Fly Fishing

windymiller

Help!!!

I have recently moved to Switzerland and regularly take time down in Ticino, especially around Lake Lugano. Apart from the great Alpine trout fishing that is available down here I have now found that there is a good head of Black Bass in this lake and as I can't resist the challenge of catching another species on the fly I was wondering if anybody out there could give me some tips on how to catch one of these fine looking fish.

As I have never targeted this species before any help (even the absolute basics) would be greatly appreciated; Gear, flies, tactics, etc.

Thanks in advance for your time and your help.

Marcel_Karssies · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:16 am Post subject:

I have limited expirience with the bass.
The only time I encountered them was while fishing a freshwater lake in Naples.

The fly I used was a self made pattern with chartreuse crystal chenille and a so called fly-tail (cabelas) in chartreuse.
The Bass in the lake where hovering around the weedbeds and along a limestone dropoff.
At the dropoff I could see them patrolling the legde, that is where I caught my largest fish.

My outfit was an eight weight rod due to the presence of large snook and maybe the odd stray tarpon.
Maybe a six weight rod armed with some clousers and a lighter version of that twisterfly would work.

Small bass on twisterfly

Small bass on EP minnow

Larger bass on twisterfly

windymiller · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:35 am Post subject:

Marcel do you actually do anything other than fish? Very Happy

Your knowledge base seems to be unlimited! Shocked

Again many thanks for sharing.

P.S. I'll try and put a post together about Isny this evening, unfortunately work seems to be getting in the way of my leisure time at the moment.

Marcel_Karssies · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 8:54 am Post subject:

Well, I actually have a job .., for now that is.

In the past I spent my holidays in Naples and while visiting relatives
down there the only other thing I did was fishing.
I had some quality time fishing the beaches and inlets and met up with
some of the FF regulars down there.

Did you fare well in Isny ?

windymiller · Posted: Wed Jun 25, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

I think we did ok, considering our limited river fishing experience (most of our fly fishing having been on stocked day ticket lakes back in SE England).

We had fish on the first 2 of our 3 days there, but to be fair the last day was only a half day during the hottest part of the weekend.

My wife had the first fish, a Brown of 35cm just down stream from the Water works on beat 1 (as advised). I followed it shortly after with a fish of 37 just a little further down stream. These proving to be the biggest trout of the weekend for us. Plenty of takes and several lost fish, including 1 good Rainbow on the last day on Beat 3.

We also got into the Chub on the second day on Beat 2 (a new fish on the fly for both of us). My wife again catching the first and quickly following it up with a nice fish in the 40cm range, but doing my best to keep her in her place Confused

I managed to get a really good one out that was probably nearer to 50cm.

We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will be back again. Finally we also met some people from Zürich who are members of the Fly Fishing club there and they are now sending us details on membership.

All in all a great weekend.