Thread: TR: Topwater bassin on the fly is fun

So once a year we get access to a private ranch in the foothills of Merced county to do an overnight bass trip. They have a lake that's just over 100 acres and is loaded with bass. Supposedly in the winter they stock trout too, mostly to feed the bass. They sell memberships to fish it so it keeps the pressure relatively light.

Anyways I'm more of a steelhead/trout guy so all I really know about bassin' is you're supposed to drink lots of beer so I came prepared for the first morning sesh


Most of the crew are hardcore trouters so of course we had a fine sampling of the latest and greatest in bass boat technology


The lake is a topwater wet dream, full of grasses, weed lines, and lily pads. It's loaded with bull frogs and bass fry so although it was cool and windy the fish were still plenty willing


Average fish were a couple pounds and strong and healthy


We ran into quite a few bigger fish, I lost most of them as it was hard to get a good hookset with some of the bigger weedless flies. This guy stuck however.


There are a ton of ducks, geese, mudhens etc on the lake and I'm told it's not uncommon to see the young get taken after they first hatch. I wouldn't be surprised.


The fish are real pretty.....for bass


We did things up right in the pm


My best producer was Hogan's mat buster, missing a leg and covered with bite marks but still producing.


All in all a fun way to kill a few days.

That looks super fun. I love how abused that fly is, she looks like she took a thrashing. Thanks.

Nice work! I love bass on the fly. We get an added bonus up here when working the surface, Pike! My altime favorite topwater fly is a Dahlberg Diver in Purple/Black, it does come in frog green though. Makes lots of noise and the big fish cannot resist.