Jumping Largemouth and Jumping Smallmouth Bass
Bass fishing really heated up over the weekend with the warm air temps, fish were fairly aggressive, still not 100% on fire, but some really nice bass can be found. I still look for August to be prime, as water levels drop and water clears up. Been tying patterns very similar to the ones found in the DVD, and now can also be watched VOD. Baitfish style has been #1 but with water dropping and clearing look for the spicy crab to start to take over.
Spicy Crab and Smallmouth equals good fun
Sunny Day, high pressure (from anglers and mother nature) try the spicy crab. Featured pattern in the Big Appetite Smallmouth DVD. The next 4 months are prime smallmouth time. Crabs other wise none as crayfish are not the big fly, sexy to tie patterns you read about they flat out catch fish. Plenty of open smallmouth dates open starting in July, once I get through the Hex cycle. Give me a call or shoot me an email. July – September great months to chase the bronze back before muskie and steelhead seasons.
Air Time, Mr. Smallmouth – Picture of the Day
Mr. Smallmouth getting a little air time. Trying to continue to work on my skills of timing, smallmouth are much easier than steelhead.
3 – Tand Fly Reel – Very Impressed
So if you know me you might find this post kind of funny. But yes I was impressed by a fly reel here most recently. While a lot of my teaching on how to go about fighting and handling fish here in Michigan does not require the reel. I believe in stripping the fly line in and landing them.
But with my new arsenal of Scott Radian rods, I was finding out my old school reels where just too heavy and my balance was off. As fly rods continue to get lighter and lighter my “coffee cans” needed an upgrade. Now to my dilemma, with smallmouth bass season here my 907 Radian needed to be outfitted with my favorite bass line 7wt Titan Taper, but as you all know smallmouth do not require the reel for drag. Strip them bronze back beauty’s in. So I did not want to spend a lot of money, for a line holder. Not going to be using a drag. But balance is key, smallmouth require that you cast. Longer casts on wider rivers, and banging shoreline on our reservoirs. Don’t want a heavy setup for a long day of casting.
So my good friend and fellow endangered species hunter Russ Maddin, told me about a new company 3-tand reels. He had just bought a few for his Scott Radians. Well after picking up a TF 70 from TNA (The Northern Angler) for $209. I am floored by the value that one gets with this reel.
The TF 70 is perfect for trout and smallmouth fishing. There are a couple things that I look for in a reel. 1) How does it balance on the rod, 3-tands TF-70 is super light, well ported but still seems durable. 2) How does it spin, what do I mean by this. Can I pick up line quickly by spinning the spool. The answer is yes here, the reel is balanced almost like a center pin reel. Spins like a champ. 3) Sounds funny but is it sexy. Do I like how it looks. While I see reels as men’s jewelry, I want my stuff to be looking good. Answer again is yes. 4) If and when I need drag what am I working with? 3-tands and there TF-70 model? Well the Patent Pending sealed NanoCF Drag system to begin with, what does that mean? Smooth and Sealed basically and secondly for the money more drag than you will ever get anywhere else.
If you need a new reel check out 3-tand and contact Brian at the TNA he has them in stock. Great reel and OMG great value.
Smallmouth DVD now On Demand
With future project just around the corner about to be released, working with Vimeo Mangled Fly and Snap T Pictures have launched a Vimeo on Demand page. First video on our page is the Big Appetite Small Mouth DVD that we launched a couple summers ago. Now you can watch this DVD at anytime on your computer. Look for this page to grow over the next couple months, as Erik and I will be releasing more videos here very shortly. Next video to be released with be the Midnight Creeper.
Big Appetite Small Mouth DVD from Mangled Fly Media on Vimeo.
Michigan is home to many great freshwater game fish. In this DVD, Michigan guides Jon Ray and Kevin Feenstra explore some of the great waters of West Michigan for smallmouth bass. Both Jon and Kevin have a great deal of experience with these hard fighting gamefish. The complete DVD features tips and techniques, as well as detailed, step-by-step instructions for a handful of their favorite smallmouth bass flies. Basics such as equipment and knots are also covered. This DVD is produced by Erik Rambo of Snap T productions. Erik is a professional videographer, known for his work in other fly fishing films. Music done by Mike Moran check out more of his work on his website.
Limited Time Offer – Holiday Special
Kevin Feenstra and I decided to get in the holiday spirit and offer the Smallmouth DVD at a new Holiday Special price of $22.99. A perfect gift for under the tree or in your stocking. Order now and I promise to get it to you for Christmas.
Inland Oceans Book Now Available
One of the greatest most unexplored fly fishing frontiers finally has a book that will help more people tap into a great resource. Jerry Darkes is the author, of this well written, full of information, fly patterns, stories and maps to help anglers get into fishing the great lakes. With endless miles of shoreline full of browns, coho, chinook, smallmouth, carp, and muskie. It’s almost impossible to hit all the ports, harbors, and river mouths in a lifetime. This book will help narrow in the hotspots if you have a desire to fish this great resource.
Buy this at your local fly shop first, but if they won’t get it for you, here is a quick link.
Fly Fishing Inland Ocean
If you love taking your fly rod to different places and chasing anything that swims, this book is going to help you update your “to do” list. Jerry Darkes has just published a new book about all the great lakes and how to target anything that swims within these bodies of water. From Salmon to smallmouth to carp. So many ports, beaches, breakwaters, and river mouths to try, that an angler couldn’t do them all in a couple years. But this untapped frontier needed a book like this, pick it up from your local fly shop or follow the link to amazon here. The book will cover how to, when to, fly patterns, and so much more.
Also a bounce you might know the guy on the cover. Will also be an assortment of Mangled Fly Media images within the pages as well. Great job Jerry!
Booking Smallmouth Trips on Traverse Bay
Grand Traverse Bay Smallmouth Bass