Went fishing today....

[joedog]

...NO REALLY I DID!

Today's top temp was 43 degrees.
Winds were only like 10mph but ANY WIND is cold at 40 degrees.

Got setup last year for Float and Fly.....minus a 10 ft rod.
Today I was casting 10ft leader on a 7ft rod.
Ya I found out WHY they use 10 ft rods!

Being new to the technique, cold, small chop with sprinkles, I struggled with the cast.
Oh I was pier fishing too.
Used a fly MAC tied for me AND.....I CAUGHT ONE small LG Mouth on it.
Had some small sunnies try a take or two but they were nothing but a PAIN!
They would mess with the bait and hence bobber action hence I set and hence I got a 10 foot leader flying out of water and into FISHERMAN.
Ya I'm still working on the Float n Fly set.

Next stop it was a lite drizzle but I WASN'T QUITE DONE FISHING yet so......here it comes......I THREW A CRANK.
Caught a 16" Rainbow and another small largy.
That was three, my usual outting min., so I went HOME!!!

I know this is a smallie technique and the waters I was fishing had NO SM in them but you know me, adapt ANY technique to meet my needs.

Now the questions.
Can't I use a smaller leader?
Is the only reason they throw ten foot leaders is because that's where the bass are suspended they think?
So if I'm fishing smaller/shallower waters, can't I go with like a 7' leader or is the length part of why the fly/jig does what it does?

[Jrob78]

I've never fished the F&F but I think the leader length is dependent on the water depth and location of the fish. Also, you should be using a slip bobber with a bobber stop. You just have to make sure the guides are large enough to pass the bobber stop, that way you don't have a 10' leader to deal with.

[joedog]

Yeah I considered the slip but to really fish it effectively you need the three way swivel because like 20-30 % of the bites (they say) are 'lift bites'.
The bobber will float to it's side with three way when a lift bite occurs.
Else you would never know it's even happening.
And the one I caught was a lift bite.

The sunnies pull it under though and so CAN a bass.
Something about them coming up to feed and continueing upwards after the bite.

[merc1997]

i have looked at the float and fly set up and have always wondered why they did not use a slip bobber. it is the same principle. you are hanging a tiny jig in front of a fish. the slip bobber also allows to easily adjust your leader length. here is a little trick for your bobber. get one of the cheaper styrofoam floats that you peg. get a couple of brass ferrules that are used for a compression fitting. shove one into each end of the float. when fishing just add a small bead underneath you bobber stopper. your line will zip through this setup getting to depth much quicker.

bo

[joedog]

Just in case you get a wild hair and try to improve upon this system with a slip float type rig DON'T! There are two problems with the slip float idea. One is the fact that a 1/16 jig is generally not heavy enough to effectively make the line slip through the cork. The second problem with this is when you go to gently pop your float to make the fly dance your fly will eventually work its way up the water column which defeats the purpose of the keeping your bait at a desired depth. This also messes with your ability to determine if you have a lift bite by a fish on your bait as well. Can you make this system work? Absolutely, but it's not worth the hassle in most applications. However it does have a use in fishing inside boat houses where more accurate casting is needed.

This came from,
http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/float-n-fly.html

This technique came from crappie anglers (which is where I started).
They were complaining about all the SM eating thier bait in Winter.
Yes we did use slip floats ALOT but the lite jig would always rise in the water column on a cast of any distance. The pull and tension of the line itself on a light jig is the cause of the rise.
This is for targeting 'suspenders'.

[Jrob78]

That makes sense about the slip bobber. Like I said, I've never done it before. It seems like you would need to keep the leader at the length of the rod or shorter. That would be a beast to cast.

[joedog]

Hey Dale Hollow Anglers, this is HUGE on Dale Hollow!!!

Everything I read (which as always alot) about this technique DALE HOLLOW IS ALWAYS MENTION.
Didn't/doesn't Coan guide on Hollow? He kind of is the one who stumbled acroos this idea, if not first, close second.

So some of you must have input on this? Those that don't have me on thier 'ignore' list anyways.

[joedog]

Even checked out how to do it in a kayak.
And using the technique for LG mouth.

This one covered both.
Check out the Largie on that little jig.

http://www.yakangler.com/kayak-fishi...argemouth-bass

[woody]

Originally Posted by joedog

Hey Dale Hollow Anglers, this is HUGE on Dale Hollow!!!

Everything I read (which as always alot) about this technique DALE HOLLOW IS ALWAYS MENTION.
Didn't/doesn't Coan guide on Hollow? He kind of is the one who stumbled acroos this idea, if not first, close second.

So some of you must have input on this? Those that don't have me on thier 'ignore' list anyways.

I don't know enough about it to even make a comment on it.


-Mark

[lilmule]

Guy that invented it is deceased,one cold dec day he launched and the rope broke no one around so went in after it.Just goes to show sometimes its just to cold stay home,whats wrong with a 16 in rainbow(dinner).
Now if you cut a hole big nuff in the ice to float that yak,your beyond help.
The technique however will work in most clear water lakes.
Locale also helps here its balmy 63f water and are hitting popr as chasing in the back end of the bay near the launch ramp.

[joedog]

Originally Posted by lilmule

Guy that invented it is deceased,one cold dec day he launched and the rope broke no one around so went in after it.Just goes to show sometimes its just to cold stay home,whats wrong with a 16 in rainbow(dinner).
Now if you cut a hole big nuff in the ice to float that yak,your beyond help.
The technique however will work in most clear water lakes.
Locale also helps here its balmy 63f water and are hitting popr as chasing in the back end of the bay near the launch ramp.

Season closed here Sept. 30 till first Sat. in March.
What the logic is for this season I'll never know. other than just flat out control
Not sure but I think WE/THEY may even have a season for harvesting worms here?

[lilmule]

The guy that invented the floatin fly was from TN and most likly because we dont have seasons to close,open year round.And yes if you get bored or to much cabin fever bring it on down can float it here in jan or feb,no cutting holes necessary.

[joedog]

OK, first off I used this method strickly from a pier casting blindly to deeper water pockets I knew were there.

Now the whole technique was designed to fish suspending cold water located (on sonar) SM.
Not to mention down south with year round seasons.

I did the slip bobber and the true float'n'fly set up.
The slip float is just that....a panfish setup.
Totally defeats the actual technique.
Seven foot rod was ok but not the right length or action truely ideal for technique.

SOOOO...
I took an 8'6" fly rod, a 6-7 line weight and Tennesse Rigged the reel.
Took Tommy Tape (silicone strech tape that plumbers use).
No actual adhesive, it just stretches and seals tight.
Unbelievably tight.
Unbelievable what a difference it was.
Easy casting even from pier because you load the rod on the cast and let the rod do the casting, just like fly fishing.
And the technique was designed for using 9-10' ultralights. Steelhead rods would probably work too.
Caught 5 LM. No real size but one was a good 1.5 lbs. rest were in the 12-13 inch range, working on maybe a pound.

I'm telling you WOW!
I'M TALKING.....INSTANT ADDICTION!!!!!!

The fights were flat out a RIOT!
Even with the 6-7 weight rod.
Litterally NO BITE AT ALL.
The bobber just floats up and turns on it's side as the bass ever so gently takes it an swims upward.
Tighten line and 'wham' that bass is SWIMING!
Every single fish was hooked on upper lip......but so ever lightly.
Three.....the hook just actually fell out of thier mouths.
You really can't/don't set the hook per say.
It's ALL ABOUT THE PLAY! Tight line and alot of play.
I bet the quickest I got one to the pier was 3 plus minutes with an average probably closer to 4-5.
And your not really long casting this setup either. 20-25 feet ...maybe.
Takes alittle practice to get comfortable with the cast.
Especially if you want accuracy!

This isn't a cast out, sit and wait type bobber fishing at ALL!
It's hands on constant vigilence, technique specific casting, fly twitching, one rod action.
And flat out a riot.

BUT, I FROZE MY BUTT OFF!
Any wind really freezes the face and hands with the wind chill effect and if the suns not out......BRRRRRRRRRRRR!


Used 1/16oz. MAC's Hand ties he sent me. Thanks MAC!!!!!
My favorite so far are the ones with tiny little spin prop before the hair is tied.

Come March....this little boy will be tossing from the kayak on located fish.
Did I mention 'WOW'?

[lilmule]

You will find that a spinning outfit works well and fits in the reel seat,just a tad farther back and those wee spin flies work quite well on crappie.
Next time don carharts.Does sound like you had fun despite the chilly conditions.

[joedog]

Ya I put an ultra light spinning reel on.
Tennesse rigging you can find the sweet spot and put the reel so it's basically just like the 9-10 foot ultra light spinning rods designed for the technique.

Worked GREAT.
I did the technique at least a dozen times plus spent time with the slip bobber method too.
It's the hands that are my weak point.
I use neoprenes and I've used fingerless and switch mits before ice fishing.
I certainly will get better at it because again, I can't tell you how much fun that light tackle makes the fight.
I'm talking no slack ever or bye-bye fishey.

[lilmule]

Take a pair of 1 dollar cotton gloves and cut merely the fingertips out by first joint.Nothing is perfect except sitting in front of the fireplace with a hot cup of coffee,and everything else is much more expensive.Fingerless are normally at knuckles,bit to much exposed.