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While I agree with Greg that flouro is probably not necessary for smb and use mono leaders I do use flouro tippets just in case it might benefit fishing subsurface in clear water like the Dupe.Flouro is allegedly more abrasion resistant also and being less visible allows for going up 1 tippet size.When using it I always tie loop knots as other knots including the improved clinch tends to come apart with flouro due to slippage The unimproved can be used but is an inherently weak knot.Since the loop can break from wear caused by aggressive casting and by flies sliding along it I insert the tippet thru the hookeye a 2nd x to anchor it to the fly stopping the sliding and also spreading the strain on the tippet over 2 points ala the dubl improved clinch.Admittedly all this fuss has done me no good lately having lost 4 big smallmouths to breakoffs.But that's fishing. I usually use 1 or 2x tippets for smb.

The fact that flyline mfrs have begun to increase the weight of the line within a given line weight as John l mentions in his post seems to me to be a tacit admission that overlining has been a good practice all along.The new line weight configurations now make it unnecessary to lineup provided you're using one of the lines with the new weights such as the clouser/outbound lines.I just started using a 7wt airflo extreme distance line with my 6wt rod hoping it would improve hooksets since unlike other lines it doesn't stretch. It casts rabbit strip flies and big blockhead bassbugs like a rocket.I've always linedup regardless of the rod weight and have found that doing so was actually most beneficial in the lighter 2-4 weight rods for distance casting and for dealing with wind.For short distance casting where delicacy is important as often in trout fishing overlining should not be done.

Not much if he says you shouldn't stretch a flyline to remove curls that result from a line being stored on a reel or in routine use.The only way a flyline can be actually twisted I know of is if it's improperly spooled which will do the same to spiinning line too.

Not true.Not only is there no harm whatsoever in stretching out the curls that develop in a flyline during normal use or after being stored on the reel it's the quickest and easiest way to straighten the line.

Ben, Superheroes exist only in the movies.But you are real life hero to anyone who loves rivers.

Jonn, A fly that twists during the cast can cause a leader to twist but never the flyline itself.Assuming that the line isn't defective it's possible that you twisted it when you wound it onto the reel by taking it from the line's spool in a circular manner.To avoid line twist either insert a pencil into the whole in the spool in order to wind the line onto the reel in a straight line or pull all the line off the spool again in a straight line and then wind it onto the reel.If done correctly the line should remain relaxed and straight without curling as it's being wound onto the reel.Lines also can twist after awhile by twisting around in the current during hand retrieval.This is normal and the curls can be easily removed by stretching the line in about 3' increments with your hands.

Jonn, Unlike trout fishing which requires a great # of flies to duplicate the many different kinds of insects along with their various stages of development they specifically feed on all that's needed for smallmouth are 10-12 flies.2or3 for the surface,mid depth,and bottom bouncing will suffice. P.S.You could always augment your bank account by selling some of your spinning stuff to the 2 Jims.Just remember to dust it off first.

Hang ups are a fact of life with these kind of flies. (One reason I prefer bassbugs when practical.)By keeping casts fairly short when fishing snaggy areas a good roll cast will sometimes flip the fly off the snag especially if tied on an upturned hook like the meat whistle or the zonker or clouser.Actively stripping the fly rather than letting it drift will help to avoid snags as of course will using a lighter weight fly.An unweighted fly teamed with an appropriately sized splitshot pinched on at the hookeye is a good option to vary the sink rate by varying splitshot size.

Jonn, I didn't realize you'd gotten an 8 when I suggested a 7wt.Re flies, I've had good luck this year with a black Zonker type streamer.It resembles a leech undulating seductively as you strip it in.Check out a fly available from Cabelas called a Meat Whistle tied on a weighted jig hook.

Since it seems that all 3 are pretty much equal to each other I'd go with either the Cabelas or the Redington for $80-$99 vs Krehs for $170.They also have wood reel seats which look better than Kreys aluminum.As a beginner planning to cast deerhair bassbugs you might be better off with a 7wt which Redington doesn't offer.As an alternative to deerhair bugs get a few Gaines Sneaky Pete bassbugs in size 2-6 in black or chartreuse from Cabelas.They're easier to cast and very effective in clearwater conditions. If there are any fly shops not far from you it'd be a good idea to go there before you buy and see what they have to offer.You'd be able to test cast before buying and be given valuable flyfishing info. Re catalog shopping, in addition to Cabelas catalogs are available from Feathercraft, a fine flyshop in St. Louis.wwwfeather-craft.com,tx1-800-659-1707.When you call you'll be able to ask to speak with an experienced flyfisherman.

I agree with your first statement but not the ps.Flyfishing for big bedding 'gills with a flea rod has always been a high point in my flyfishing year.During that brief 3 week or so period I largely forsake other fish to concentrate on them and am actually disappointed when I catch a gamefish instead.Plenty of time for them the rest of the season.It's also nice to know that it's ok to take some home.Fine eating.

Jonn, If you can cast that well the first time out you'll be a natural.Don't listen to Joz. He's just too hardheaded to admit that he'd like to try it too. After getting proficient with the basic cast learn to dubl haul. It'll turbocharge your casting enabling you to easily cast those deerhair bassbugs.

Brenden, Here's a thought. Get on over to Flymasters Fly Shop in Indy at 86th + Allisonville Rd.Pick up a flyfishing outfit, get a casting lesson,and than fish that hatch.You'll be introduced to an entirely new wonderful fishing experience.

Adverse conditions notwithstanding,i.e.hostile winds,the need to cast 80+'etc., I agree with Stuart that an 8wt is typically too much rod for sporty fishing for smallmouth.There are plenty of flies in sizes 1/0-4 other than cumbersome oversize deerhair that appeal to big smallies that can be comfortably cast to 70+' when necessary by a good caster with a 6wt or lighter rod.Why opt then for flies requiring an 8wt unless specifically warranted?

Mark, Thanks for the info. I had a cupl good outtings on the Fox for smallies and carp back in May but haven't been back since due to high water.Am planning on returning this week if my arthritic knee allows.

Is your frog a floater which dives when stripped or is it a subsurface fly?

What size is the mouse you tie? What weight rod do you use with it?In a larger size a hair mouse looks like it'd be difficult to cast with a 6 wt or lighter rod that is typically used for smallmouth.It's the fly of choice in Alaska for big rainbows.

Trout Unlimited is also active in introducing kids to fishing and flyfishing in particular.Once a month from May thru Sept.they gather a group of kids from various boy scout troops thruout the area at the St Charles Sportsmans Club in Elburn for a daylong flyfishing seminar where they learn about flyfishing equipment,knot tying, fly tying and casting.They also flyfish at the stocked pond and upon catching at least 2 fish earn a scout flyfishing merit badge.I've volunteered the past 2 years and was at the last one which was also on Aug.9.While for the most part it's an enjoyable experience for the kids there is a degree of frustration they have to deal with since flyfishing/flycasting is more difficult than spinfishing. T/U also sponsors a weekend flyfishing outting in Michigan and a weeklong outting on a spring creek in Iowa for teenage scouts.The hope of course is that a love of fishing/flyfishing will be sewn in at least some of the kids for the enhancement of the sport and protection of the resource in the future.

Good luck.Enjoy!!

Like Terry I just check my floatube's pressure by feel. Firm but not too firm.Remember that in sunless conditions especially if the water's cold there'll be some loss of air pressure whereas on warm sunny days the pressure will increase.So adjust the pressure accordingly.With my floatube it's ez to release a little if necessary while on the water.

Brendan, I fished Sugar Creek last year several times over Labor day weekend.As you'll recall the river was extremely low and clear.Bluebird skies.Nevertheless, the bass were very active herding minnows on the shallow gravel bars etc.thruout the day.The bass were clearly visible in the gin clear water. I got many hits fishing bassbugs from bass to 16.5" with the average about 15".I think weather stability was the key.With last year's drought conditions there were few frontal passages.The In Fisermen writers have always held that stable weather meant good fishing.

Steve, Igot mine at the fly show. Think itwas from Angler's International in Palatine.One More Cast has the makings if you want to tie 'em up yourself. The ones I have are very nicely tied with an abundance of tailfeathers,a weedguard which helps avoid snags when pounding heavy bank cover, and large eyes glued on.If after repeated use,the body starts rotating on the hook apply a drop of epoxy behind the hookeye.

I don't think the bright sky or feeding heavily the day before have anything to do with the poor fishing following a front.Most of my best river fishing for smb has been on sunny days although that's the worse time to lake fish especially for lmb unless the water's cold as in early spring or fall.Re the fish having fed heavily the previous day, their high metabolism during the summer would presumably have them ready to feed again the next day. No matter how much we pig out on Thanksgiving we're all ready for turkey leftovers the day after.From what I've read the main reason for the poor fishing seems to have to do with the dramatic rise in barometric pressure on the heals of a frontal passage that puts the fish in a funk.In my experience this affect is much more predictable and pronounced in lakes than in rivers provided it didn't rain enuf to muddy the rivers.

Although catching only 2 on 7/7 1 of which was small ,I left the river happy because the other one was just .5" shy of 20.Got him on a big black blockhead bassbug. As big as the fly was the fish had it all the way down its gullet.Happily I was able to remove it using forceps without hurting the bass.It would've hurt me almost as much as the fish to have returned it to the river bleeding.Tried for a timer picture but it kept washing out and so I settled for a hand shot.This was the biggest smb since the 19.75" I got last fall on the Fox. The next day I tried a new stretch.Although I'd driven oassed it literally countless times over the years I never fished it since it didn't look very good. Big mistake!Once I started fishing I could see it was a good stretch after all and I quickly got a small bass. A little later a huge bass hit the black blockhead alongside a downed tree Had him on only long enuf to know he(she) would've given the previous day's bass a run for his(her) money before he popped the freshly tied knot on the 12# test tippet.Bummer! Later I hit another bass estimated at about 17" as a kayaker came by.As i turned around to see if he' d seen the strike I must've allowed a little slack in the line and as I turned back to the fish he jumped and threw the fly.My fault for not paying attention to business.I only got a cupl more decent sized fish both largemouths.While it was depressing to lose 2 fine bass particularly the first one it was really a good day since I'd found yet another good stretch of river. On 7/10 before hitting the 2 areas I'd fished earlier in the week I decided to make afew casts to a small spot that sometimes holds bass and was rewarded with a 15" and a 16.5".Photo'd the 16 while holding him underwater.I didn't get any the rest of the day using bassbugs. Just before I quit I tried a zonker streamer and immediately started picking up a few small smb + lmb.Should've switched to a streamer sooner.

I agree wth Tim that in the vast majority of cases the introduction of non native species whether by intent or by accident is a bad thing.But as with most things there are exceptions.Had it not been for the introduction of brown trout on the heels of the demise of the native brookies caused by overharvesting and habitat destruction trout fishing in the eastern half of the country would have for all practical purposes ended a cupl hundred years ago.In that instance the introduction was good in that it filled what would have otherwise remained a void.On the other hand the introduction of browns and rainbows to the rocky mountain states despite the existence of a viable native cutthroat population is a much more difficult issue as is the the move in recent years to eradicate them for the benefit of the cutts.Intellectually I understand the reasoning but emotionally I feel the rockies would be poorer for not having browns and rainbows, the latter being my favorite fish(if beautiful women were fish they'd all be rainbow trout).If we are accused of playing god the fact is we do have dominion for better or worse be it from God or Evolution at least until Nature, fed up with all our crap, sends us the way of the Dodo.