Tag Page fishing

#fishing
dsmith

what helped me break past the fly fishing plateau

When I first started, I was all about dries—elk hair caddis, size after size. Fun? Yes. Consistent? Not really. 6 months in, my catch rate dipped and I knew I had to change it up. A guy in a local forum said, “90% of fish feed subsurface.” That stuck. I picked up nymphing and it changed everything. 1️⃣ Start with Prince Nymphs or Copper Johns on top, Zebra Midges on the bottom. 2️⃣ Learn to mend and roll cast properly—presentation is everything. 3️⃣ Use fluoro tippet for better sink and invisibility. Now I fish confidently across CA, OR, ID, and more—catching everything from trout to 5lb carp on a 5wt. Nymphing isn’t just productive—it’s addictive. What technique unlocked the next level for you? #fishing #flyfishing #fishingtips #nymphing

what helped me break past the fly fishing plateauwhat helped me break past the fly fishing plateau
fisherchad

why most anglers struggle with summer bass

Had a buddy ask me yesterday what techniques I rely on when summer heat hits and bass get finicky. Got me thinking about my most consistent producers over the years. Here's the thing about summer bass - post-spawn they split into two groups: shallow cover huggers (mostly males) and deep structure females. Understanding this changes everything. My go-to tactics: 1️⃣ Early morning topwater - Dawn to 9am is magic hour. Buzztoads tight to cover, ploppers in open water. Even big females move shallow during low light. 2️⃣ Sinking stick baits - Deadstick heavy salt baits under docks. Cast, let it fall on slack line, watch for that subtle line movement when they suck it in. 3️⃣ Deep diving crankbaits - Bang bottom structure with baits diving 2+ feet deeper than water depth. Crash sandy/rocky bottoms, run just above weedy ones. 4️⃣ Spinnerbaits - Perfect search lures for covering water. Add trailer hooks when they're short striking - ups my catch rate dramatically. 5️⃣ Punching rigs - Flip through matted weeds where bass hide from sun. Reaction strikes are instant when your bait crashes through. What's your summer bass secret weapon? Anyone else notice that shallow/deep split? #fishing #SummerFishing #BassFishing #FishingTips

why most anglers struggle with summer basswhy most anglers struggle with summer bass
fisherchad

My best topwater bass explosion happened at 9pm

Nothing beats watching a bass absolutely demolish your lure on the surface. Had my biggest topwater strike last month fishing a moonlit evening - completely changed how I approach these baits. Here's what I've learned about topwater bass fishing: 1️⃣ Timing isn't just dawn - Evening and even nighttime can be incredible, especially under moonlight. Cloudy days work all day long. 2️⃣ Patience is everything - Wait 10-60 seconds after casting a frog before retrieving. Bass often hit while it's sitting still. 3️⃣ Don't jump the gun - Hardest part is NOT setting the hook when you see the swirl. Wait until you actually feel the strike or you'll yank it away. 4️⃣ Classic lures still work - Zara Spooks, Jitter Bugs, Hula Poppers. When modern stuff fails, go old school. Setup: 6'6" medium rod, braid for frogs, mono for everything else (it floats better). What's your best topwater memory? #fishing #TopwaterBass #fishingtips #SummerFishing

My best topwater bass explosion happened at 9pmMy best topwater bass explosion happened at 9pm