Asp are mainly sought after with streamers, using fairly small flies. In fact, their diet is based on 5 to 10 cm prey, notably bleak, spirlins and other "whitetails" that they encounter along the way. Of course, you need to adapt to the prey of the moment, but by using flies of this size and these colors below, you should seduce some of these fearsome predators.
The size of the eye needs to be quite large, as it plays an important role in the asp's aim.
Streamer for asp fishing
From what I've experienced and heard from expert lure anglers, asps are fond of white colors, green back/white belly, bluish back/white belly, but also chartreuse and pink. These are the colors I've used for my asp outings and with which I've attracted fish.
Personally, I like to mimic local prey and on my attempts, I used natural colors given the clear, low-lying waters.
For streamer fishing, you generally need to striper fast to very fast. This fish pursues its prey and attacks it very violently. The faster you bring it in, the better your chances of outwitting it. We've had numerous follow-ups with no follow-up.
In very fast currents or on heavily fished corners, slower animations or "do nothing", i.e. inert drifting, can sometimes create a surprise.
1- Streamer in nayat
Nayat is a very interesting material that I'm using more and more for my fly-fishing rigs for all the predators I'm after, whether bass, pike, perch or asp.
It is solid, very mobile, comes in many colors and is a little translucent, all interesting qualities for fly-tying.
Streamer nayat
This small streamer in olive and white is a good choice as it resembles the bleak that asps prefer. Quick and easy to assemble
Deceiver in nayat
This white model is an all-rounder, as white is often effective when you're not sure what color to use or what prey to choose. It's also an interesting color for early morning or low-light conditions.
Streamer nayat & squimpish hair
Combining nayat with a squimpish hair back allows you to play with reflections and colors. I find these models very effective.
2- Synthetic fiber streamer
Synthetic fibers such as EP fiber, Dyckers, Pike and sea fibers and others of the same type are very useful for building light, mobile and efficient streamers.
The water is flushed away from the very first false cast, enabling you to cast fast and far. These are the qualities we look for in an asp.
Streamer mounted with pike & sea fiber that requires a little practice to set up. Many videos are available on the net.
Fishing for asp on the surface
There's nothing quite as thrilling as a touch of the surface. The asp is the champion, often attacking its prey below the surface. They love to literally explode on their prey, which for the angler brings its own share of adrenalin.
For fly-fishing, we use either gurglers, which are flies that glide along the surface, or poppers, which push out of the water and emit strong vibrations.
The animation generally consists of more or less dry shots alternating with pauses, as is often the case with these surface flies. Change the rhythm and intensity of the strips to find out what they like that day.
Gurgler for asp fishing:
The gurgler is a very simple fly to assemble.
A bucktail tail, a fritz chenille body, a strip of foam and you're done. Vary colors and sizes.
NB: On this model, the body has been made with silver Polar chenille.
Wherever you're looking for asp, you'll need to read the water well to find the right spots and hold the fish. They like breaks in the current, whether rocky blocks, bridge piles or groynes. Look for forage fish and asps shouldn't be far away.
You'll also need to find the flies that work. With these 5 flies, you're already off to a confident start.
Happy editing!
