Fly Rods in Bass Tournaments?

Sinjin Kim · Post by **Sinjin Kim** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:17 pm

Here is an odd question:

As long as a fly rod is under 8' would it be legal for use during a tournament?

I've had my share of pissed off days at DVL and Castaic when the fish would only seem to bite live shad. I've tried everything from Panic Minnows, Slice Baby Shads (Bait Breath), Maniac Minnows, underspins, fly-lined flukes, tiny Zip Bait jerkbaits and all sorts of other tiny plastics with ultra-light equipment (2.5# test).

I wonder if a hand tied shad fly would do the trick?

buddy brown · Post by **buddy brown** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:58 pm

I've often wondered this myself. I imagine that the shad fly is something that they've never seen. I also imagine that a 5+ bass would shred light weight leaders and fly gear to pieces. You never know though.

Chris N · Post by **Chris N** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:10 pm

I know a couple of guys who slay it with the long rod- LMB, stripers, calicos, it's a whole new world with flies- as for the regs, I think it's still an 8' limit on the rod (cause of Dee Thomas back in the day, I think?), I don't think fly fishing would DQ you- I want to check out Spro's float fly rigs-

need to check out the fly shop at the new Bass Pro Shops for some little stuff that looks like what the YFT want to eat right now

Basn Dan · Post by **Basn Dan** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:38 pm

as far as I know.. fly rod type fishing is not a problem... any type of fishing is legal as long as it meets tournament limits and DFG regs...

Fish-on buddy...

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:26 am

Four or five years ago, I saw a guy back in Bones catching bass with a fly rig. It was windy, but he was able to cast it in front of the flooded brush, and they ate it.
If bass will hit a streamer, why not take a page of the trout fisherman's bood, and use a clear float and leader?

TopH2o · Post by **TopH2o** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 6:12 am

Sinjin, fishing for Bass: It is not the idea that you can do something with the fly rod that you can not do with the bass rod. But rather the art of fly fishing which is the oldest form of fishing. In the 20's there was a form of fishin know as Jiggering which has been outlawed in most of the US. This method is one of the factors that caused the 8 foot rule in BASS fishing.

Bill Hutcheson · Post by **Bill Hutcheson** » Mon Aug 06, 2007 7:08 am

Sinjin,

If you are interested in fly fishing at DVL, there is a guy named Bob who owns Riverside Ski & Sports in RIverside. Bob is a big time fly guy out of DVL and has caught many fish on flies. Due to the 8' rod rule, he has had a special series of fly rods and flies made to fish for bass. You may wish to contact him.

And yes, the 8' rule does apply to WON BASS events.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS tournament director

Sinjin Kim · Post by **Sinjin Kim** » Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:26 am

Bill Hutcheson wrote:Sinjin,

If you are interested in fly fishing at DVL, there is a guy named Bob who owns Riverside Ski & Sports in RIverside. Bob is a big time fly guy out of DVL and has caught many fish on flies. Due to the 8' rod rule, he has had a special series of fly rods and flies made to fish for bass. You may wish to contact him.

And yes, the 8' rule does apply to WON BASS events.

Bill Hutcheson
WON BASS tournament director

Awesome information. Thanks very much.