Thursday, July 16, 2020

Seeing Spots

As most of you have noticed summer is upon us and is producing some unusual hot temps. Fishing takes a hit this time of year if you're on the water during the hottest time of the day. Daylight or late evenings are the preferred time to wet a hook or fly. During this time of the year, I'm on the water from daylight to 10 AM. The water temps warm to a point where the better fish go deep to find cool temps more to their liking. In order to get a reaction from a Spotted Bass or a quality size bluegill on Smith during the heat days, you need to fish a popper that makes noise. Enter the size 4, 6, and 8 size Boogle Bug popper. 
The Electric Blue Boogle is a go-to popper when fishing at daylight on Smith
This area is one of my favorite walls to fish on Smith. I can still see a Spotted Bass blowing up on my popper here. Getting the popper as close as possible to the rocks is a must. A 9ft. fly rod in a 5 or 6 weight will place the popper within striking distance of the wall. 
As the sun comes up it is important to look for shady banks. The shade will produce a few hits but daylight is the optimum time to land a really quality spot fishing the popper. This male spot was a challenge for my 6 wt.


I film this beauty as he swims off to fight another day!
Guys, it's hard to beat landing these awesome fighters using a 5 or 6 weight fly rod. This female was taken inches off the rock wall in the background. The huge bull gills go deep this time of the year, leaving the hand-size gills to keep things interesting using the 3 wt. but the prizes are the spots.

10 comments:

  1. Hi Bill, an enjoyable post. No bass here, but I used to catch them on flies in Swaziland. I remember how hard they fought hard, so I have an idea what you mean!

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  2. Justin
    Pound for pound the Spotted Bass is truly a fighter on the level with the Smallmouth when it comes to a challenge on the fly rod. Thanks for the comment

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  3. Bill without question those are some fine bass.
    We have been in a heat wave and I may be fishing some warm water fish.
    It would be nice to land a few bass similar to the size you caught.

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  4. Alan
    I could see you landing a nice size bass or two using those light combos you fish those stream with. I hope to get back on the tailrace next week. Thanks for the comment

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  5. Looks great fun. never caught a bass, hell ive never even seen one but still looks fun

    Andy

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  6. Hi Bill. Sorry I'm late on this one. 4 days ago I was in the mountains getting thunder, lightning, and rain pounded. A Bass that size would be fun on any fly rod. 4 days in the mountains and never got a line wet, but that's another story. Well done.

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  7. Mark
    I assume the camper held up fine through all the rain pounding and lighting? Looking forward to a post concerning this trip. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Becks
    Trust me if ever get a chance to fish for Spotted Bass or Smallmouth bass try it. You will think you hooked into one of those quality brown trout you fish for there.
    Thanks for commenting

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  9. Some absolutely gorgeous fish. Those have to be a blast to catch.

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  10. Michael
    I have to give credit to my new iPhone. Same phone as before but with a much better camera. The number of bull bluegills and spots this lake possesses is amazing, a never endless supply of fun fishing with the fly rod. Thanks for the comment

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