I am looking for some recommendations/guidance on a fly rod for bass fishing. I am thinking a 6- or 7-weight rod, 9' to 9'6" in length, with a fast/medium-fast action. I would be primarily bank fishing small reservoirs. I will likely be purchasing a used rod so I would older or out of production rod models. Any thoughts are appreciated.
The trend on bass rods is making them under 8 feet and stiff. The most popular rods in this category are the Sage BASS series. There are two in the series, the Smallmouth and the Largemouth.
I have casted both rods, and fished the Smallmouth. They are very easy to cast. The style used to cast it is pick up and shoot. I've caught schoolie stripers (up to 8 pounds) on the Smallmouth. One of my friends caught some baby tarpon up to 20 pounds in the Yucatan on the Largemouth.
This video pretty much sums it all.
There are other options. TFO has a TiCrX in a 7'6" 8 weight. Redington's Predator series is made up of sub 8 foot rods ranging from 6 to 10 weight. Scott has a Warmwater series.
If you choose to use a traditional 9 foot length, choose a quicker 7 weight and upline it by two. That will help you toss some big bass flies. Since you are on a budget, you might be able to find some discontinued Sage Fli rods in shops. Try casting a TFO Axiom series rod.
AB
Edit: There is a third rod in the series. It is called the Bluegill. It is rated at 230 grains.
The reson the sage bass rods are only 8 feet, actually I think they are a bit shorter then 8 feet because if i remember correctly most tournaments have rule that states rods can be no longer then 8 feet. I'm pretty sure that is a B.A.S.S rule.
Big, bad bass need a big, badass rod. Leave the 6's and 7's for the American River fish farm. If you are seriously going to fish for bass, you need to ask yourself what type of fishing do you want to do...?
Topwater or sub-surface?
Have you ever tried to cast a 2/0 deer hair diver or foamed out popper? How about a bass cracker that can easily be tossed with conventional gear?
Short, stout rods are great for rapid fire, accurate casts under branches or through cover. Big flies are wind-resistant, and add wind, you will be fatigued easier.
Depending on the size of the bass, the size of the fly, and the type of fishing - subsurface or surface - you might need different rods.
Yes you can cast a 2/0 popper with a 7wt, hell, even a 5 wt. Or whatever you want.
The good bass fly fisherman I know fish 9 and 10 weights. But they don't fish for little bass with these rods. And it ain't bright yellow sage rods. The delivery of the fly is easier and the pull is better with a 9 or 10.
You yank bass in, you don't let the motha run. Rip them in...fast as you can.
I didn't realize there were so many options to consider. If a heavier rod might be a better choice, I am thinking I could over-line my Steelhead rod (8wt) with either a bass taper line or a floating sal****er shooting taper, like a Rio Outbound. Thanks for the responses.
I didn't realize there were so many options to consider. If a heavier rod might be a better choice, I am thinking I could over-line my Steelhead rod (8wt) with either a bass taper line or a floating sal****er shooting taper, like a Rio Outbound.
My LMB rod is a fast action 8 weight with a 10 weight SA Mastery Bass Bug line. I don't have any problems casting large flies.
A few notes on Outbound lines. If you choose one, get the coldwater version. The sal****er version has a stiffer core that won't turnover as well. Also the Outbound and Outbound Short lines are already uplined by two sizes. The WF8F Outbound short has a head weight of 315 grains.
I didn't realize there were so many options to consider. If a heavier rod might be a better choice, I am thinking I could over-line my Steelhead rod (8wt) with either a bass taper line or a floating sal****er shooting taper, like a Rio Outbound.
My LMB rod is a fast action 8 weight with a 10 weight SA Mastery Bass Bug line. I don't have any problems casting large flies.
A few notes on Outbound lines. If you choose one, get the coldwater version. The sal****er version has a stiffer core that won't turnover as well. Also the Outbound and Outbound Short lines are already uplined by two sizes. The WF8F Outbound short has a head weight of 315 grains.
AB
Thanks for the tip. I was just looking at SA and RIO's product offerings. What do you think about the SA's Pike and Muskie line? The line is nearly identical to the SA Bass Taper, yet I think it is formulated to float higher. However, I am worried it might "wilt" and become to limp in warm weather.
The SA Pike line has a shorter head and longer running line section to dump huge flies that Pike and Muskie like to eat. Like 10" long flies.
SA Bass line was redone in 2008, integrating a streamlined loop in the front. A bass line is meant to throw the bass flies. You could use the Pike Taper, it will do the job easily, and you may have some difficulty in hot weather...The bass line is made for a range of bass habitat conditions (cool-warm water).
Once you decide on your rod, see if you can demo a SA Magnum at one of your local shops. To me, this line is clearly the winner in the topwater bass bug line category.
