I've been wanting to fish
Bass on the Fly since it's inception and there's always been a
conflict. Ted Warren does an excellent job on putting on this event,
and the many sponsors are generous. And it's for a great cause - Reel
Recovery. So I was very excited about making it this year. And after a
rough weekend at Paddlepalooza, a chance for some redemption!
This
was my first trip ever to Lake Fork. And while I've fished several
lakes in east Texas, I discovered this is NOT one of the Piney Hills
Lakes. Rather it's a prairie lake much like Lewisville and Grapevine.
From what I researched, the best types of flies and colors were
different also.
So I decided to leave on Thursday to get
acquainted with Fork. Not that it helped... the wind was 25-30 out of
the north when I arrived. And it stayed that way on Friday. But I was
able to figure out a pattern for the bass and one for the bream. Even
one for the crappie, although that wasn't a target species for this
event.
Friday afternoon got things going and there were a number
of activities. The Bream Fly Contest began at 3pm and ended at 6pm and
had 14 participants. Several went out in boats and kayaks, but I did my
fishing from the bank at Lake Fork Marina and caught several big bream,
of which 3 measured at 9 inches. Eric Dilts came in 2nd with 8.5
inches.
Saturday was the main event and there were about 30
participants in each of the two divisions (kayak and boat). I went with
a Boogle Bug frog-colored popper early and landed 3 nice bass in the
first two hours, largest was 19.5 inches. An hour later, I switched to
an olive Y2K Bugger and lost a bass probably 11-12 inches. That would
turn out to be my only disappointment of the day. After that, it went
dead cold. I managed to catch a big bream on the Y2KB, so I pulled out
my bream rod and proceeded to work that bed for about 40 bream, none of
which was smaller than 8 inches!
Got back to the launch and
talked to some commie anglers who had come in. One boat had one good
bass, and another had one dink bass. So now I'm thinking I might have a
real shot at winning this event. Turns out that despite very tough
conditions on the lake - barometer was off the scale!!! - some good
catches were made by the fly guys. I ended up 3rd in Kayak Bass, only 6
inches out of first place. But well enough to get into the money (5
places awarded). My big bass was 2nd place, and my big bream (for
Saturday's pool) took 1st place.
Later, I also took 1st place in the
Distance Casting Contest after Russell Husted and I had a "Cast Off"
since we both tied for longest distance in the contest. And I won a
Simms Boat Bag as a door prize.
A few observations about Lake Fork...
1. I plan to go back soon. It's only 4 hours away. The fish are big for their length and fight like hell.
2.
I catch lots of 8 and 9-inch bream in the Kisatchie lakes, but Fork
bream this length are totally different. They're shaped like dinner
plates and at least 2 inches thick. Landing them on a 5-weight almost
requires a gaff!
3. What I said about bream - ditto for bass. The
smallest bass I landed in both "practice" and competition was 13.5
inches and was shaped like a damn football.
4.
I won't be going on a weekend due to boat traffic. Thursday afternoon
and Friday morning were okay. Friday afternoon was bad. Saturday was
insane.
5.
It's a big lake but with many arms, and there are many good spots
within a mile or less of a marina. So except for boat traffic, it's
kayak friendly.
So I did quite well for my first Bass
on the Fly World Championship. I might even go back next year. Just
kidding, I WILL go back next year.
