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Do any of you guys ever use a technique called “Float And Fly?” As I understand it, it involves suspending a very small jig beneath a bobber to catch bream. If any of you use that technique, please tell me everything I need to know to give it a try. Do you just let the jig sit there or do you retrieve it? Slow and steady or slow rod twitches and stops, etc? What jigs do you use? Color combinations? How deep? Everything else I don’t know enough to ask? Thanks.
The term "float n fly" was popularlzed by smallmouth guys who used it in cold water for inactive fish. That's the only situation when I would consider using it: cold water and inactive fish. IMO, the float is unnecessary in most situations.
Keep it simple and just throw the jig.
I utilize what I’ve called a float and fly technique for Panfish .Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill Fisher
It all began when the arthritis in my hands and elbows got to where I couldn’t enjoy Flyfishing anymore . By tying small 1/80th jig copies of some of my favorite flies , I use a weighted float , usually a 1” round one. I called them microjigs .
I put the microjig about 18-24” under the float . With this I can lob my float and fly a good distance . Ive found a 7’ UL or light action rod works best with four pound test line and sometimes I’ll use two pound test .
I cast out let the fly drop , then slowly retrieve. I’ve found if there’s a ripple on the water , it works best .
I’ve caught everything from gills , crappies, catfish , and LM bass . Caught a few chain pickerel too.
It’s a fun relaxing way to fish .
My favorite jig is a copy of what’s called a woolybooger . I’ll see if I can dig up some pictures . Gillchaser .
http://i.imgur.com/3AkK7oI.jpg
Couldn’t find the pictures I wanted to post . I lost a lot of pictures when I closed my photobucket account .
This also works with small soft plastics , Trout Magnets and 1” curlytails .
A lot of my jigs are just chenille wrapped bodies with a tail made of rabbit fur or feathers . I prefer the rabbit fur , it’s more durable. I trim it off Zonker strips . Gillchaser
http://i.imgur.com/t9ehty7.jpg
yes i use it all the time. i have some tiny bead heads like in the picture. i also like the micro plastics that are out these days. my rig is mostly used in shallow water areas and with fixed floats. when they go deep you can use a drop weight rig with 2 flys/jigs up the line.(if legal in your state) ill drift over open water with them set at 10-12ft. good way to load the cooler at times.
I use it a lot in winter and early spring. The Trout Magnet is my fly though. Using it with 2# test will yield me 30-80 of these on a good day. To get best results.....no matter the specie you are after....a 9 foot rod is a must.
RegardsAttachment 309674
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Nice smallie . This is my largest LM caught on a 1/80th oz microjig woolybooger and 4# line . The line looks big in the picture because it’s close to the cellphone camera. It’s 4# p-line .
This was with a 7’ Daiwa Procyon UL rod .
I too have had good luck with the Trout Magnet . Gillchaser
http://i.imgur.com/b8nRc57.jpg
Really enjoy fishing the float and fly.my go to now is the trout magnets and crappie magnets,Trout magnets for gills and crappie magnets for crappie and smallmouth. We have bluff walls setting in 100' of water early spring feb-march can tear up the big smallmouth.8-9 ft rod is a must!! Just another tool in the bag.Jeff"trout magnets" on youtube has some good videos using this tech for trout and crappie.Our two cents.
Here’s my biggest catfish caught on a 1/80th microjig and float . This one was caught using my St Croix 4 piece 5’6” Triumph Travel UL and 4# line .
Took a while wearing this one down and landing without a net .
Just behind my right is the rest of my equipment for bank fishing float and fly . My folding stool and a couple boxes of microjigs .
The pond is a private pond I now longer can fish . My good friend from church was tragically killed by a falling tree while getting this area ready for his daughters wedding this past year . Gillchaser
http://i.imgur.com/FrtbvyB.jpg
I cast out and if I don't get a bite within 10 sec. I will reel it about a ft. and stop . The pendulum action will drive them nuts . I sometimes tip with a meal worm or nibble . Attachment 309696
Nice fish.....I found out all fishing line looks like a rope to the cameras today. I have some pics of fish with line that is .095 mm diameter.....it looks like a rope too....LOL.Quote:
Originally Posted by gillchaser999
Regards
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Yeah I got those bluffs too on Center Hill and Dale Hollow...makes for some great fishing.Quote:
Originally Posted by jackie53
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I use a clear casting bubble and 1/64 hand tied jigs. Fill the casting float half full of water and you cast that micro jig along way. I just a popping motion to work the jig. You can even use a trout fly if you want your bait on the surface. Eagle Claw makes a 1 inch casting float while Southbend makes a 1 1/4 inch model. They work great for gills and crappie.
While fishing from a boat I won't usually use a float unless fishing a large flat of shallow water. However, from shore the added weight of a float is very helpful. I use a weighted Styrofoam float and set it 2 - 3 feet deep and, like others have said, usually use a plastic body jig in 1/32 - 1/64 oz. instead of a hair jig. I don't generally pop it or add any action, but reel it steadily about as slow as I can stand to and letting what ever wave action there is give it movement. Also works with wet flies like a black gnat or black ant pattern. Works all year long in shallows and along weed lines as well as on surface feeders suspended over deep water. Not as productive as crickets in my experience, but still a way to catch quite a few if you don't like live bait or prefer to catch and release.
I caught several these one day .
After thinking it over , I’ve also caught big gold shiners in early spring on the float and jig , and trout . I’ve hooked a giant grass carp a couple of times , but just couldn’t loosen the drag fast enough to handle them . Those things are like hooking a runaway freight train ! Gillchaser
http://i.imgur.com/RuPUvBw.jpg
This year I've fished fly rod spoons in silver and bronze under a clear water-filled float with 4 lb mono and caught bluegills, crappies and bass. When the bluegills were on their beds it was fast fishing.
its a proven tactic. i think they make float and fly rods that have plates at the bottom of the handle where you just shake the rod and the lure will have a vibrating movement without actually moving the lure from where i sits. i do something very similar with my fly rod with a tiny jig and strike indicator.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gill Fisher
Gillchaser999 - Nice catches there. How do you like your TFO Trout-Panfish rod? I was a fan of TFO when I fly fished. Still tie jigs for crappies and bluegills; a lot of estaz and marabou.
I like it better than the 6’ TFO spin/fly . Reminds me of my St Croix Panfish , the way it fishes . UL but fast action , with a little more backbone in the butt section .Quote:
Originally Posted by Homewaters
I’ve just picked up a couple Berkley Lightning Trout Rods that show promise , especially for what they cost . A 8’ UL and a 7’ light . I had to straighten a couple of guides on both when I got them , but they were less than $40 each . Both would make great float n fly rods . Gillchaser
I had one of those. It was a little soft for my tastes.Quote:
Originally Posted by gillchaser999
It is way too soft IMO . It got such great reviews ,I had to have one . I was surprised how it cast when I got my hands on one . GillchaserQuote:
Originally Posted by deathb4disco
It is made from a 2wt fly rod blank. I think they were trying to go "retro" with the action and just went too far.Quote:
Originally Posted by gillchaser999
I do not own, but I have handled the TFO you currently have -- much better rod, IMO.
I use a small very lite jig under a float for sunfish quite often . a very slow retrieve kinda along the shoreline works very well . they cant resist a real slow moving small whatever in the water for sure
For almost three months now I've been using tiny 1/64 and smaller hand tied jigs on #10- #12 sickle hooks under small weighted floats at a city park lake close to my home. Bass, crappie, bluegill catfish and redear have been smoking these baits so much that I haven't picked up one of my bass rods in a couple months. Something about watching that float disappear when something sucks in these jigs keeps me going back every trip. Caught two 13" redear this year which is my PB for Missouri. Released them both so hope to catch them next year and they might be 14 inches or bigger.
The excitement of not knowing what’s on the line at that moment, is off the chart ! GillchaserQuote:
Originally Posted by JUNGLEJIMJIGS
Finally found the picture of a few of my microjigs. Gillchaser
http://i.imgur.com/igZSaAE.jpg
You have a few to work with there. Best colors for me have been black, brown and olive grizzly. Haven't had much luck on bait fish patterns.