[rencal1975]

I need to try out Belews Lake. Never been there, but also just got a fishing canoe in October, so I have an excuse now. Thanks for the report!

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.

I use a float n fly on my current BFS setup. I use a slip float so I don't worry about leader length too much. I'm just using a 1/16th or 1/8th marabou jig that I'd normally use for Crappie. Snagged a couple of bass at Higgins using the setup, as well as some Crappie lol. I should suspend it a little better than I am, but I adjust it for the depth I'm seeing the fish at on my finder. For now, I don't use a stopper, but where I was jigging I'd go down about 10 feet, and that worked well for where I was at the time.

But for a baseline, I'd say 7-15 feet for your leader depending on the depth you're finding the fish at, and adjust longer or shorter from there. My marabou's are just white with hot pink jig heads (10 pack for 3-4$ at bass pro), but I want to get something more high end and bass specific.

 

[rencal1975]

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...

www.ncangler.com

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.

Did you tie those jigs yourself? Starting to think I might have to make them myself to get the build I want.

 

[rencal1975]

Just wondering are you casting this setup with a 7 foot leader ? If so what is the trick ?

~JOE~

For me, I just pitch it out there. I suck at pitching, so it gets out maybe 10 or 20 feet away from me then I just let it sink, stop it, then watch the bobber and lightly jig. Curious what BleedinBlue has to say though.

EDIT Just refreshed the page. Figured you were using a rod that long... working on getting a casting rod that long for trout that will work with my BFS reel. For now, just using a 7 footer and pitching, or I use that exact method you described, minus the bobber hitting the water since I'm using a slip bobber for the time being.