North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine July 2016 | Page 61

just a couple of flies that will fit the bill most of the time. Large streamers are a staple, it seems. So if you already throw streamers for trout, you’re part of the way there. When some area trout lakes are heavily pressured, or get too warm to chase the colder species ethically, fishing other waters for bass is a good way to beat the crowd. I have never had a problem casting my fly rod in these waters. I’m not above sharing waters with those who fish for trout in a different way than me. Same goes for bass fishing. Often, we can learn a little from each other that make up for things if the fishing is slow. The amazing thing is, often dyed-in-thewool gear guys are amazed at the effectiveness of fly tactics on bass. The different offerings of flies on floating and sinking lines can allow fly fishermen uniquely subtle presentations that are hard for conventional gear to duplicate. Changing strip counts and retrieve types can be deadly, because as predatory fish, bass often stalk their prey intently before they attack. Once they pounce, be ready for a fight as tough as any in freshwater fly fishing, pound for pound.