Each summer I wait for the time when the bass are “looking up” to feed eagerly. Granted most of the summer some bass will take a popper if conditions are right but around the middle of July they are all feeding on the surface, sometimes with abandon.
Yesterday marked the beginning of that time of the summer for me. I started my morning with a learn to fly fish trip on Megunticook Lake in Camden and after an hour or so it was clear that the popper was the fly of choice. Beginning fly casters are working to master a range of skills and sometimes have trouble making casts that are long enough, accurate enough or like yesterday they have trouble setting the hook and playing the fish. There is a lot to do in a short window of time and all the while the fish is running and maybe jumping clear of the water.
When that trip finished I had an hour or so to fish myself before the afternoon got started and took advantage of the opportunity. Using the same fly rod with a small popper and working the shady drop offs I was able to bring several nice bass (largemouth and smallmouth) to the side of the boat in that short time. Including one that was a challenge for the five weight rod with six pound test at the end of the line. Some even out in the bright noontime sun!
So for those of you who look forward to the best surface action of the year now is the time! I am really looking forward to the coming couple of weeks.
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