All posts by Christopher Kuhn

Bass

Poppin’ For Bass

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It’s the season for Fly Fishing with Bass Poppers, that’s what my aquatic friends residing in the Moose Knuckle Proving Grounds casting pond told me today. The Bass have been spawning for quite a few weeks; in fact, it is nearing the end of the spawn now. The water is a pleasant 75 degrees, pulling into optimum range for Largemouth Bass Activity. Furthermore, the weather is changing and a storm is about to blow in for the evening.

Frog Style Popper

Tactic

Bass are a very aggressive species. The old bucket mouth will strike anything that looks, feels or sounds like food. While a Trout is consumed with fear of expending energy to catch quarry that is not food, a Bass is overwhelmed with fear of missing its next morsel of food. The Popper I have above mimics a frog and there are quite a few of them out today. Another favorite of mine is the Mouse, nothing like convincing a Bass to inhale a Deer Hair Mouse.  

The Little Bass

According to Moose Knuckle Bass expert Mark Beardmore, previously of Sanibel Island fame, to catch a Bass on a popper you, “…It depends. I like to vary it. For me I vary it by the small ripples it makes, which sounds ridiculous.  Basically just count.  Pop, then wait a second and continue for a little while. If that doesn’t get any bites speed it up or slow it down depending. When the fish hits it, but misses it, I like to immediately change to a very fast twitch like it, the Popper, is wounded but trying to get away. But not a pop.” As mixed up as that all sounds, just use the method while Fly Fishing, it works.

Bass Fisheye

Fish Story

Reader beware the accuracy of this account may change and grow more dramatic over time.

As I previously mentioned the storm clouds were gathering in the distance. In addition the wind was blowing gale force against my casting direction. I waited for a lull and hurled my frog popper out. Performed the slow ripple retrieve and waited….explosive strike! Pulled out a tiny bass. Now excited, I went, I cast parallel to the weed line. As I throw he popper out, it lands hard on the water with a splash; it sits and the ripple dissipates. I start to strip again and a Bass explodes out of the water swallowing the popper. Now the fight is on, with the four-weight rod this is an intense battle. Finally he wears down and dives into some weeds, I try and pull him up and out but he will not budge. At last I jump in the water as he is stuck right at the edge and pull the Bass out right by his lip.

Old Bucket Mouth, Sage VXP 4WT and Lamson Litespeed 2.0

L.L. Bean Fly Fishing for Bass Handbook, 2nd

Wildlife Photography

What’s In The Front Yard

Image
George Kuhn, the Snake Charmer handles our visitor. The Black Snake was released to the wild a few short minutes later.
Saltwater

Sanibel Island

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History

Sanibel and Captiva Island geologically formed roughly 6,000 acres ago. Early humans inhabited the area as early as 2,500 years ago; these indigenous peoples were known as the Calusa. While many local pirate legends are recounted, the first failed attempt at settlement was in 1832 and again in 1862. The now famous, Sanibel Lighthouse was finally completed in 1884. In May of 1963, a causeway linking the mainland was opened; combined with the post war boom, a real estate gold rush kicked off. Extensive local controls on growth have helped the island to resemble “Old Florida,” with buildings no taller than two stories and few fast food chains on the island.

Spey Cast at Sunset

Getting There

This trip was coordinated for Mark’s thirtieth birthday party; in this man’s opinion, there is no better way to spend the big three zero than fishing, eating Conch Fritters and enjoying a few “Man Sodas.” Departing on an 8 AM JetBlue flight out of Newark, we arrived in Fort Myers by 11:30 AM. This left enough time to fetch a rental car, purchase fishing licenses, secure drinks and wade out into the water. A perfect plan, combined with windless blue sky days is exactly what is required to catch a fish.

Sanibel Island has a Wild Side

Targeting Snook   

Snook are a tropical fish; Florida is on the northern part of their natural range. Warmer water makes for very active Snook, cold spells can result in mortality. They winter in the back bays heated by the sun, pass the spring along the beaches moving out to the in the ocean in the summer, come fall, they return along the beaches headed to the backwater.

Early AM Beach Blue Fish

What To Throw

The species, as an apex predator, will eat anything that fits in their mouth and cannot consume them; feeding in a manner similar to the Old Bucket Mouth (General Lee) residing in the farm pond out back. Mark and I stumbled to the beach around 5:30 AM; he netted roughly two dozen Green Back Shiners, we hooked them to our circle hooks. Not too soon later, I had a Snook on the end of my line. I hustled out into the flats chasing after this top water splashing Snook. Unfortunately, as I reeled him to shore he popped off the hook. The key lesson from this experience is to use a fly that matches the widely available baitfish in size and color. Looking back, the two flies I would select are the Chartreuse and White Lefty’s Deceiver along with a similarly colored Clouser Minnow. The aggressive Mackeral surely enjoyed Norm Zeigler’s signature Crystal Schminnow as well.

Gulf Toadfish on the Fly

That Saltwater Taste

The majority of what you have read here on Moose Knuckle is about targeting Trout. This Sanibel Island adventure is a new direction for the blog. Beach fishing has its perks; don’t get me wrong I love where Trout live. Nonetheless there is something good to be said about Fly Fishing, waist deep in 80 degree water while beautiful women stroll on the beach. Not to mention, the fish are huge and it’s a crap shoot what you might pull up. Further, the Lazy Flamingo’s Conch Fritters washed down with a pitcher of Yuengling is heavenly.

Dave's Sea Trout