Northwest Fishing Reports

Here is a method that was described to me last weekend while fishing a small, local lake.

Set up a water bobber (full of water, no air) with ~20" of leader and tie a wet fly on.
Cast and reel much like a spoon/spinner. To fish different depths, let it sit after casting (1 second per foot ?).

I haven't tried it yet, but I know of a lake that I would like to try it on.
Has anyone tried it? Any recommended fly's? Anything?

I'm not a fly fisherman, though I would like to learn. $$$ Is the limiting factor right now...can't afford the gear (really broke college student!). This seems like a cheap alternative that might get strikes when spoons and spinners aren't.

For no more than bobbers and a few flies cost (Under $5) I say why not. If anyone has any tips, post 'em here!

I'm not a fly fisherman either but I have tried this. It seemed to work pretty well. You can cast a filled water bobber quite a ways. I used a longer leader between 3-4 feet and had good results. I also use this method when fishing for crappie.
As for flies, I just went to the store and looked for the ones that looked like what was biting me while I was fishing#-o

I fish primarily with a fly rod now, but I have used the method you're talking about. On hot summer days, when the dragon flies are out, use a helgramite. I would also take a supply of size 10 bead head black wooly buggers.

I posted the same thing a few weeks ago in the fly fishing forum.....Someone wanted to try fly fishing without a fly outfit.... Check it out there might be more posted....Do a search on me ..you will find it.

Thanks a bunch guys.

The idea seemed like a great one as I ran it across my brain...I'm glad to see a few others here have tried it. I will definitely give it a shot.

Thank you all for the tips!!!

what's a "wet" fly? I have zero knowledge of fly fishing.

FishingFool wrote:what's a "wet" fly? I have zero knowledge of fly fishing.

A nymph or streamer are just some examples of a "wet fly." By "wet" we are most likely alluding to not "dry flies" which tend to float if not drowned via current or poor casting habits, etc. A "wet fly" is simply a fly that does what is says it does, "get wet." It's intended to be a sub-surface presentation, or under the surface film type fly. Example would be BH Hare's Ears, Wooley Buggers, BH PT nymphs, etc. KTK

Well guys, I hit up sportsman's warehouse and picked up a pair of fillable bobbers and a handful of assorted flies....mostly bead head buggers of different colors (size 10 and 12) and a couple others that "struck my eye."

I have just enough knowledge about fly's/fly fishing to look like a dork when I'm scratching me head at the plethora of gear.

You really don't need a fly rod to fly fish. One effective way is using a floating bobber. Tie on about 6' of 4x tippet material to your swivel. Place the bobber about 12" above the swivel. Tie on a chironomid to the tippet and cast it out. The fly will be suspended about 7' under the surface.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/commo ... &noImage=0

Now, for a little classroom study:

http://www.bcadventure.com/adventure/an ... omid.phtml

I was out with a boy from Morning Star Boys Ranch with our fly clubs "Fish Out" and used this method. He had gotten a spinning rod for Christmas and wanted to use it in the worst way. I had a fly rod for him to use, but he really wanted to use his rod. After I rigged his rod up this way, I casted it out for him and gave him the rod. It was in the water for about 15 seconds and he had a 14" Rainbow on.

Fly fisherman use basically the same method with a fly rod, but they call the bobber a "strike indicator". It is a very effective way of fishing.

If you file down or crimp the barb, you can also fish on lakes that are designated "selective gear" lakes. The regs for those lakes are for using a single barbless hook, no bait. However, remember that you cannot use this method on a "Fly Fishing Only" lake. You have to fish with a fly rod and fly line on those lakes.

Give it a try and let us know how you did:thumright

I've never tried it, however, I've seen that technique used in Colorado and it was EXTREMELY effective. Guys would fill that casting float about halfway, run about 6-7 feet of lighter leader (say 6 lb vs. the 10 lb they were casting), and finish it off with an olive wooly worm and a few split shot. Long spinning rods were used that allowed these guys to cast a mile. Most would then use a varied retrieve, sometimes stopping altogether and allowing the fly to get deep before beginning again. I was amazed at the number of trout I saw caught in this manner on lakes like Spinney, Cheeseman, and 11-Mile Reservoir.

I just started using this method (today!) with a black and an olive bead head bugger and ~3-4' of leader. I was using a FULL water bobber and only one (small) split shot on the leader. It did catch a couple fish...but I switched back to a rooster tail, pitching along the shore because it was more productive on the lake I was on.
Those water bobbers are pretty trick! You can cast a mile....might be a good way to cast and retrieve small dick nite spoons as well.

The long and short...it does work, and it is one more "tool" in my box!

There are so many great comments above that I don't want to take anything away from them.

I will say that you took me back to my youth, way way way back. I use to do this in a bay that my father would fly fish, often while a dozen other (seemed like it anyway) fly fishermen were working the same bay.

I got jeers, comments, and occasionally cheers, when I'd catch one when they did not (LOL), but that splash sure can upset some folks when it hits the water. (LOL)

I would use woolly worms, Grey hackle peacocks, red or green barber poles, etc., etc. Now that I think of it, I wonder if some of these flies are even tied anymore.

Try it, and in the right times, it will kill em dead.

Go forth and have fun.

Using the casting(water filled) bobber is a very good method for fishing alpine lakes from shore and very brushy lakes from shore since you can cast a good distance out and you do not need to have much room behind you.When fishing hike in lakes it the less gear you can bring is best especially when what you do bring has multiple functions.

When I was younger and could hike, I would use this method with a muddler fly or some other natural looking or naturally colored fly. I didnt loose as many setups in lakes with unknown bottoms. I used only 2lb leaders and 8lb line. That bobber could be sent a country mile. If the fish were rising, then I switched to a dry fly with about 5 ft of leader and not much water in the bobber. It worked as well as my dad and uncle's fly gear and I didn't have to worry about was behind me or how hard the wind was blowing. When we went to a stream the bobber setup was great. added a few splitshot and was catching fish. You have brought back happy memories of the days of a fishing box that could be put in my pocket and my little Zebco that could catch about anything, any size.....up to a 10lb sting ray off old Haines Wharf.