Surface fly fishing for black bass, explosive attacks

Fishing for black bass on the surface is a thrill! © Enjoy Fishing / Jean-Baptiste Vidal

The black-bass, with its upward-facing mouth, is a predator accustomed to feeding on the surface. Fly-fishing for them is always very exciting, as the attacks are violent and explosive! Let's see when to take out your surface flies to stalk black-bass.

Black bass on the fly

Black bass is fairly well represented in France. It is a carnivore that frequents many lakes, ponds, rivers and canals in France. It is mainly found in the south of France, where it enjoys fairly warm water temperatures.

More often fished with lures, it is nevertheless possible to search for it with flies, whether streamers or surface flies that imitate large insects and small fish, as well as frogs and rodents of all kinds.

Le black bass chasse à l'affût dans les embâcles et végétation aquatique
Black bass hunt by lying in wait in logjams and aquatic vegetation.

When to surface fish for black bass?

As soon as the water warms up, the black bass will move closer to the edges, especially the surface, to feed on prey hidden in aquatic vegetation, near logjams and submerged tree trunks.

It opens late, due to a spawning period that generally runs from April to June. It is therefore possible to try it on the surface from this post-reproduction period until late autumn, depending on water temperature.

Quelques mouches de surface pour le black bass
A few surface flies for black bass.

Which fly to use for black bass?

Black bass flies are often tied in deer hair, but also in foam. Fly tyers and black-bass fishing enthusiasts are constantly coming up with inventive and highly original fly patterns. Gurglers, poppers and various small-sized flies are often used in search of this predator.

Les mouches en poils decervidés sont efficaces et de toute beauté. Ici une superbe création de Vincent Vescovi
Deer-hair flies are effective and beautiful. Here a superb creation by Vincent Vescovi.

In France, specialists such as Jacques Bordenave and Vincent Vescovi mount flies similar to the hard lures used in the USA. Their creations are incredible and highly technical to produce. I invite you to admire them on our social networks. You need to master the tying and trimming of hollow deer hairs. It takes experience and a lot of skill to achieve a beautiful finish.

La grande gueule du bass lui permet de se saisir de belles proies et notamment en surface
The black bass's large mouth enables it to seize attractive prey, particularly on the surface.

Explosive, thrilling action!

Black bass have two ways of grabbing your surface fly. Either it follows the fly and sucks it in with a characteristic sucking sound. The swirling action is powerful and the fly disappears. Or it can attack violently, sticking out its head or even a good part of its body, creating a huge spray of water!

In all cases, the actions are always magical and provide plenty of sensations and emotions. You have to be careful not to strike too hastily, otherwise you'll knock the fly out of the fish's mouth.

This is followed by characteristic acrobatic jumps where the black bass emerges from the water open-mouthed while shaking its head!

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