Showing the Float and Fly in Action

As promised, here is the follow up to the float and fly post. This first video shows exactly how I fish the rig. You can see as I shake the fly then let it sit, shake then sit, shake then BITE! The overall presentation is a little tricky. Casting the rig can be difficult at first but you’ll soon get used to it. Using the long rod can really make a difference. Can you get a way with an 8 foot rod in tournament conditions? Yes. But if you’re just fun fishing a 9 1/2 foot rod will work much better.

In the second video you get a great comparison between the fly and a dropshot. Notice which one is putting more fish in the boat! The dropshot did actually land two fish off camera but its clear that they were targeting the fly.

To recap from the previous post, the equipment used is a Redington 9′ 6″ ultralight steelhead rod. I coupled it with a Shimano Symetre reel and 3 lb flourocarbon line. The bait is a 1/16th ounce hair jig with a Thill bobber set between 15′ and 18′.
These fish were easy to see as they would just pull the bobber under water. Some days all they do is sit there with the bait in their mouth. This is harder to detect but with the properly weighted bobber you can see these bites as well.
It doesn’t matter if you live in California, Tennessee, or Texas, the Float and Fly can work for you. I look forward to your thoughts!

The Neko Rig

Because I am most passionate about catching trophy-class fish I often neglect important techniques for simply putting fish in the boat. At the prompting of a good friend I agreed to start covering some more finesse presentations and other options for putting a solid limit of fish in the boat. I’ll still be covering what I know about big bass but I want to open up the site a little and include the tournament anglers.
The Neko rig is not a brand new technique. If you live on the west coast you’ve probably seen it, used it, or lost to it unknowingly. However, techniques tend to take their time spreading across the country. For those of you unfamiliar with the technique, I present the Neko rig.

It is a great option for catching fish that have been heavily pressured, are lethargic, or when fishing in post-frontal conditions.
I am not a typical finesse fisherman and often don’t fish with as light a line as I should. Personally, I fish this rig on a Dobyns 702 Spinning (7 foot, 2 power) with 10 lb braided mainline and a 6 lb fluorocarbon leader. Don’t be afraid to drop as low as 4 lb line in open-water situations to maximize the number of bites you’ll get throughout the day.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Float and Fly 101

Throwing a swimbait isn’t always the best way to catch a giant bass. Its putting the odds in your favor, sure, but some days you have to change it up. In ultra-cold water or when fish are keying on smaller baitfish there are few baits that will out fish the float and fly.
My goal today is to introduce you to the technique if you’re not familiar with it, and to shed some light on my approach for those that are.
By no means did I come up with the idea… it was taught to me by my good friend Sieg Taylor a few years ago and I’m sure someone handed that knowledge down to him. Anyone who spends any time researching the technique realizes that the smallmouth guys have been hammering fish with the fly for decades!
That said, very few anglers talk about using the technique for largemouth, let alone using it on the west coast or the deep south. The Float and fly isn’t just a cold-water reservoir technique. It will work nationwide on many species as long as you have clearing water conditions. Once clarity gets below about 3 feet, the technique loses its edge.
While I’ve never caught a double-digit bass on the fly I have had the pleasure of catching largemouth in excess of 8 lbs. This technique works! And let me tell you, a 5 lb fish is a lot more fun on 4 lb line than it is on 30 lb line!

What are your thoughts? Have you used the technique successfully or do you have a unique twist? Share it with the group.