[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.