"That other fish" would be our area's bass population. North
Central Washington possesses both large and smallmouth bass
in many of our area lakes and rivers. There are those who look
down on bass as a trash fish or an invasive species, or simply
the illegal supplementation of historically salomonid-only
fisheries. In any regard, and no matter the reason, they’re here to
stay, so as an angler we might as well take advantage of it.
For some time, I was one of those that, to be honest, snubbed
my nose at this “other fish.” I’ve learned to, when given lemons,
give lemonade a try. To my surprise, bass are not necessarily an
easy fish to catch. Some may argue with this but I’m speaking
for myself. Just like any type of fish you go after, you have to get
a feeling as to what works and what doesn’t. This is where the
upside to tying your own flies can come into play.
Trading ideas about conventional tactics with outstanding
fisherman like Jack Hedlund in the fishing department helps
refine patterns to mimic lures known for their effectiveness in
certain lakes and rivers. Like pursuing trout, there are a variety
of flies of all shapes and sizes that work for bass depending
on timing. I have noticed that sometimes you can get by with