Hi guys.

Does anyone know what's the biggest UK. Bass landed on a fly? If so what's the most successful fly and colour used?

We all know bait takes a lot of big bass so would be interesting to know how many big bass come to a fly,

Thanks for reading

You better ask Dai Jones as he is a legend and has had more double figure bass on fly than anyone ever........... according to him. He probably caught them all on one of his bugbond sandeels


In the UK, as opposed to Ireland, I know of 2 guys who have caught numerous doubles on fly off their boat. I think the largest was 13lb. As for fly - Clouser variants and synthetic baitfish patterns.

In Ireland there have been plenty of doubles caught on fly. Jim Hendrick has had a far few himself. That's the great thing about Ireland - theres always that chance even for shore fisherman.

No idea what the UK record is but the closely related striped bass of New England yield some biggies to the fly.



From an invaluable, book I picked up on surf fishing for striped bass; couldn't resist posting the 73 pounder.

__________________


Save the softmouth trout

Sadly, Ephemerella the record on any method for Bass in the UK is just a few ounces short of 20lb.Even in commercial captures there are few over 25lb in the nets.

To be honest, if flyfishing from the shore you can be justifiably proud of any fish over 5lb. Especially if you get one from under the noses of the guys setting hundreds of yards of gill nets around you. Your best bet for a double is to get out on a boat.

__________________
A forum post should be like a skirt. Long enough to cover the subject matter, but short enough to remain interesting.

You got one thing right JRT......Dai Jones is one of the very few fishermen I have had the pleasure to meet to whom you could attach the label 'legendary'.

There’s no doubt I’m lucky where I live. Wexford does present the opportunity for bigger bass, indeed much of the south and south eastern section of Ireland is a place where they live. Like any location of potential it has its moments (lots) of difficulty but at least the population of fish is there.
I have been and remain strongly influenced by many American bass fishers and I have simply adapted some of those techniques into my own fishing. Fishers like Tabory, Mitchell, Murphy, Roberts, and others.
Some of the bigger fish I have taken have been on Flatwings, Hollow fleyes , and larger Buck tail deceivers – my favourite but not necessarily the ‘best’ is a pattern called a sloopy droopy by Joseph Manette, we make some variations around it regarding size etc but it’s just a bit of experimentation and fun.
I was very happy late this year when a friend of mine took a fish on the west coast on one of those variations – estimated at 14lbs.

__________________
www.probassfisher.com

Jim

The Sloopy Droopy

Sloopy Droopy (Bass) | ChasingSilver.org

That's one beautiful looking fly

__________________
I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can think of that probably doesn't.

Andy and the fly in action here in 2008

__________________
www.probassfisher.com

Jim

Forums need people like that without them we woud have to talk about fishing all the time zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

No doubt there are plenty of ' big UK bass' that have been landed by plenty of fly fishermen who dont chew the fat or brag abouth fishing in cyberspace and prefer to keep a low profile

My best on fly from the Cornish shoreline is 29.5 inches (around 9 lb).

I guess by stating that I have to class myself as a chewer of fat and prone to bragging

__________________
My Blog
www.zen-sportfishing.com

I think your 9lb Bass classes you as a chewer of Bass and perfectly entitled to brag

__________________
I used to like fishing because I thought it had some larger significance. Now I like fishing because it's the one thing I can think of that probably doesn't.