Topwater Smallmouth Bass Part 2
Where I fish for smallmouths in the Great Lakes, I’m looking for the kind of structure that will draw and hold fish during the warm summer months. Early summer I’m looking for transitions zones where bass are feeding and congregating post spawn, on their way to their summer feeding grounds. Mid to late summer I’m looking for any kind of structural anomalies, like ledges, points, and drop offs, with easy access to deeper water. Smallmouth Bass are the ultimate ambush predators so finding structure is going to be the key to successfully finding and targeting smallies with a fly rod.
Topwater Smallmouth Bass Part1
If there was ever a species that appeared to be intentionally designed to be fished with a light weight fly rod, it is the Smallmouth Bass. Once hooked, it’s aerial acrobatics display is often spectacular and pound for pound, the Smallmouth Bass dwarfs the strength of its cousin, the Largemouth Bass.
What to Bring on a Float Trip Day
It doesn’t matter where you’re fishing, be it Alaska, Argentina or Montana, a float trip day adds a great deal to the overall fly-fishing experience. You get to cover and fish so much water on a float day and because you are usually being piloted by an excellent guide who knows the water intimately, you have the opportunity to pick his or her brain throughout the day, which often leads to learning new things and becoming a better angler.
What to know when considering a fly fishing trip to Slovenia
I field questions several times a year from guests who have just heard about the trout fishing in Slovenia. The first question is usually, “where is Slovenia”? So little is known about the country that most anglers who have not already been there, have no idea where it is. They know its somewhere in Europe but that’s about the extent of it. Slovenia shares borders with Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the east and Croatia to the south. Not quite land locked, Slovenia has a small strip of land on the Adriatic Sea. What makes the country so special is that its still 65%
Cayo Romano Cuba has been fishing beautifully
Just thinking back on my last trip to Romano and how well it fished. I tend to fish the late spring early/ summer time frame at Romano for a couple of reasons. Firstly, late April through June generally offers the most consistent weather, with lots of sun and with winds that are usually pretty manageable. Secondly, these months also offer the best opportunities found during the year for shots at the big migratory tarpon that swim these north coast waters during their yearly migration.
Field Report – Day 3 – Haast Trip – Mystic River
As we flew 300 feet above the tree line, a thick canopy of Beech Trees sprawled out beneath us for as far as the eye could see. The “wap wap wap” of the helicopter blades slicing through the air temporality silencing the chorus of the millions of Cicadas who inhabit this forest, where the males of the species vibrate their tymbals, a noise-producing organ on the side of their abdomen, in the hope of attracting females to mate.
Field Report – Chopper fishing out of Haast
After the bizarre first day where the Haast Heli Service wouldn’t take us out due to “bad weather”, even though conditions were perfect, we managed to fly the next two days without any trouble or drama.
Field Report – Haast and the Cicada Symphony
When you drive from Wanaka and take Highway 6 over to Haast, it’s one of the great drives found within the country. The scenery is awe inspiring and so completely varied. One minute you’re driving past some of the best vineyards in Central Otageo, the next you are driving through a spectacular canyon gorge with views that are as gorgeous as they are frightening (heights).
Field Report – Queenstown Pain
Over a year ago when I was planning this trip, I wanted a few days in the mountain/lake town of Queenstown. The town is so beautiful and had such a great feel to it, that when I booked three nights there, I seriously considered adding a couple of extra night to my stay. I’m so glad that I did not!
New Zealand – Trout Fishing in Christchurch
After five days of rain on the north island I decided to fly south to visit my friend Chris Bell who guides out of the Christchurch area. Felt very fortunate that Chris had an open day and was able to guide us. Christchurch is a really nice town with a great vibe to it and with Chris available for a day, the prospect of a couple of rain free nights in Christchurch, or so I thought, was all I needed to jump on a plane south.