Bass fishing on a fly rod?
Bass fishing on a fly rod? I understand a 6 wt. line would be best, but the type/brand best suited for smallmouth bass and bream fishing? I am also looking for some solid advice on how to rig up a fly rod. Finally, should I fish near the top of the water or go deeper? Because when you think of fly fishing, I always assume that keeping the lure or fly on the top. Also, a bit confusing for me to understand the difference between dry flies and wet, but then again I am a new fly fisherman. 
Thanks for your help Arky Angler.
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Tags: Bass fishing, Bream Fishing, Fly fishing, Fly Rod, Smallmouth Bass
September 1st, 2010 at 5:36 am
Arky:
Unless you’re going to be fishing deep, stick with a floating fly line. I have no complaints about Rio fly line. I recommend a nail knot for attaching the backing to the fly line. Now…………………….
Fly fishing for bass means large and possibly heavy flies. You will cast better with a line that is designed to handle them. There are a number of fly lines out there, but I have come to rely on the quality of Rio lines as mentioned for all of my fly fishing. They make excellent lines that are designed for specific styles of fly fishing. If you are going to be fishing with floating flies or flies fished just under the surface,say within the first 2 or so feet under the water, then I would recommend the Rio floating bass fly line. Here is what Rio has to say about them:
Start here:
Bass: Designed for the special disciplines of fly fishing for bass. This weight forward fly line combines an aggressive, short bullet-shaped forward taper and a medium length back taper. RIO’s Bass fly line is designed for fixed length (repeatable) short and long distance casts and is the perfect taper for casting large, wind-resistant bass flies. Excellent turnover results from the hard self-lubricating coating that doesn’t wilt or sag in the heat. WF6F – WF9F | Length: 90 ft (27.4 m) | Color: Yellow
If you are going to be fishing mostly wet flies, then there are several Rio lines that you could choose from, depending on which type of fly you will be using and how deep you need to go.
For just under the surface, I would suggest the Rio Streamer line
More…..
Streamer Tip Fly Line: A floating line with a 9.5 ft clear intermediate tip, this is an excellent line for fishing streamers in fall as well as for nymph and chironomid fishing on lakes. The clear tip sinks at 1.5 – 2 ips, perfect for just under the surface or on windy days where a floating line will lose contact with the fly. Built on a Clouser taper it’s fantastic for casting big streamers or teams of flies and for managing wind. The single-strand Powerflex core with coldwater coating provides high line speed for maximum distance and the highest casting performance. Also includes the RIO welded loop on the front end for easy rigging.
WF4F/I – WF8F/I | Length: 100 ft (30.5 m) | Color: Yellow / Clear Tip
If you are going deep, then I would suggest the Rio Lake model full sink fly lines and just pick the sink rate you think you will need, Type 3 to 6.
DC Full Sink: A series of sinking lines that feature an increase in density at the front to ensure the line sinks tip first – aiding in bite detection and in setting the hook. These lines are made on a supple core for memory free performance and have a super smooth, tungsten impregnated coating that makes distance casting easy. An essential line for the serious lake fly fisher. The WF4S and WF5S, Type 6 lines are made on a Powerflex core.
Type 3: WF4S to WF8S ~ 3-4 inches per second
Type 4: WF4S to WF8S ~ 4-5 inches per second
Type 6: WF4S to WF9S ~ 6-7 inches per second
Length: 90 ft (27.4m); Color: Black and brown
Hope this helps you make a decision and welcome to fly fishing
Have fun fishing.
Mac
September 1st, 2010 at 1:44 pm
Wow that is one heck of a reply post! Thanks for your input! Arky you’re a lucky man to get this kind of advice..or ..er..we all are.