The Delaware River

The Float ‘n Fly and Smallmouth Bass

Authored and written by: Al Winco

www.wincoscustomlures.com

*What is it?* How do I fish it? *How do you rig it?

The float’ n fly rig is a 1/16-1/8 oz. sparsely tied jig made from craft hair that is suspended beneath a surface float which is usually fished @ 12’ depths. It is a specific technique for winter time anglers that originated in the clear, cold water lake of Dale Hollow Reservoir in Tennessee. They use fixed bobbers,9-11 ft. rods and 4-6 pound test line. This technique will catch both smallmouth and largemouth bass. I’ve modified the tackle and rigging techniques for ease of use in our northern waters that is equally productive. The float ‘n fly is associated w/Lake fishing but has also been productive for me in the river fished specifically in reverse current and reduced current pools.

IF YOU REALLY WISH TO LEARN THE FLOAT ‘N FLY TECHNIQUE -REMOVE all other lures ,rod & reels out of your boat and fish nothing but the Float ‘n Fly all day.

1-Spinning tackle, 6-8 pd test line(depending upon water clarity) and a 6-7′ light to med. light action spinning rod (I use a 20-30 ft. section of 8lb. test -Stren, Clear Magnathin line ,joined to 10lb. test Sufix braided line w/a double uni-knot.

My personal favorite rod is a 6’8′ Shimano Crucial -Medium light/Fast action 4-8lb. line lure weight 1/16-1/4 oz.

2-Rigging- Tie a single uni-knot/bobber stop ,up 6-15 feet from the end of your monofilament leader 1st. Slide a round or faceted RED-plastic bead up your line 2nd. Then slide a 1″ diameter Thill -“Day and Night Slip float 3rd. Tie your desired Float’ n Fly pattern to the end of your leader last

Bobber stop knot-

http://www.steelheader.net/knots/float_stopper.htm

Thill-day and night slip floats-

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_30560____SearchResults

Faceted plastic beads-

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_2059____SearchResults

I tie my own bobber stops using 17 lb. monofilament and the illustrated knot above. The plastic bobber stops have broken on me too many times in cold water temperatures. The wire stops and pre-tied Dacron stops are not recommended since they inhibit casting distance. Pull both ends of bobber stop-knot very tight and trim the tag ends very closely or it will inhibit casting.

YOU CAN ADD A SMALL SPLIT –SHOT 1 FOOT ABOVE YOUR FLOAT’N FLY . THIS WILL KEEP THE END OF THE FLOAT FROM JAMMING AGAINST IT AND INTO THE EYE OF THE JIG.(that will keep the fly from sinking)

4-To start fishing, set the bobber-stop @ 1 foot shallower then the depth of the water you are fishing.

If your slip bobber does not stand straight up, your bait is on the bottom and you need to set the stop shallower (you want the fly suspended 1 ft from the bottom-minimum)

5-Fish slack water and reverse pool areas as well as productive wintering holes in rivers. I like points, ledge and rocky high spots and/ or deep –water bluff walls in lakes

6-The retrieve:

Cast out, wait for the slip-bobber to stand straight up-start a series of 3-6 short wrist movements causing the top of the bobber to tip over to the waters surface and then stop so that the float stands straight up. Pause(15 seconds to 1 minute) and repeat the sequence. Sometimes just shaking the bobber in place will trigger a strike.

7-I have witnessed smallmouth bass hit during the series of wrist manipulations as well as the pause. I have had smallmouth and largemouth bass play with the FnF like it was live bait and then pull the float completely under the surface. You should set the hook when any different movement is noticed in your surface float. If your float suddenly goes horizontal, reel up your slack and set the hook immediately-the bass has taken the fly and is swimming at you.

It is best to experiment and develop your own successful routine / retrieve w/out overworking the fly

8-Don’t make the mistake of staying in one pool or spot too long fishing the Float ‘n Fly. If a smallmouth bass is present and wants it, they will take it the first or second time they see it presented in the proper fashion.

9-Some folks prefer to apply fish attractants to their fly. I’ve caught plenty of bass with and without an attractant. You’ve got to be willing to experiment. The bass as always have the final say.

10-The Float ‘n Fly can be equally effective for largemouth in lakes during the cold -water periods (60 degrees down to ice- up)

11-Pike and pickerel will also take the Float ‘n Fly.

Here’s a picture of a March-2008 5pd. 10 oz. Float ‘n fly Smallmouth bass-Water temperature-42 degrees

Look closely and you’ll see the faceted red bead and slip bobber on top of my index finger and the fly in the top of the “smallies” mouth. The only indication of a hit was the vertical slip bobber went to a horizontal position during a pause in the routine of working the fly.

Don’t be surprised if one of these “Golden Bass’ inhales your Float ‘n Fly.I set the hook when the slip-bobber went horizontal and this Bugle gave me quite a battle for 5 minutes before I even saw her. It took an additional 5 minutes to finally bring her to the net

Here’s the pic of my 1/8 oz F’nF patterns I tie using natural mallard flank.

My custom tied Float ‘n Fly’s feature-

1- epoxy/powder painted jig heads-3d eyes

2-Undulating craft hair

3-Mustad 1/0 Ultra-point-point ,black chrome(BLN) hooks

4-Kevlar thread sealed for durability

This entry was posted on Monday, January 12th, 2009 at 4:26 am and is filed under Float and Fly Techniques. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.