I have bass come up to the fly and do what looks like mouth the tail end of the bait and then fade off. The faster I strip the more aggressive the strike but it reduces the amount of fish that will come up and investigate. Last night I had over 30 fish swim right up to the fly then fade off about half took shots at the fly. I went 5/8 (3 came unbuttoned)on the bass but it was a little frustrating seeing what looked like the bigger fish show little interest when they got close. I'm thinking of going down in leader size but wanted to see if you guys had any ideas. It happens with all fly patterns.
Need your help.
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fly and retrieve
Did you switch up the fly? I like a maribu flutter in finicky bass. Maybe you needed to better match to the bait in the area. This is typical Summer doldrums. PS- if you had a camera behind every lure, bait or fly you'd be amazed how common this is.
Did you slow the strip down and go long? How about pump, pump, pump. Pump, pump, slow and long. etc. Sometimes you got to tease them to bite by using multiple retrieves and even then after you get one, the same thing won't work.
Did you switch up the fly? I like a maribu flutter in finicky bass. Maybe you needed to better match to the bait in the area. This is typical Summer doldrums. PS- if you had a camera behind every lure, bait or fly you'd be amazed how common this is.
Did you slow the strip down and go long? How about pump, pump, pump. Pump, pump, slow and long. etc. Sometimes you got to tease them to bite by using multiple retrieves and even then after you get one, the same thing won't work.
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38 Posts
It's The Retreive
Teddy,
As you noticed, you get a reaction strike when you speed up your retrieve. What kind of retrieve are you using before you see the fish following your fly? If you are using one type of steady retrieve, try using a more erratic one. Many times, I get fish hitting the fly when I suddenly speed up my stripping all of a sudden (well before the end of the retrieve). Picture a bait fish realizing a bass is after it and trying to escape
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. If you wait until you see the fish before you change the speed of the retrieve, it may be too late, because the fish may be aware of you. The fish may have been following the fly well before you see it. Hope this helps.
This post edited by flyvice11787 08:57 PM 08/04/2008
Teddy,
As you noticed, you get a reaction strike when you speed up your retrieve. What kind of retrieve are you using before you see the fish following your fly? If you are using one type of steady retrieve, try using a more erratic one. Many times, I get fish hitting the fly when I suddenly speed up my stripping all of a sudden (well before the end of the retrieve). Picture a bait fish realizing a bass is after it and trying to escape
This post edited by flyvice11787 08:57 PM 08/04/2008
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3,981 Posts
Teddy,
It could also be that "last night (8/2)" we were a day past the New Moon and the bass were finicky because they were feeding on a worm hatch. When I've fished the hatch they tend to take the fly very lightly where you need to almost set the hook with the rod instead of the strip or use a combination of both. Now that we're a week removed see if the bass go at it the same. I bet they won't. Where in general were you fishing? Not specifics just N.Shore creek, South Shore bay, etc.
I hardly ever use a fast retrieve for Stripers. I like to one hand strip working the fly in to the rhythm of a tango beat.
Just saw you other thread regarding lights and Westchester/ Western LI Sound. If that's where you were the night of 8/2, I'd bet my hat there was a worm hatch going on.
This post edited by hauler 09:46 AM 08/05/2008
It could also be that "last night (8/2)" we were a day past the New Moon and the bass were finicky because they were feeding on a worm hatch. When I've fished the hatch they tend to take the fly very lightly where you need to almost set the hook with the rod instead of the strip or use a combination of both. Now that we're a week removed see if the bass go at it the same. I bet they won't. Where in general were you fishing? Not specifics just N.Shore creek, South Shore bay, etc.
I hardly ever use a fast retrieve for Stripers. I like to one hand strip working the fly in to the rhythm of a tango beat.
Just saw you other thread regarding lights and Westchester/ Western LI Sound. If that's where you were the night of 8/2, I'd bet my hat there was a worm hatch going on.
This post edited by hauler 09:46 AM 08/05/2008
hauler wrote:
Teddy,
It could also be that "last night (8/2)" we were a day past the New Moon and the bass were finicky because they were feeding on a worm hatch. When I've fished the hatch they tend to take the fly very lightly where you need to almost set the hook with the rod instead of the strip or use a combination of both. Now that we're a week removed see if the bass go at it the same. I bet they won't. Where in general were you fishing? Not specifics just N.Shore creek, South Shore bay, etc.
I hardly ever use a fast retrieve for Stripers. I like to one hand strip working the fly in to the rhythm of a tango beat.
Just saw you other thread regarding lights and Westchester/ Western LI Sound. If that's where you were the night of 8/2, I'd bet my hat there was a worm hatch going on.
Hauler
You're right on the money about that worm hatch. On 8/1-8/2 it was out of control. The night of 7/30ish them wern't as thick and I had them on the sinder worm fly. I usually use the slow retrieve as well so I 'll try to switch up the speeds mid strip. Thanks for the help. I'll let you know how it goes.
Teddy
Teddy,
It could also be that "last night (8/2)" we were a day past the New Moon and the bass were finicky because they were feeding on a worm hatch. When I've fished the hatch they tend to take the fly very lightly where you need to almost set the hook with the rod instead of the strip or use a combination of both. Now that we're a week removed see if the bass go at it the same. I bet they won't. Where in general were you fishing? Not specifics just N.Shore creek, South Shore bay, etc.
I hardly ever use a fast retrieve for Stripers. I like to one hand strip working the fly in to the rhythm of a tango beat.
Just saw you other thread regarding lights and Westchester/ Western LI Sound. If that's where you were the night of 8/2, I'd bet my hat there was a worm hatch going on.
Hauler
You're right on the money about that worm hatch. On 8/1-8/2 it was out of control. The night of 7/30ish them wern't as thick and I had them on the sinder worm fly. I usually use the slow retrieve as well so I 'll try to switch up the speeds mid strip. Thanks for the help. I'll let you know how it goes.
Teddy
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