ISU Bengal

Issue date: 4/11/07 Section: Outdoor

Media Credit: Sue Cocking Bass guide Frank Carbone holds a six-pound largemouth bass he caught at the Sawgrass Recreation Area in west Broward County, Florida. But why let the Southerners have all the fun of catching this fish?

While it is not an Idaho native, the feisty Largemouth Bass is quickly becoming a local favorite. Some shun the idea of bass fishing becoming popular in Idaho, feeling that we should leave 'them bass to them southerners,' but as I found out last summer, bass fishing can be extremely fast and fun. I assume that most of those who do not like the idea of bass fishing in Idaho have not caught many bass in Idaho, or maybe they would change their mind. I would not personally trade Idaho's trout for bass, but in most places, we do not have to make that compromise because bass and trout successfully co-exist.

Last summer I had started getting frustrated at the fact that my usual trout fishing hotspots were less than warm, and decided to target my childhood favorite fish, the bluegill. As many know, the bluegill is often quite easy to catch, and a great fighter for its small size.

I had caught several bluegills on a traditional nymph and had begun to be bored by the tiny sunfish, so I decided to see how gullible these little guys really were. I tied on a yellow wet fly nymph that I was pretty sure would never give me the pleasure of reeling in even a minute fish.

Well, I either underestimated the fly or the aggressiveness of the fish because the yellow soft hackle went on to become quite successful. After several bluegills were caught by the fly, I saw a fish jump twenty feet from where I had been casting, and I knew that it was not a bluegill. I cast to the area where the fish had surfaced. After only a couple of seconds, I felt a firm tug. I set the hook and began to pull line in. As I pulled, the fish swam straight toward me, jumping a couple of times on his way. As the fish came to hand, I saw a large open mouth and a green and white body. It was easy to distinguish him as a largemouth bass.

This would be the first of several "bucket-mouths" that I would bring in that day with my fly rod. Let me assure you, each and every one was as feisty as his sibling. Some of the most fun I had while fishing last year was when I got out on the bank and began sight fishing for these tiny lunkers as they made their rounds along the shoreline.

While my yellow soft hackle fly did bring in this bucket-mouth, there are many other methods for catching these bass, which are much more proven. If you go fishing for largemouths, you could try a small yellow nymph, but I would recommend one of the lures that are more often used. Methods used by professional bass fishermen include Carolina rigs, Texas rigs, crank-baits, spinners, and the trusty worm, just to name a few. I am sure that as soon as you feel the explosive power of a Largemouth Bass on the end of your line, you'll be hooked!

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