Landing Stripped Bass Using the Bouface Fly

I decided today I was going to fish the huge levee of Smith Dam and place the big Boggle Bug popper in and around the big boulders that were put in place when the lake was created. So with the boat launched, I proceeded to the east end of the levee where the depth finder was reading between 100 ft. to 110 ft. off the edge of steep rocks.  With the lake being low I could see the shelf bank that the low water revealed. I started with my 5wt. and made a long shoot cast right to the edge of the rock bank and let the popper sit idle for a few seconds and started a short jerk hop motion for about a 6 ft. run. This was the presentation I used throughout the early morning until the sun overtook the banks. With the levee being only 200 yards in length I had to make every cast count. The water was extremely clear and at times I could see the fish before I ever made the cast. The only problem was if you could see the fish then they could see you. So I made all the cast seated in the Bass Tracker. I found if I stood up the fish would spook and head for deeper water. The levee produced 3 nice spots for me all over the 12” mark using the idle jerk pop presentation.  The hits today were vicious.  I really like to fish this popper when the fish are really after it and this morning they meant to kill it. At the end of the levee, I debated whether to go back and fish it again or go to another area that I had fish last year. The other area got the vote and I worked that area the same way with the poppers but with no success, not because the sun was on the bank but because the topwater hit was over. You only have about an hour to fish the top before the fish turn off. So I switched to a fly that looks somewhat like a streamer but on a smaller scale called the Bouface Brown. Little did I know that this little # 6 fly was going to give me the best nymphing experience I have ever had with a fly rod on Smith Lake.  I positioned the boat so I could fish this long gravel point. I made a long cast across the point and starting stripping the fly back to me when I got a hit and landed a nice spot.

I was glad I was using the 5 wt. because it gave me that extra backbone I needed to fight the fish and land it. This activity lasted for about 20 minutes and in that time I landed one of the largest striped bass I have ever caught on the fly which was a 3.3 lb strip bass again with the Bouface. Using the fly rod on schooling strips who would have thought I started the day with 3 Bouface flies in the box and ended the day with none. I lost all three on break-offs on fish I never turned around. I got to do something today I had never done landing striped bass using the fly rod and it is something I will never forget. Today’s trip shows me that there are so many ways to enjoy this great sport.