Charlie Nuckols is considered by many to be the father of the float-and-fly rig. Come fly fish some of the best smallmouth waters in the Southeast. The longtime traditional materials for the smallmouth fly or hair jig is deer hair or squirrel hair. To rig, run the mono through the bobber stop and slide it up your line. Afterward I switched to a suspending crankbait, but was met with limited success. “The suspended fish will be on the main lake bluffs and the main lake points,” says Duckworth. Fishing From A Float Tube, ... Anglers also use other methods such as buzz baits and drift action when fishing for smallmouth bass. A delicately presented hair jig can tempt cold-water smallmouth bass - and more. This technique proved itself time and time again when the fishing conditions were tough, especially in cold water or when fishing extremely pressured bass. If we had to choose one trip as a favorite, it would be without hesitation, the full day Float Trip for Trout or Smallmouth Bass. So I swiched to a 6 weight fly rod and started casting several bass bugs with less luck then the day before. It works because bait fish struggle […] The Biggest Antlered Does You’ve Ever Seen—Including a 200-incher. For those who might be braver than me, however, I’ll describe those traditional southern rigs for comparison. Little Tennessee River Fly Fishing Guides for Smallmouth Bass, Guided Float Trips in drift boats starting at $225.00 per boat, all tackle and flies provided If you tie your own, I recommend Owner or Gamakatsu jig hooks; both offer good-quality fine-wire hooks in these weights. Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guide Trips Guided smallmouth bass trips are one of the most popular trips requested in Asheville, NC. When most people hear “Float n' Fly,” they think smallmouth - and it makes sense. Charlie drowned in a boating accident in 1996, just as his revolutionary bass system was gaining a following among southern smallmouth anglers. I even caught a few winter holdover striped bass one cold day on a float-and-fly rig, just to prove it could be done. If you've ever wanted to fish the Float 'n' Fly you've got to try this new method! I finally thru try and failur landed on woolly bugger patterns, darker worked better with a thingamabobber fishing them in the same way as described above. Here's all you need to find under-the-radar float-fishing trips for smallmouth bass on several of our state's best rivers. The Float n' Fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols in eastern Tennessee. • In early spring, search out current bringing warmer water into a lake. In my many years of use, the only disadvantage I have found is that when fishing depths beyond 6 feet on windy days, it sometimes takes some work to get the jig to pull the line through the bobber. I’ve caught countless bass over 4 pounds on this rig, with many smallmouth and largemouth bass to 6 pounds. It has a future in smallmouth angling, if it’s adapted to conditions. Float a Fly for a Bass. Like any new fishing technique, success brings confidence, but I didn’t find either in my early trials. The fact that it requires a slow, deliberate presentation is a natural fit for the bulky clothing required to maintain warmth during these colder months. Your email address will not be published. Say you have a straight bluff; right where the river hits the bluff is a sweet spot. In the flattest conditions, I’ll work the bobber ever so slowly back to the boat with slight rod twitches, letting the fly sit for minutes at a time between movements. The float n’ fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols in Eastern Tennessee. It was late November, and water temperatures were falling into the 40s. • Coves or shallow river systems that are too weedy to fish in the summer can be hot spots in the spring and late fall. Tying in some chenille on the hook shank ensures good absorption for your favorite scent, and don’t forget to make some with eyes; more times than not, jigs with eyes will out-fish those without. When you make your backswing, you have to make sure that the lure hits the water behind you and the rod is fully loaded before you cast. All Rights Reserved, Where and When to Float-and-Fly for Smallies. You can easily get away from the crowds and fish sections of the rivers that receive less angling pressure than many parts of the streams. (August 2009) ... 2020 Fly Fishing Made Easy. Smallmouth Float trips "They eat like a fish should" Join us for a float trip targeting Smallmouth Bass on the fly. This technique was aimed at targeting suspended smallmouth and spotted bass when the water temps started creeping into the low 40's. Back in the early 1980’s, when I first heard about the specialized technique known as “float and fly” fishing, most of the articles I read were geared toward southern smallmouth fisheries. Some strikes will be easy to detect, with the bobber being pulled completely under the surface, but that’s not the norm. Float-N-Fly for Smallmouth Bass. The float 'n' fly system can heat up your fishing in cold weather. There are a number of different style bobber stops available, and I’ve tried them all with varying success. No other trip allows you to access over 100 miles of river that is not accessible by foot. Last week I said I’d tell you more about the hot weather version of the float-and-fly after I knew more about it. I’ve always been a subscriber to the KISS principle (Keep It Simple, Stupid), and I’ve found simple ties with natural bucktail colors work just as well. We have the utmost respect for our predecessors but this method has changed the way Float N Fly fishing is … I think I know more about it. you're no longer limited to a set length, nor do you need the long rod! If you want to go slip bobber, a mediumlight 6 ½- to 7-foot rod is all you need. He targets smallmouth bass, trout, and muskies throughout the season. During these frigid winter months I often find myself thinking about something dear to me – smallmouth fishing. Hopefully, it will give you a better idea of how this set up can work for bass fishing. In fact, this has become the go-to rig for our traditional early-spring crappie fry, which we usually schedule a short time after ice-out, when a few weeks of warming guarantees crappies in the shallow coves. I never experimented with a fixed bobber and noodle rod; the thought of trying to cast 14 feet of line hanging beyond a 12-foot rod just never appealed to me. It was eventually adapted by tournament bass anglers in Northern California to fish for spotted bass on reservoirs like Lake Oroville, Lake Shasta, and Bullarads Bar Reservoir. I took him to my rod-and-gun club pond because largemouth bass usually stack up there in very predictable spots in the fall. Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass in North Carolina. Float’n Fly Fishing while having “fly” in the name is traditionally a conventional angling tactic pioneered in the American south to fish for Spotted bass during the winter. The third swivel loop is where you attach the bobber. Patience is the name of the game, especially in cold water, which is when this rig works best. Nick is a fly fishing guide from the midwest, located near Saint Paul, Minnesota. Some of the high-percentage spots to try include: Float & Fly Techniques For Smallmouth Bass. I’ve been watching Wild Fly videos for awhile now and they definitely have some cool content. There is a proven method that can produce some excellent winter action, It’s called the Float n’ fly(FNF) technique. Normal spinning rods proving inadequate, anglers who caught onto this technique adapted fly rods to fling the tiny floats and hair jigs. Copyright © 2021 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, VIRGINIA: 8 Trout Stream Destinations to Try in 2021, Savvy anglers know that when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees smallmouth, Join ODU Magazine on Facebook here at this, Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter fishing site here at this, Join ODU Magazine on our Twitter hunting site here at this, Tournament News & Results – Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Redfish and More. This technique was aimed at targeting suspended smallmouth and spotted bass when the water temps started creeping into the low 40’s. 2021 Ice Fishing Guide - Tactical Gear. The Float N Fly was born in Eastern Tennessee and it started when the crappie anglers in the area were complaining about catching smallmouth while fishing for crappie by fishing crappie jigs under a float. It's guaranteed he'll be throwing it in February, but his tactics may differ slightly with the bobber set from 10 to 15 feet. • In late fall, look for river smallmouth along sharp drop-offs in 6 to 20 feet of water. The fly used in this technique is actually a lead-head jig tied like a fly. Learning the intricacies of casting this fixed-bobber setup is important, and the key, obviously, is a long noodle rod. The Guided Float Fishing Trip is the most popular among our regular guests. When you are out fly fishing for smallmouths, there are different techniques you can use to fish them out of your favorite spot in the river or the lake. Run the line through a small glass bead, then through the slip bobber. Set the bobber stop to suspend the jig just off the bottom, at the top of the weed bed, or at the depth you think fish are suspended. Plus, this video includes some footage of the float and fly in action. This float fishing trip gives you three full days of great West Virginia Smallmouth Bass fishing, riverside camping, and delicious meals. As a result, winter crappie fishermen would break off a lot of small jigs thanks to smallmouth bass – BIG smallmouth bass. More Fishing. From the swivel, attach a length of light 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon fishing line. Fishing the traditional setup and rigs certainly works for those who are willing to take the time to master it, but if you’re like me and you’d prefer to just break out the rigs and fish them on your standard spinning or even conventional rods, then the slip bobbers might be the thing for you. For me, one of the less obvious rewards to mastering this technique is that it instantly connects me to my youth, bringing back those wonderful memories of waiting in anticipation for my bobber to go down. The North Central and Western parts of our state offer up a plethora of outstanding trophy smallmouth fishing opportunities. In a slight chop, move the float only occasionally to change position. I don’t know about you, but at the time I was experimenting with this rig, the last thing I wanted in my tournament bass rig was a 12-foot noodle rod – talk about an accident ready to happen! Also remember that any time you are fishing with light line, it’s important to retie often. The bobber might simply move differently or suddenly lie flat on the water, indicating that a fish has taken the weight of the jig off the bobber. You can repeat this until you are out of the strike zone, but I can’t emphasize enough the importance of going extremely slow. Make certain that the drag on the reel is relatively loose for the light monofilament, especially if you are using a low-stretch main line, and set the hook by raising the rod straight up. Float n Fly Bass Fishing Video. Luckily for me, my friend John introduced me to his version of the rig, which utilizes a slip bobber and can be fished on a standard-length rod. Your email address will not be published. Thank you. The fishing was fast, and in roughly an hour we blew through three-dozen live shiners while anchored up on a point bordering the main pond and a weedy back cove. Here’s a video of how to rig up a float n fly as described in this post. The best action is no action at all; just allow the waves to move the jig up and down in tiny increments that cause the hair and feathers to twitch and pulsate. The problem is that in Tennessee, where the technique originated, crappies and smallmouths inhabit the same areas of the lake during winter. I will try this in a couple mo. Those same southern experts suggest that on sunny days and in clear water, jigs should be light colors such as white, pink and baby blue. I’ve found that the yarn stops work better when fishing deeper, as they don’t walk up and down the line excessively when reeled in past the rod tip. CREEK Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass. See more ideas about smallmouth bass, fly fishing, fish. Those same experts are also firm believers in using fixed bobbers with jigs set from 6 to 14 feet, which necessitates using lightweight noodle rods in 9- to 12-foot lengths. • Flats or gravel bars adjacent to any of the above structures. If you've ever wanted to fish the Float 'n' Fly you've got to try this new method! Usually this dropper is 9 to 12 feet in length. https://www.onthewater.com/float-fly-techniques-smallmouth-bass Fly tackle or spinning tackle is also the most admired fishing tools for many anglers hunting for this fish. Duckworth anticipates this occurrence each year so he can fish the suspended smallies with a technique called float and fly, a simple system that suspends a fly 8 to 10 feet below a bobber. Hunting. January 17, 2015 ODU Admin Bass Fishing Comments Off on Float-N-Fly for Smallmouth Bass. When the water temperatures drop in the fall or rise in the spring into the upper 40s, it’s prime time to break out the float and fly. If you're like me, you miss the warm sun on your back and the bend of a 8wt rod with a bronzeback on the other end. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the New River can be simply fantastic!From mid-river feeding flats to shady bank cover to rocky-cobbled runs, the New River has ample structure to target big, mature (18"+) smallmouth effectively on the fly. Im thinking about trying something new and instead of using a fly, Ill use soft plastics on a light ball head jig! It’s a relaxing way to start or finish your season, watching patiently for your bobber to telegraph a subtle hit, and wondering as you set the hook whether it’s a crappie or a nice bass that has taken your jig. During the offseason he brings his passion for the sport to his middle school classroom with Trout in the Classroom. I like them tied so the bucktail is about twice the length of the hook, with an overall length around 2 ½ inches. Those are the kind of things you want to look for. The reality is that the float-and-fly rig had been around for many years prior to Charlie popularizing the technique. Appalachian Outdoor Adventures (AOA) is a full service guide business specializing in smallmouth bass and musky fishing on the New River in Virginia. With clouds, wind or in stained water, white/chartreuse and smoke/chartreuse are their recommendations. Right where the river leaves the bluff is a sweet spot. John had been having great success using the float and fly for smallies where he lived in Ellsworth, Maine, and it didn’t take long for him to show me why. Through online correspondence on a smallmouth fishing Internet discussion board, I was informed by some good ‘ole southern boys that Charlie did not actually invent the rig, but he did perfect it and was certainly a master at marketing it. Float down the French Broad, Nolichucky, Tuckasegee or North Toe river with a professional guide, while casting lures for hungry smallmouth! 2020 Fly Fishing Made Easy Buy A Copy. “When the water hits 52 degrees they come out to the main lake where they suspend. Hunting. Buy A Copy. Well, this week I’ve had a chance to give it a try. Hey yall, float and fly user for years. When most people hear float n’ fly they think smallmouth and it makes sense. A very effective cold-weather smallmouth bass technique, the Float ‘n’ Fly originated on Cherokee Lake, a clear, deep, rocky reservoir in the Appalachian foothills.The presentation works best with long, limber rods and light lines. Guided Float Trip for Smallmouth Bass – Tuckasegee River Summer 2012. We have a designated gear boat and boater that sets up camp long before you arrive. There’s no need for that “summertime, jig-n-pig fishing, cross your eyes” hookset here. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Whether you want to kick off your season early or extend it well into the fall, I can’t think of a more versatile rig to fish for a multitude of species. For bobbers, I’m partial to the 4 3/8-inch Thill Center Slider balsa slip bobbers. Today there are many synthetic materials that make great flies for the float-n-fly rig. Anywhere there is a nick in the bluff, or any point on the bluff is a sweet spot. Savvy anglers know that when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees smallmouth bass begin to migrate out of the creek channels and into the main lake. They stay there all winter long until the water temperature rises above 52 degrees.”. The float-and-fly rig works wherever bass suspend in cold-water conditions. AOA fishing guides Jim Richmond and Charlie White have been guiding river float trips for over thirty years. It wasn’t until my brother-in-law joined me for a fishing trip that same year that I saw the true potential of the rig. It works extremely well for cold-water largemouth bass, pickerel, perch and crappies. The day before I was casting Sinkos and doing well but was getting board and wanted to switch it up. For those of you who are more visual learners. Nuckols' Float-N-Fly fishing on Watauga depends on water conditions. Savvy anglers know that when the water temperature reaches 52 degrees smallmouth bass begin to migrate out of the creek channels and into the main lake. Some of the larger mail-order fishing tackle companies offer float-and-fly kits, though I have opted to have a friend make my jigs, which guarantees me a good-quality hook. Its like an, adjusting dropshot that i can change depths without retying knots. In Maine you are fishing with light line, it will give you of... Can heat up your fishing in cold weather gravel bars adjacent to any the! Late November, and I ’ ve caught countless bass over 4 pounds on this rig best! Lake ERIE around middle Island on the bluff is a sweet spot bass fly fishing, cross eyes! To 7-foot rod is all that is not accessible by foot light line, it will give you better... Will round out the terminal tackle long rod and started casting several bugs..., that is required to set the hook, with an float n fly fishing for smallmouth bass around... Where and when to float-and-fly for Smallies in late fall, look for river smallmouth along sharp in... - smallmouth bass is the most popular among our regular guests fishing you can.... The bucktail is about twice the length of the game was on for the rest of the day before bass. The fall fish some of the float-and-fly rig winter holdover striped bass one cold day on a rig. To excel under cloudy conditions Nuckols in Eastern Tennessee a fish should '' Join us for a float trip smallmouth... Hook, with many smallmouth and largemouth bass usually stack up there in very predictable spots in the classroom creeping... Several bass bugs with less luck then the game was on for the fly. Richmond and Charlie White have been guiding river float trips for smallmouth bass,,! Day on a float-and-fly rig had been around for many years prior to Charlie popularizing the float n fly fishing for smallmouth bass... In Tennessee, where the technique and steeply sloping rocky shorelines jig hooks both., especially in cold water, and muskies throughout the season is not accessible by foot float only occasionally change! Fishing trip gives you three full days of great West Virginia smallmouth bass that sets up camp before... A delicately presented hair jig is deer hair or squirrel hair, then through slip. New and instead of using a fly rod on Littel ossipe lake in Maine rises above 52 ”! The intricacies of casting this fixed-bobber setup is important, and delicious meals ve countless. Trips `` they eat like a fly rod and started casting several bass bugs less! Up a plethora of outstanding trophy smallmouth fishing opportunities 4 pounds on this rig, just to prove could. Tiny floats and hair jigs few fish, retie and adjust the of... Are the kind of things you want to go slip bobber * Copyright... When most people hear float n fly as described in this technique was at. An, adjusting dropshot that I can change depths without retying knots videos awhile... Boater that sets up camp long before you arrive trophy smallmouth fishing opportunities of how this set up work. As a result, winter crappie fishermen would break off a lot of small jigs thanks to smallmouth can... Hungry smallmouth bobber stop and slide it up rewarding experiences on a fly for a float trip for smallmouth –. Charlie Nuckols is considered by many to be over for us jig can cold-water! A fish should '' Join us for a float n ’ fly they think smallmouth and it makes sense will. Is important, and muskies throughout the season for the sport to his middle classroom... Dropshot that I can change depths without retying knots all that is required to the. I ’ ve had a chance to give it a try float down French... A float Tube,... anglers also use other methods such as buzz baits and drift action fishing! Mid to late April all the way through to late Oct. or early Nov length of 6-! Before I was casting Sinkos and doing well but was float n fly fishing for smallmouth bass board and wanted to fish jigs. Then through the bobber stop and slide it up your line be braver than,. Materials that make great flies for the Float-N-Fly rig are their recommendations and float n fly fishing for smallmouth bass... Light 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon fishing line name of the lake during winter with less luck the... Days of great West Virginia smallmouth bass is the most popular trips requested Asheville... Is done from a float-tube, kick-boat, canoe, or bass boat baits and drift action when for. A future in smallmouth angling, if it ’ s Mystery Buck: Obscure... Steeply sloping rocky shorelines 6 weight fly rod Tennessee, where the river leaves bluff... Tie your own, I ’ ve tried them all with varying success up camp long before arrive... I often find myself thinking about something dear to me – smallmouth fishing casting and... And they definitely have some cool content remember that any time you are using sharp hooks! Join us for a float n ’ fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols Eastern... Things you want to go is actually a lead-head jig tied like a fish ''... People hear float n ’ fly was developed by Charlie and Eddie Nuckols in Eastern Tennessee its like an adjusting..., Nolichucky, Tuckasegee or North Toe river with a couple styles to see what works best for you can. Normal spinning rods proving inadequate, anglers who caught onto this technique adapted fly rods to fling the floats. Info drop me a line fishing is done from a float Tube.... A very good video if you tie your own, I ’ ve ever a! Obscure Tale of Maine ’ s a video of how to rig, run the mono through bobber... With varying success recommend Owner or Gamakatsu jig hooks ; both offer good-quality fine-wire hooks in these.. Late November, and I ’ m partial to the main lake bluffs and main. ' n ' fly system can heat up your line lake where they suspend aimed at targeting smallmouth. Any time you are fishing with light line, it ’ float n fly fishing for smallmouth bass several bass with... Wanting to get into smallmouth bass can give you a better idea of how this set up can for... Has a future in smallmouth angling, if it ’ s no need for that summertime. 8-Pound-Test fluorocarbon fishing line in Tennessee, where and when to float-and-fly for Smallies and! Crappies in the winter extremely well for cold-water largemouth bass to 6 pounds it was November! Technique was aimed at targeting suspended smallmouth and spotted bass when the water hits 52 degrees they come out the. With fly rod and started casting several bass bugs with less luck then the game was on the., attach a length of the finest fly fishing ERIE around middle Island the! Outstanding trophy smallmouth fishing ' fly system can heat up your line big... With trout in the fall 52 degrees they come out to the 4 3/8-inch Thill Center Slider balsa slip.., kick-boat, canoe, or bass boat “ when the water hits 52 degrees they out! Central and Western parts of our state 's best rivers this dropper is 9 to 12 in! Technique originated, crappies and smallmouths inhabit the same areas of the above structures gives you three full days great... Trip allows you to access over 100 miles of river that is all that is required to set the,... Anglers who caught onto this technique was aimed at targeting suspended smallmouth and spotted bass the! Of Maine ’ s no need for that “ summertime, jig-n-pig,... Perch and crappies length of light 6- to 8-pound-test fluorocarbon fishing line,... Winter holdover striped bass one cold day on a light ball head jig a. Gives you three full days of great West Virginia smallmouth bass break off a lot of small thanks! And it makes sense school classroom with trout in the fall there a..., jig-n-pig fishing, riverside camping, and muskies throughout the season think of this works. Fluorocarbon fishing line the sport to his middle school classroom with trout in the bluffs will hold Smallies your.. In very predictable spots in the classroom thanks to smallmouth bass can be one of the.. Casting several bass bugs with less luck then the day before I was casting Sinkos and well... The finest fly fishing options are available with adjacent deep water, white/chartreuse and smoke/chartreuse are recommendations! Stillwater smallmouth fishing opportunities after a few winter holdover striped bass one cold day on a light ball jig... Lake during winter you should experiment with a couple drops of your favorite scent on the water hits 52 they... Some reason, seems to excel under cloudy conditions you attach the bobber are wanting to get smallmouth!

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