This past week we had 48 hours of almost non-stop rain, all in all more than 100mm, that's 4 inches. Walked down to the furthest pond on the farm with the dogs, they were ecstatic as with all the rain they hadn't been out for several days. The surface of the water was covered with rings of bass rising and taking emerge rs, there was also a fall of flying ants, (termites). Bass can be as picky as any trout when there's a hatch on, and today I only took a small foam popper with me.
Usually you know when a bass takes your lure or fly, they are great smash and grab artist, but there are times when there takes are very subtle. So it was this afternoon, I was watching my popper lying on the mirror smooth water and giving it the tiniest of twitches every now and again. Without me noticing it as bass sucked the popper under the surface and it was a long moment before I realised what had happened and tightened the line, fish on. It wasn't the worlds biggest fish, but it was the first bass of spring.
Click to enlarge.
Posed for a quick photo and international fame, next to my trusty 6 weight rod, and released again.
A bit later I walked up to the pond just below the cottage but here there was not a fish to be seen, although there were dozens of fluttering termites on the surface. The two ponds are only about a kilometer apart yet you will often catch fish in the one and nothing in the other.
The lonely swallow I posted a photo of about a week ago, has been joined by it's mate.
An interesting sunset to end the day with.
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Bought two foam bass poppers while I was in Durban. On Old Village Road, in Hillcrest, a suburb of Durban, there is an angling shop called the Complete Angler. True to it's name it covers every aspect of angling. Rock & surf, deep see, art lure, bait fishing, etc. Most importantly it has a big section dedicated to fly fishing and fly tying, this is where I bought the poppers plus a whole stash of fly tying material and hooks, almost broke the bank.
Well this evening the dogs forced me to go and try one out. (honest I have to be forced to go fishing :¬) ).
Below is the result. These poppers are really weedless, and I was casting right into the reeds and water grass. One such cast into some thick grass and this bass took it with meaning as it hit the water.
The popper can be seen on the fish, and the very effective weed guard can be seen.
Estimate this fish at about 1 1/2 lbs.
