Catching trophy sized bass on a fly rod can be the angling experience of a lifetime. While most fishermen choose to pursue these monsters with traditional spinning gear, catching a double digit largemouth on fly tackle can be a challenging and rewarding adventure. With just a little bit of know-how and the right gear, the hunt for a trophy bass will be much easier and enjoyable this season.

What You’ll Need
Chances are good that if you fly fish regularly, you already have a good bass setup in your arsenal. A quality 8 - 9 weight graphite rod will do the trick, and make sure your fly casting reel has a solid drag system to keep those lunkers from diving for submerged brush or lily pads. Sage and St. Croix both have excellent products for the job and often offer complete bass fishing packages at a reasonable price. Practice smooth and deliberate casting techniques as you will often need to get your fly into tight spots or near structure.

For matching line, check out some of Rio’s freshwater game fish lines and bass models. These will provide the durability and longevity you’ll need when hunting big bass. Finally, keep an assortment of flies on you at all times. Choose a variety of colors in sizes 2 through 8. Good picks include the field mouse, Clouser minnows, shad and baitfish imitations, and surface poppers. The Bass Pro Shops 2007 catalog has some great buys, but your own home tied flies or favorite stand-bys will do the trick.

Where To Go
The names of every great bass lake are too numerous to list here, but suffice it to say a few stand out when it comes to producing trophy fish. Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and Lake Okeechobee in Florida should be at the top of your list, as well as Lake Fork, Castaic, Lanier, and Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. Your chances for a lunker are also better in the south, as the Florida strain largemouths tend to grow larger than their northern counterparts. In addition, it’s important to take into consideration a few characteristics of the body of water when trying to pursue trophy caliber bass. How much fishing pressure does the lake receive? Are there enough structure, forage, and suitable habitat to produce and sustain large fish? Is your local waterway catch and release and are there slot limits on the fish? Answering all of these questions ahead of time and doing a little bit of research will greatly improve your chances of landing bigger and better bass.

Finally, many state records and trophy fish have come from local farm ponds, so don’t rule these out. A more than adequate supply of baitfish combined with essentially no fishing pressure often allow bass to grow to record proportions, despite the relatively small size of the environment. When it comes to hunting lunker largemouths, don’t rule anything out and make sure to put plenty of time in on the water.

Tips and Tactics
Much like spin casting for bass, your best chances come in the early morning and at dusk. Be mindful of your surroundings and the water around you. Pay particular attention to any bait breaking the surface that could be worked by fish. Again, the particular body of water, time of year, time of day, water temperature, and a host of other factors will determine exactly how you should be fishing. In spring when the water is still relatively cool look for fish on spawning beds near the shore. Usually two fish will be paired together (male and female), with the female being the larger of the two. This is also one of your best shots for hooking a trophy fish. Spawning females have a higher body weight because of the mass off eggs they carry, so keep your eyes open and rod ready.

As the year progresses and water warms, bass will be more sluggish in the daytime. Look for deep ledges, drop-offs, and pockets of vegetation during the day, which can provide cover for big fish. At dusk surface flies have proven to be particularly effective. Use a slow but deliberate retrieve and vary the motion of your fly. If you find bait being worked in open water, a minnow imitation will probably be your best shot. Retrieve your fly quickly and erratically to provoke strikes from aggressive fish.

In situations where you’ve found lily pads or other types of structure, frog or mice type flies work well. A deer hair frog or other bass bug is a good addition to any tackle box, as are Dahlberg Divers and even large wooly buggers. Be patient, persistent, and spend plenty of time honing your skills and casting techniques. A trophy largemouth bass mounted on your wall will be well worth the effort.