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Angling Publications - Index

Angling Publications - Fly Fish America - September 2007 Issue - Index

Fly fishing magazines, particularly those published in the western states, are
mostly about fishing for trout. And books, too. Volumes are written on how-to and
where-to for trout; very few are on bass, sunfishes and other warmwater species.
To paraphrase the late comic, Henny Youngman, bass just "don't get no respect.?
Noted outdoor editor and writer Art Sheck says, "I cannot live by trout
alone,? and I fully agree with him. Sure, I love to fish for trout, and have done
so in the USA from east to west, in South America, and in Alaska. They are
wonderful fish, often challenging, and sometimes frustrating, and they truly do
live in some beautiful places.
Yet the black basses-primarily largemouth, smallmouth, spotted and some
lesser varieties-are the most sought after and most popular gamefish in America
for anglers of all persuasions, particularly the spinning and casting crowds. A lot
of fly anglers pursue bass and its cousins, but I don't know what the numbers
are or even if there are such statistics available. It really doesn't matter.
I guess bass just aren't as 'sexy' as trout; they sure aren't as pretty either. But
I believe bass fight harder, often are tough to catch, and provide all of the challenges
of trout fishing and then some. Most bass populations are wild and selfpropagate,
something that can't be said for the majority of our trout which are
stocked fish. And their smaller cousins, the various and ubiquitous panfishes,
like bluegills and crappies, are the best targets for beginning fly anglers and those
who enjoy a meal of fresh fish now and then.
As for me, I want it all: trout fishing when the desire strikes me; saltwater
angling in coastal and inner waters and on the tropical flats, salmon fishing in
Alaska, and, most of all bass fishing on an early, steamy summer morn, preferably
with a popper. Anglers ask me the best time to go fishing, and I always tell
them whenever they can. There's no such thing as a bad day fishing.
On another note, people also ask me about fluorocarbon leaders and tippets
for warmwater quarry. There are those who swear by fluorocarbon, and those
who don't want to or won't use it for one reason or another. Using fluorocarbon
as opposed to monofilament is, like buying a fly rod or a reel, a personal thing.
I suspect fluorocarbon leaders and tippets might have more application in trout
fishing, since trout seem to be more leader shy than other species.
In 2007, when fishing below the surface, I used fluorocarbon knotless tapered
leaders exclusively, except for a carp trip with Lefty Kreh and guide, Mike O'Brien,
in Pennsylvania, where we used 15-foot knotted monofilament leaders. I fished
fluorocarbon leaders and tippets on saltwater flats, bass lakes and rivers, trout
streams, shad rivers in the spring, estuaries for striped bass, and on Alaskan rivers
for salmon, rainbows, northern pike, sheefish, grayling and Dolly Varden. I never
had a problem and caught as many or more than anyone else around. I don't have
the data to say that fluorocarbon is better than mono for leaders and tippet material,
but I can say it certainly doesn't hurt to use it. If it feels good, do it.
There are a number of fluorocarbon line/leader/tippet manufacturers out there
and I haven't tried them all. But I can highly recommend the fine products from
Scientific Anglers, Climax and Gamma Technologies who make my favorite,
Frog Hair, in their Pittsburgh factory.
This Warmwater Journal entry has covered a few bases, and probably raised
more questions than answers. One of the beauties of fly fishing is that we can
take to the water and try out theories, ideas and products to determine what
is best for us. Keep an open mind, try to improve in all areas of the sport, and
live now and then by other than trout alone.
King Montgomery, our Warmwater Editor, caught his first bass as a kid on a
Lake in downtown San Antonio, Texas in the early 1950s using a post WWII
Japanese bamboo fly rod that cost between five and 10 dollars. These old rods
now sell on eBay for hundreds of dollars. The bass was either about five pounds
or half a pound; he really doesn't remember which.
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