My 3 Favorite Bass Fly Lines
I live right beside the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. I find it very challenging to fish for smallmouth bass in almost all stream conditions. In order to be successful I’ve found that I must select the bass fly line which will enable me to fish my flies at the stream level where the fish are feeding in each condition.
The new Scientific Anglers Mastery Bass Bug Fly Line in a 7-weight (WF-7-F) covers all of my needs for topwater fishing and 60% of my nymph and streamer fishing when the current is flowing at a moderate rate.
In the high water in the spring and cold water in the fall and any high water conditions during the summer I use a fast sinking head fly line such as the Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink 30 Warm 200 grain line. I use this for about 30% of my fishing.
The Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink Tip III (WF-7-F/S) line covers about 10% of my fishing. This line fills the gap in sinking demands between the first two.
I find it is very important to use Compound Tapered Knotted Leaders for all bass fishing. With my floating line I use the Murray’s Bass Bug 9ft 2X Leader with large bass bugs and flies. Using the floating line with size 6 and smaller poppers, hair bugs, nymphs, and streamers I use Murray’s Bright Butt 9ft 2X Leaders.
When using the Sonar Sink 30 Warm and Sinking Tip III line, I use Murray’s Fluorocarbon 6ft 2X Sinking Leader.
Choosing the proper fly line for each condition enables one to catch more large fish.