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Bass Nails Nothing Fly

Somewhere along the line, I got a few trout type flies. 'Not sure where, but I tried one out today. Little more than hair and feather, its no bigger than a fingernail. I have no idea what it is, except that it is a hacked emerge type.
No sooner did it hit the water, but this bass nailed it. I wasn't really really expecting it, as I'm still very intent on getting my casts to work. But it sure was fun!

- This bug was so small, I can't imagine a serious bass would want it. But obviously, fish do things we don't expect.
- I'm gonna try a knotless leader connection. Tied on leaders get in trouble with tangling.
- Too light tippets are also a problem. I tried 2lb. Stren, today, and it unbalanced the rig. I'm going back to 4lb. Omega.

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Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 30, 2013 at 3:39pm: Allen, thanks for the informative response.
Today, I tried a knotless leader connection as seen over on "Warm Water Fly Tier":

http://www.warmwaterflytyer.com/pond.asp?page=4

It worked really well, as promised. You still need to know how to tie leaders on in the field, but until you break off and need to - this technique fields a nice result with mono leaders.
Not much use for furled leaders, though. (Since I purchased a mess of tapered ones BEFORE learning of the furled type, this will be my method of choice for awhile.)

As to what fish REALLY eat, I learned of a study from SD on the 90's, where they found that the diets of game fish consisted mostly of insects and their larvae. This was during the warm season, when blooms of insects are common. The study included stomach contents from bass, sunfish, walleye, and even pike. The most prevalent item was damselfly/dragonfly larvae, followed closely by adult dragonfly. I know the catfish here, on Lake Murray, gorge themselves on grass shrimp blooms during the summer.

I have several Wooly Bugger type flies in olive/dark green, most with chartreuse tails. I get what you are suggesting, and I think they might be useful up at the big lake.

I wish I was an aqua entomologist!

Comment by Allen Morgan on June 30, 2013 at 2:44pm: I use a loop-to-loop connection for my leaders, both to attach the butt section to the fly line, and tip section to the tippet. Easy squeezy.

David, most furled leaders are made out to mono thread, like what you get at Wally World, or 2 lbs test mono at the max. Multiple strands of really supple material make for a furled leader that is fairly supple, yet extremely strong.

As far as LMBs taking oddball flies, you better believe it! I've had several bass take a size 12 scud. Really impressive when my indicator fly goes under, and the pole doubles over when I set the hook.

Do you have any Wooly Buggers in Olive? Bead Heads are nice, but a Bead Chain version with black/nickle bead chain works very well for eyes, and does a great imitation of a Dragonfly nymph or Damselfly nymph. At certain times of the year (fast approaching, I believe), most fish start gorging on these nymphs.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 30, 2013 at 2:15pm: Ok, thanks Angelo.
Somehow, I thought they were like stiff wire.
I've seen some here and there. You attach them with
a standard loop knot?
I tried the knotless connection today and it was sweet...

Comment by Angelo C Mastrando Jr. on June 30, 2013 at 11:26am: Yea David the kind I'am using are 4ft you can choose a different length, I don't think it's stiffer it's more like braided line but smaller and lighter it casts like a dream. These are what I prefer to use.

http://www.twistedleaders.com/Furled.html

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 30, 2013 at 8:11am: Thank you, Sir John.
Its not the first fly rod bass. But it IS the first on nothing more than
fluff meant to fool TROUT.
It was also hefty enough to give a small accounting of itself.

Personally, I think the season has turned and the pond is getting
hungry.

Hahaha! Thanks again.

Comment by John Sheehan on June 30, 2013 at 7:18am: A first is always great fun ! Way to go buddy!

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 30, 2013 at 4:53am: Thanks Angelo.
The furled leader is 4'... are they stiffer than tapered?

Comment by Angelo C Mastrando Jr. on June 29, 2013 at 9:42pm: Down the road furled leaders do save $$$.......Just like tarpered leader its a (Loop to Loop connection) you just don't have to deal with a mess. Just my opinion: I use the leader and tippet to the length of my rod.

Comment by David, aka, "McScruff" on June 29, 2013 at 9:14pm: Thanks Angelo.
I've seen the furled leaders, don't really understand them. I'm new at this fly stuff.
For now, I've got several tapered style to work through.

Comment by Angelo C Mastrando Jr. on June 29, 2013 at 9:08pm: Congrats David on your first Bass on the fly, Someday's Bass will surprise even taking tricos (Few). I use a Furled leader (4-foot) little bit more $$$ but worth it in the long run no need to deal with straighten it out...