Now rewind to how this affects me....well it doesn't. But it did inspire me. So after asking the public about the doability and logistics of my brainchild, I decided to attempt a quest of my own. This year, I am going to try and catch 50 bass over 17" on the fly and from my kayak and/or wading and all on public waters. I am calling it - "50 Chunks on the Fly", being that the word "chunk" is often used for bass that are good size, but not quite "kicker" quality. So if you are a fly fishing enthusiast, this blog is going to be a little more entertaining for you than normal this year.
I am going to be chasing a bunch of fish this size in 2013!
Granted, I am not writing off conventional gear altogether. I promise those traditionalists out there won't be dissappointed. Maybe you will even find yourself being inspired to pick up a long rod?!
One thing that has been in the back of my mind as I approach this challenge is fly selection. I have a few bass bugs in my box that I love. They are mainly floaters and have been incredibly productive the past few years - including catching some big fish. And of course, I also have a bunch of streamers and flies designed to be fished on the bottom. But most of them are still fairly small. So how do you maintain the action of a fly while upsizing it to target bigger bass, keeping in mind that it needs to remain castable. In my case, I Google. I went out and found as many awesome looking flies as possible, saved the links and sent them off to my good friend Levi. Levi and I grew up together and he is an incredibly talented fly tier and fisherman currently residing in Michigan. About once a year I tend to send him all of my scatterbrained ideas and he makes them into something that catches fish. I am hoping he can really work his magic this year...I need it!
OK, this might be a little much...even for my taste
So, if you have a favorite bass fly I should know about, please comment below and let me know what it is. Also, if you have pics, feel free to email them to drew@manpoweredfishing.com.
And last, but not least, as I was writing this I got a message from Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop out of Montana. I won a new pair of Patagonia wading boots through a contest they held on Facebook. I am ecstatic, in large part because my old wading boots have seen better days. I think the soles have now been re-cemented about 5 times. They will be an awesome asset for this years quest!
After speaking with the Grizzly Hackle folks and checking out their site, they seem like a great group of guys who love getting others introduced to fly fishing and the outdoors. They even took the time to check out my blog, which I really appreciate. So, check them out if you get a chance. They have tons of stuff available on their website and even more at their store in Missoula.
Until next time, tight lines!
Drew
ReplyDeleteThat frog pattern is a killer. I have landed some nice bass with a frog pattern. thanks for sharing
Agree. I have a couple different frog patterns that I really like and that really produce!
DeleteGet some big minnow patterns. Poppers will work well in the summer. The Orvis Gulley fish works. It's basically a glorified lure.
ReplyDeleteI have seen that Gulley Fish before. But for big fish in public waters, I feel better with a big minnow pattern (as you mentioned). Last week I picked up a couple shad patterns that are typically striper flies that I am super excited about.
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