What equipment to fly fish for bass
Sea bass can be fished with different equipment if you fish from the shore or from a boat, but also according to the activity of the fish.
A sea rod (powerful and fast) is ideal, and power 8 is the most often used. Sometimes, a powerful 9 line rod is an advantage, especially when you are looking for distance, when you have to face the wind (often the case in the sea), but also when you use bulky and/or weighted flies.
I personally sometimes use a power 10 rod to cast sinker lines to fish in strong currents or to go after bass in greater depths if they are not decided to go up in the water layer.
A light reel, with a good progressive drag and if possible waterproof, is required. Bars are powerful fighters and sea water is very corrosive.
As far as lines are concerned, it is also wise to have several reels or spools equipped with sea lines and freshwater lines to adapt and fish at different depths. Ideally, having two rods mounted or even three with each line density is wise.
The floating line will be more suitable for fishing in little water or above oyster beds. It will of course be used for surface fishing.
The intermediate line is generally the most versatile, because it allows to fish between 50 and 1,50 m under the surface which corresponds to the majority of the situations.
Bass are sometimes in strong currents, or are reluctant to get on our flies when fishing close to the surface. The 250 to 350 grains or even more, allow us to present our imitations more deeply and sometimes make the difference.
The leader will depend mainly on the line and therefore the depth in which you will go looking for the bass. The closer you fish to the surface, the longer and thinner the leader will be.
In floating line, it will make between one rod length to one and a half. I often use the Rio Striper 7 foot leaders ending in 12 lbs. You can attach a micro-ring or make a micro-loop and then add "a load" (1.50 m) of fluorocarbon in 8 to 10 lbs.
For intermediate fishing, a 2 to 2.5 m leader made of 2 or 3 strands of fluorocarbon ending in 27 to 30/100 often does the trick.
In diving silk, a tip made of a single strand of 30 to 35/100 from 1 to 1.5 m is usually the standard.
Which positions to choose when looking for the bar?
You will be spoilt for choice when looking for bars, either from the shore or by boat.
The beaches are to be prospected mainly in the morning and in the evening when there are no bathers. Beach bass live there and come to feed regularly, sometimes even very close to the shore, often in the surf.
Spots such as rocky points are often interesting positions, because they create currents that interest predators. The rocks are also hiding places for fish, crabs and shrimps. Bass are not far away.
A bay or cove located in a cliff, rocky or estuary area is always a position not to be overlooked.
As a general rule, areas of mixed environment are always to be prospected, because they offer an interesting habitat for preys and thus for predators. Remember to look for alternating seaweed/sand, sand/rock.
Estuaries are also very good areas for fly fishing for bass.
Prefer coefficients between 50 and 80 but some positions will be more fishing by bigger coefficients.
Which flies to use for bass ?
The flies must imitate the prey of the moment and present on the spot where you will be. An observation phase is always necessary to know what to imitate. By testing several colors, you should find these answers.
The preys can be very varied and also depend on the season. The bars can be selective in certain cases that it is in color, or in size and sometimes in the animations.
The streamers generally represent imitations of fish of all kinds (sardines, mullets, lances, mackerel, âeuros¦). It is also recommended to use flies imitating shrimps which can represent a non-negligible part in the feeding of bass.
Surface flies such as poppers, gurglers and sliders are very effective on bass, especially when they are hunting. Sometimes, even without apparent activity, these flies can trigger bass. The hits they provide will leave you with great memories! Adrenaline rushes are frequent!
