I was just wondering has anybody had the experience or the opportunity to sight fish for bass (european) ?

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www.probassfisher.com

Jim

It happens quite often from the Zodiac Jim. We fish some skinny rocky ground and you can sometimes see them hanging in holes or tailing on rocks etc. From shore I've spotting and caught fish from a shoal but these have been small.

Hi J

I'm guessing that from the zodiac, and having had similar experiences to yourself - we are pretty low to the water, that maybe we are not seeing more fish (highly likely) -

Do you imagine J that with the right equipment its a feasible approach in some fishing locations ie skiff with platform/electric and stand etc?

Thanks Jim

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Jim

A high platform would be a pretty scary place to be in anything other than a flat calm Jim. It would need a leaning post at least. Steve B had one up front and at the back of his boat and it enabled you to stand and cast in pretty lumpy conditions.

appreciate what your saying J - i'm wondering is there elements of their behaviour that we may be missing in some 'circumstances' that might present us with 'different' opportunities!

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Jim

I reckon you could be investing in some scuba gear Mr H.
Love the site by the way , ya fairly work it. PJ.

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When you can see without being seen,strike without knowing why,and guess correctly where the best fish lie,they have taught you all they can.
(T.C. KINGSMILL MOORE)

I'm sure that you right Jim. This topic is discussed in Rich Murphy's excellent book 'Fly fishing for Striped Bass'. Some guides on the Monomoy flats use step ladders to give them the height to spot. He reckons that a viewing height of 8ft enables you to spot over 100ft further than when wading - assuming conditions allow.

J - it was RM's book that made me ask the question! I know of two french guys who 'do it' in an estuary but haven't spoken to them....yet.

P5 - thanks.

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www.probassfisher.com

Jim

I certainly have.
If you hit a shoal of school bass like I did a few years ago, you can pick off individual fish. I was fishing over sand (estuary mouth mark), bait balls all around - broken up into beachball sized shoals, and the bass were zooming around the shallow water hitting them. Quite a sight. I managed 29 bass to 2lb in under 2hrs (all returned). Yes it was easy, but you have to have a few days like that to treasure. Certainly a day when the fly would outfish a lure or spinner. When I spotted a fish (which was easy), I'd cast ahead, pull slowly and watch the bass pounce, keep pulling till all went solid - and wahey. Another bass on.

I was fishing in amongst kids paddling, jetski's roraing all around - but the bass were so concentrated on feeding they were oblivious to all that was going on - coming into less than a foot of water at times.

My biggest bass on fly to date (around 4-5lb) came on a less hectic day - but waded out to where the incoming tide was crossing the outgoing water - a lovely edge of crosscurrent. Had a small bass around 1lb straight off the bat (this was about 6 ft from my rod tip). garfish kept getting in the way of a bigger fish that came at the fly a couple of times, until finally it engulfed the fly - again, a perfect example of sight fishing. If I hadn't seen the fish come for it a couple of times I might have thought there were just a few garfish in the area.

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Sight fishing for sea bass is also done in Brittany: Mon concept et le bateau | Brittany Flyfishing

The site is also available in English, but it is less detailed: FLY FISHING FOR WILD BROWN TROUT, SEA BASS & OTHER GAME SPECIES IN BRITTANY | Brittany Flyfishing

Would love to give that a go! I've met the guide on a fly-fishing fair, he's a friendly and relaxed guy.

Tight lines