Nice report. I would like to give the float-n-fly technique a try. Can you recommend a few fly patterns to start with? What length of the leader between the float and fly? Thanks.
Belews Creek 12/23/21: Bobber Time
Meant to post this sooner but the holidays distracted me. Anyway, I went out to my wintertime go-to at Belews Creek to see if I could catch some on the float-n-fly. If you have read my winter posts before you know that it is my wintertime equivalent of a spinnerbait. If I can get them to bite it I won't put it down. Water temps were pretty high in the upper 50's to 60 degrees. This was a bit disappointing as the FnF works better the colder the water, but you have to fish what you have. Also, never got the wind that was forecast so that was an additional negative. However, it ended up being a decent afternoon. I caught 6 on the FnF, the biggest being 2-1, all spots. Did see one caught that was 2.5 on some plastics. I didn't see much bait suspended, I suspect that it was holding near the bottom. I didn't see any surface activity either. I was fishing about 7ft leader. With the recent rain and colder weather it should pick up.
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I use 1/16 oz jigs with craft hair and duck feathers (see attached image for examples). I like to use blue/chart craft hair. You need a jig head with a larger hook than like a crappie jig for strength. You could probably get by with a crappie jig but you run the risk of lower hook-up ratios and straightened hooks on bigger fish. I would also recommend using a jig with a weed guard. I add my own with a couple strands of fiber weed guard from a bass jig. If not have a plug knocker so you can free the jig because there is enough brush that you will get hung up.
The FnF system I use is a fixed bobber (see link below for more info) as opposed to a slip bobber. At Belews I run from a 7-8 ft. leader. I've not seen the need to run a longer leader but at some other lakes I've used up to 12 ft. It really depends on how deep the water is and where fish/bait are suspending.
Float n Fly Report: Belews Creek and Philpott
Got out both days this weekend to do my absolute favorite kind of winter fishing. It was a mix of good and bad. Saturday- Belews Creek. Water was surprising dirty (or turning over) but found some cleaner water and they were biting the FnF pretty well. Caught 6 bass (up to 15"), one catfish...
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Nice jigs you got there! I have yet to try the fixed bobber method. Might have to give that a shot when I head out next. I'm real pleased with the results of the FnF method, plus its been teaching me how to slow down in the wintertime. Totally agree with the larger hook. I'll be upgrading my jigs soon as I was just messing around with the technique before.I use 1/16 oz jigs with craft hair and duck feathers (see attached image for examples). I like to use blue/chart craft hair. You need a jig head with a larger hook than like a crappie jig for strength. You could probably get by with a crappie jig but you run the risk of lower hook-up ratios and straightened hooks on bigger fish. I would also recommend using a jig with a weed guard. I add my own with a couple strands of fiber weed guard from a bass jig. If not have a plug knocker so you can free the jig because there is enough brush that you will get hung up.
The FnF system I use is a fixed bobber (see link below for more info) as opposed to a slip bobber. At Belews I run from a 7-8 ft. leader. I've not seen the need to run a longer leader but at some other lakes I've used up to 12 ft. It really depends on how deep the water is and where fish/bait are suspending.
Float n Fly Report: Belews Creek and Philpott
Got out both days this weekend to do my absolute favorite kind of winter fishing. It was a mix of good and bad. Saturday- Belews Creek. Water was surprising dirty (or turning over) but found some cleaner water and they were biting the FnF pretty well. Caught 6 bass (up to 15"), one catfish...
Did you tie those jigs yourself? Starting to think I might have to make them myself to get the build I want.
I love every winter when you make these posts BleedingBlue 
I keep swearing to myself that I'm going to try this every time you post it!
Glad to hear you got on them again with this method. I'm gonna try it some day. This makes total sense to me because a couple of my best days for bass on Belews have been pitching crappie jigs around docks on the lower end of the lake.
I keep swearing to myself that I'm going to try this every time you post it! Glad to hear you got on them again with this method. I'm gonna try it some day. This makes total sense to me because a couple of my best days for bass on Belews have been pitching crappie jigs around docks on the lower end of the lake.
Glad you enjoy the posts, I enjoy sharing them. You really need to give it a try if you haven't. Never ever gets old watching a bobber drop.I love every winter when you make these posts BleedingBlue
Glad to hear you got on them again with this method. I'm gonna try it some day. This makes total sense to me because a couple of my best days for bass on Belews have been pitching crappie jigs around docks on the lower end of the lake.
Pontoon Mike, if you still live on Belews and if you ever get a chance to catch up with Andrew and watch him do this, it's worth it. I fished this method with him after he outfished me 7 to 1 or better with me using all my usual tactics. He made me a believer, but still would always outfish me with it - my problem is I get impatient and go back to my stand-byes and then he catches another fish and I kick myself for not sticking with it... again.
Glad to see you're still at it, Andrew! I have not been bass fishing much, I have been distracted chasing redfish - been fishing from a kayak on the shallow flats this winter, managed to figure out a pattern that works about 70% of the days; getting dragged around by a 36 inch red in 2 feet of water just never gets old! (Plus the bass here are small and disappointing). It's almost Sheepshead season and then comes triggerfish, and then snapper! What's a lapsed bass angler to do!? Hope you guys are well up there!
Glad to see you're still at it, Andrew! I have not been bass fishing much, I have been distracted chasing redfish - been fishing from a kayak on the shallow flats this winter, managed to figure out a pattern that works about 70% of the days; getting dragged around by a 36 inch red in 2 feet of water just never gets old! (Plus the bass here are small and disappointing). It's almost Sheepshead season and then comes triggerfish, and then snapper! What's a lapsed bass angler to do!?
Hope you guys are well up there!
I would love to get into some of those bull reds. Those fish are definitely on my to do list.Pontoon Mike, if you still live on Belews and if you ever get a chance to catch up with Andrew and watch him do this, it's worth it. I fished this method with him after he outfished me 7 to 1 or better with me using all my usual tactics. He made me a believer, but still would always outfish me with it - my problem is I get impatient and go back to my stand-byes and then he catches another fish and I kick myself for not sticking with it... again.
Glad to see you're still at it, Andrew! I have not been bass fishing much, I have been distracted chasing redfish - been fishing from a kayak on the shallow flats this winter, managed to figure out a pattern that works about 70% of the days; getting dragged around by a 36 inch red in 2 feet of water just never gets old! (Plus the bass here are small and disappointing). It's almost Sheepshead season and then comes triggerfish, and then snapper! What's a lapsed bass angler to do!?
Hope all is well with you. Catch one for me.
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