth. It started off as a way to fish small jigs and minnows to catch crappies in the winter. CREEK Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass. The float 'n' fly system can heat up your fishing in cold weather. Float down the French Broad, Nolichucky, Tuckasegee or North Toe river with a professional guide, while casting lures for hungry smallmouth! The Guided Float Fishing Trip is the most popular among our regular guests. I’ve found that the yarn stops work better when fishing deeper, as they don’t walk up and down the line excessively when reeled in past the rod tip. The fact that it requires a slow, deliberate presentation is a natural fit for the bulky clothing required to maintain warmth during these colder months. Many of the commercially available jigs use too heavy a hook, or if they are fine wire, they aren’t sufficient quality to tame large bass. Those same southern experts suggest that on sunny days and in clear water, jigs should be light colors such as white, pink and baby blue. Those are the kind of things you want to look for. A very effective cold-weather smallmouth bass technique, the Float ‘n’ Fly originated on Cherokee Lake, a clear, deep, rocky reservoir in the Appalachian foothills.The presentation works best with long, limber rods and light lines. Nick is a fly fishing guide from the midwest, located near Saint Paul, Minnesota. Your craft should not drift with the wind or move under paddle or motor power: If it's moving, your fly will drag and you'll lose the precise fly control you need. Hunting. Also remember that any time you are fishing with light line, it’s important to retie often. To rig, run the mono through the bobber stop and slide it up your line. Between their geographical abundance, hyper-aggressive nature, and the power they can impose against a taught line, bass are a great opportunity for anglers to diversify their regularly targeted species, as well as have a great fight. I’ve caught countless bass over 4 pounds on this rig, with many smallmouth and largemouth bass to 6 pounds. The best action is no action at all; just allow the waves to move the jig up and down in tiny increments that cause the hair and feathers to twitch and pulsate. Today there are many synthetic materials that make great flies for the float-n-fly rig. Savvy anglers know that when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees smallmouth bass begin to migrate out of the creek channels and into the main lake. By Don Wirth. The North Central and Western parts of our state offer up a plethora of outstanding trophy smallmouth fishing opportunities. The reality is that the float-and-fly rig had been around for many years prior to Charlie popularizing the technique. As a result, winter crappie fishermen would break off a lot of small jigs thanks to smallmouth bass – BIG smallmouth bass. • Bluff banks, rocky points with adjacent deep water, and steeply sloping rocky shorelines. Most stillwater smallmouth fishing is done from a float-tube, kick-boat, canoe, or bass boat. Thank you. Fishing the traditional setup and rigs certainly works for those who are willing to take the time to master it, but if you’re like me and you’d prefer to just break out the rigs and fish them on your standard spinning or even conventional rods, then the slip bobbers might be the thing for you. Hopefully, it will give you a better idea of how this set up can work for bass fishing. The rig really shines when it comes to catching quality smallmouth bass in early spring and late fall, but it is also an effective technique for largemouths, pickerel, crappies, bluegills and trout. One article in particular, authored by Charlie Nuckols and published a long time back in Bassmaster magazine, got me thinking about applying the technique in my tournament largemouth fishing during cold water or tough bites. We have the utmost respect for our predecessors but this method has changed the way Float N Fly fishing is … Your email address will not be published. Learning the intricacies of casting this fixed-bobber setup is important, and the key, obviously, is a long noodle rod. (August 2009) ... 2020 Fly Fishing Made Easy. Luckily for me, my friend John introduced me to his version of the rig, which utilizes a slip bobber and can be fished on a standard-length rod. Hunting. It doesn't have to be over for us. at lake ERIE around middle Island on the Canada side . More Fishing. Then tie on your jig, have a bottle of scent handy, and you’re ready to go. I will try this in a couple mo. I never experimented with a fixed bobber and noodle rod; the thought of trying to cast 14 feet of line hanging beyond a 12-foot rod just never appealed to me. So I swiched to a 6 weight fly rod and started casting several bass bugs with less luck then the day before. See more ideas about smallmouth bass, fly fishing, fish. I use many of these techniques myself and agree with the tips. One particular southeastern Massachusetts river system is so thick with weeds that you could walk across them in the summertime, but that same skinny water in early spring offers warmer water and an abundance of crappies, bass and pickerel hanging just above the emerging weeds. Apr 26, 2016 - Smallmouth bass on the fly. Float’n Fly Fishing while having “fly” in the name is traditionally a conventional angling tactic pioneered in the American south to fish for Spotted bass during the winter. There is a proven method that can produce some excellent winter action, It’s called the Float n’ fly(FNF) technique. Both spin flying and fly fishing options are available. During these frigid winter months I often find myself thinking about something dear to me – smallmouth fishing. • Coves or shallow river systems that are too weedy to fish in the summer can be hot spots in the spring and late fall. you're no longer limited to a set length, nor do you need the long rod! What I found was interesting. Fishing for smallmouth bass can be done during the customary fishing seasons but in particular areas. Today, Charlie’s brother Eddie Nuckols runs Bullet Lures, which remains the main source of the specialized lures and equipment used in the “Float-N-Fly” system. Some of the high-percentage spots to try include: Float & Fly Techniques For Smallmouth Bass. Back in the early 1980’s, when I first heard about the specialized technique known as “float and fly” fishing, most of the articles I read were geared toward southern smallmouth fisheries. We have a designated gear boat and boater that sets up camp long before you arrive. Last week I said I’d tell you more about the hot weather version of the float-and-fly after I knew more about it. No other trip allows you to access over 100 miles of river that is not accessible by foot. In my many years of use, the only disadvantage I have found is that when fishing depths beyond 6 feet on windy days, it sometimes takes some work to get the jig to pull the line through the bobber. Tying in some chenille on the hook shank ensures good absorption for your favorite scent, and don’t forget to make some with eyes; more times than not, jigs with eyes will out-fish those without. Let the rig sit for a minute or so, then move it only a foot or two using subtle movements of the rod tip to give the jig a little action. This technique proved itself time and time again when the fishing conditions were tough, especially in cold water or when fishing extremely pressured bass. I’ve been watching Wild Fly videos for awhile now and they definitely have some cool content. A technique created to catch big smallmouth bass is the float and fly technique. Right where the river leaves the bluff is a sweet spot. Through online correspondence on a smallmouth fishing Internet discussion board, I was informed by some good ‘ole southern boys that Charlie did not actually invent the rig, but he did perfect it and was certainly a master at marketing it. “The little cracks in the bluffs and the little bends in the bluffs will hold smallies. I like them tied so the bucktail is about twice the length of the hook, with an overall length around 2 ½ inches. 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