In order to get your “tug fix” here in Southern Arizona you can do a few things.Drive 4-7 hours to go Trout fishing,Drive 4 hours into Mexico and fish the Sea of Cortez or stay close to home and fish some decent lakes for Largemouth Bass and Pan fish … that’s my choice.The tackle is not much different than what you would use for trout,I am fishing 6-7 wt rods and for the most part floating lines.Some of my friends fish 8&9 wts which are needed later on in the season to pull big bass out of the weeds.For your fly selection All you need is a variety of streamers along with some poppers and you are set.Some of the lakes are small enough that you don’t need a “Bass Boat” for me my drift boat does just fine and the Pontoon boat guys seem to do pretty awesome also.
For the most part Bass (both LM &SM) are pretty easy target,they like structure re. drop offs, shoals,dead trees,weed beds and shady spots along the banks.Find structure and you will find Bass.
Like all fishing scenarios Bass fishing is no different,the key seems to be timing.We either fish early or late and sometimes both as MR. Largemouth likes low light conditions,during the day they seem to switch on and off.
Our routine is simple,one angler fishes towards the structure re. the bank while the other pushes or rows the boat along the bank or sets up for mid lake structure.
Flies are worked tight to the structure and stripped back,the key seems to be the retrieve.Bass will often hit the fly as it is dropping when you pause on you strips,especially when fishing weedbeds.
We get some decent topwater action this time of year,casting poppers and chernobyl ants can be a blast as the eats are awesome.This seems to best during the evening, I think The largemouths start to move around bit,feeling both safe and aggressive during the low light conditions.
Fly-fishing for Bass here in Southern Arizona is something I look forward to every Spring,I enjoy the tugs,the scenery and fishing in shorts and flip flops.Life is Good!
