[Peter]

This is my first fall/winter fly fishing for largemouth bass, I guess my question would be is there such a thing? Normally with "bass gear" I'd put on a big jig and a big trailer when the water got cold, so i guess the fly equivalent would be a sinking line and big wooly bugger? Some kind of crayfish? Or should I save my sanity and tell myself I'm just going to practice my cast and not actually trying to catch a fish?

About a month ago it seemed like fly fishing was the only way to catch a bass. Seemed like every 7th or 8th cast I'd have a bass explode on my deer hair popper. Too bad I'm awful at hook sets and and my strike to catch ratio still lingers around 1 in 12.

[nick johnson]

The sink tip line with a big wooly bugger, crawfish, or streamer is about your best bet for bass this time of the year.

[stuartr]

Nick J is that the "fishing paparazzi" in that pic of your avatar? Nice fish btw!

STU

[nick johnson]

Ha! Thanx. Yeah that's what it looked like, I've never had so many people watching me trying to land a fish before.

[Neusewader]

Pack a lot of patience with your gear because that's what you'll need for LMB in the winter. I know you mentioned fall, but it's winter here for largemouth between Thanksgiving and March. The wooly bugger doesn't have to be big, but deep is good, so bring "a few" if you fish around lots of submerged "fly magnets"

I've had lots of luck with crappie when the water turns cold. They like to hit anything that's white.

[SmallieSam]

You really have to pay attention to the weather during the cooler months. The rule of thumb, as I understand it, is don't fish until the 3rd or 4th days into a stretch of warm weather. Sunday will be your day this coming weekend. Mornings are usually slow and bite happens in the afternoon often during the warmest part of the day. The other trick is actually finding the holes they've hunkered down in for the winter. It make take a few trips on any given river to discover where they winter. I too do a little sinnin' and spinnin' during the cold months fishing a Bitsy Bug and craw trailer extremely slow, but have had some luck dangling a Hairy Fodder or Bugger downriver on a sink-tip. A buddy of mine likes a full sinking, shooting head line this time of year and has caught the fish to prove it works. He custom trimmed the sinking head down to 10 ft. and likes looking for cuts in the deeper runs and pushes. Then he patiently beats it to death until it plays out.

[dogsmile]

Peter are you fishing lakes or rivers?

~dogsmile

[ColdOnTheShoulder]

Deep and slow has been the ticket for me when it's cold. And by "been the ticket" I mean it has occasionally worked. Cold weather bass fishing definitely takes patience.

I second the crappie comment. They have been on the feed in our pond recently. They do fight much better when the water is cool than they do in the summer.

[tyingdeacon]

I can't write you a magic prescription for winter largemouth bass fishing but I can help you with your hook up ratio when fishing deer hair bugs. When a large bass "flushes the toilet" the last thing you want to do is raise your rod. Keep the rod low and line set the hook and set it hard. Then raise your rod and get that line on your reel and land that big girl!

[Peter]

Thanks for the replies everybody, I guess I better learn to fish deep.

Dogsmile, I'm in upstate SC so I've been hitting the catawba river just below lake wylie lately. But most often I'm fishing small ponds with an occasional trip to lake wylie for a change of scenery.

Tyingdeacon, I hear you on the stip strike. I get so excited when a bass inhales a bug I instantly raise the rod and strip at the same time. I think I'm also setting to fast, I'm gonna try to give it a 1-2 count before setting in the future. All in all I need more control less chaotic attempt to fling a fish in the boat on the set.