First Smallie on a fly
First Smallie on a fly
Well, had only an hour and a half to wet a line today so I took my chances at Long Island with my 9 wt for the first time. With a little precarious wading and some awful novice casting techniques, I managed to land a 3/4 - 1 lb smallie. It was awesome. Only the 2nd fish I've ever caught on the fly. It was sure nice to hook something when I only had a short amount of time. The nicest thing I've found since I took up the sport is, I dont have to bring my 50 lbs of tackle I normally take when I'm heading out in the boat for the day sportfishing. Well, I wouldn't say its the nicest thing, there is the fact that you're all alone on the water, just you against the fish, with one fly. Peaceful, and, when you hook one, exiting all at the same time. I cant say as I will ever even consider giving up sportfishing because I enjoy it too much but, I sure am enjoying my new sport equally.
Bondo,
Sounds like you were wading in from the east side of the river (dam side). You'll find that the other side is relatively free of algae on the rocks. What fly were you using? Typically at Long Island I can managed to catch scores of SM (double digits easily). My two goto flies there are a an olive beadhead woollybugger and a black panfish popper.
On thing you might consider is moving to a lighter weight rod such as a 5 or 6 weight. Your 9 weight is great for hauling out large LM or Pike from heavy cover or steelhead and salmon but it's pretty much like using a muskie rod to fish for perch. If you enjoyed the fight on your 9 wt, you'll love it on a 5 wt.
Sounds like you were wading in from the east side of the river (dam side). You'll find that the other side is relatively free of algae on the rocks. What fly were you using? Typically at Long Island I can managed to catch scores of SM (double digits easily). My two goto flies there are a an olive beadhead woollybugger and a black panfish popper.
On thing you might consider is moving to a lighter weight rod such as a 5 or 6 weight. Your 9 weight is great for hauling out large LM or Pike from heavy cover or steelhead and salmon but it's pretty much like using a muskie rod to fish for perch. If you enjoyed the fight on your 9 wt, you'll love it on a 5 wt.
"There wouldn't have been any butt kickings if that stupid death ray had worked."
Thanks Todd. I started out from the east side and waded across to the west then south a bit towards the tree that overhangs and touches the water at the shore. I used a popper but I dont know the name of it. I picked up a bunch at BPS last year. Best way I can describe it is it looks like a hula popper but its made of plastic fibres and has rubber fringes hanging off it. I have a 4 wt I used in New York but it figured it may be too light for bass. I'll give it a go next time.
Bondo,
Sometimes you can find a few larger fish upstream the way you were going but it's pretty shallow. You're better off downstream, hitting the various holes. Below the last set of rapids is basically rock strewn flats where poppers work just as well as wet flies.
As for your 4wt, you can get by with it, I've used my 4wt there, though a +3lb SM can really take you for a ride, with the only real hazard of being rubbed off on the rocks if you're fishing some of the tighter holes. I think you'll find that the SM there will average around 8-10" with the occasional +14" fish.
Sometimes you can find a few larger fish upstream the way you were going but it's pretty shallow. You're better off downstream, hitting the various holes. Below the last set of rapids is basically rock strewn flats where poppers work just as well as wet flies.
As for your 4wt, you can get by with it, I've used my 4wt there, though a +3lb SM can really take you for a ride, with the only real hazard of being rubbed off on the rocks if you're fishing some of the tighter holes. I think you'll find that the SM there will average around 8-10" with the occasional +14" fish.
"There wouldn't have been any butt kickings if that stupid death ray had worked."