Successfully Fishing the Float 'n Fly (F'nF)
Float n' Fly Video Demonstration

1-Spinning tackle, 6-8lb. test line (depending upon water clarity) and a 6-7' light to med. light action spinning rod.  I use a 30 ft. section of 8lb. test -Stren, Clear Magnathin line ,joined to 10lb. test Sufix braided line w/a double uni-knot. My personal favorite rod is a 6'8" Shimano Crucial -Medium light/Fast action 4-8lb. line lure weight 1/16-1/4 oz. 

2-Rigging- Tie a single uni-knot/bobber stop 6-15 feet on your leader 1st. Slide a round or faceted RED-plastic bead up your line 2nd. Then slide a 1" diameter Thill-“Day and Night Slip float 

3- Tie your desired Float'n Fly pattern to the end of your leader last. For rigging examples, please view the following links: Bobber stop knot , Thill-day and night slip floats and Faceted plastic beads.

I tie my own bobber stops using 17 lb. mono and the illustrated knot above. The plastic bobber stops have broken on me too many times in cold water temperatures. The wire stops and pre-tied Dacron stops inhibit casting Pull both ends of bobber stop-knot very tight and trim the tag ends very closely or it will inhibit casting. YOU CAN ADD A SMALL SPLIT –SHOT 1 FOOT ABOVE YOUR FLOAT’ N FLY . THIS WILL KEEP THE END OF THE FLOAT FROM JAMMING AGAINST T AND INTO THE EYE OF THE JIG (that will keep the fly from sinking) 

4-To start fishing, set the bobber-stop @ 1 foot shallower then the depth of the water you are fishing. If your slip bobber does not stand straight up, your bait is on the bottom and you need to set the stop shallower (you want the fly suspended 1 ft from the bottom-minimum) 

5-Fish slack water and reverse pool areas as well as productive wintering holes in rivers. I like points, ledge and rocky high spots and/ or deep –water bluff walls in lakes 

6-The retrieve: Cast out, wait for the slip-bobber to stand straight up-start a series of 3-6 short wrist movements causing the top of the bobber to tip over to the waters surface and then stop so that the float stands straight up. Pause(15 seconds to 1 minute) and repeat the sequence. Sometimes just shaking the bobber in place will trigger a strike. 

7-I have witnessed smallmouth bass hit during the series of wrist manipulations as well as the pause. I have had smallmouth and largemouth bass play with the FnF like it was live bait and then pull the float completely under the surface. If your float suddenly goes horizontal, reel up your slack and set the hook immediately-the bass has taken the fly and is swimming at you. Experiment and develop your own successful routine / retrieve 

8-Don't make the mistake of staying in one pool or spot too long fishing the FnF. If a smallmouth bass is present and wants it, they will take it the first or second time they see it presented in the proper fashion. (providing you offer the fly of their choice for that particular body of water) 

9-Some folks prefer to apply fish attractants to their fly. I've caught plenty of bass with and without an attractant. You've got to be willing to experiment. The bass as always, have the final say. 

10-The Float 'n Fly can be equally effective for largemouth in lakes during the cold -water periods (60 degrees down to ice- up) 

11-Pike and pickerel will also take the Float'n Fly. 

Here's a picture of a March-2008 5 b. 10oz. Float 'n fly Smallmouth bass (water temperature-42 degrees).  Look closely and you'll see the faceted red bead and slip bobber on top of my index finger and the fly in the top of the "smallies" mouth. The only indication of a hit was the vertical slip bobber went to a horizontal position on a pause in the routine!

Don’t be surprised if one of these “Golden Bass’ inhales your F’nF. I set the hook when the slip-bobber went horizontal and this Bugle gave me quite a battle for 5 minutes before I even saw her. It took an additional 5 minutes to finally bring her to the net

 

12- Here's a report from 12/5/11-
Darren and I got together to try and locate some  lake bronze today. Heavy fog and water temps of 49 degrees greeted us this morning w/ calm mirror like lake surface conditions. The Float 'n Fly was the hot bait !-

We changed location and I put two more in the boat on the Float 'n Fly

Now it was Darren's turn to score w/ the Float 'n Fly

Not once but twice

I don't know what I stepped in before launching but when you hot,your hot

Darren closed out our day w/ a LMB on the blade bait.


13- Another report from 12/11/11

Darren and I got together again for some more Float 'n Fly action. It was 29 degrees @ 10:30a.m. this morning when Darren pulled up to  the house.It was 11:30a by the time we were ready to launch and thankfully,the wind was not a factor. I changed my boots just to prove that I didn't step in something special the other day. My Float 'n Fly was the charm as I put the 1st four SMB in the boat. Here's 3 of the 4-

Darren decided I was having too much fun, changed colors of his float 'n fly and put two, 4 1/2 +pounders in the boat

I wrapped up our afternoon w/ a chunk LMB on the F'nF


Hopefully Darren and I will get another shot @ this late fall bass before the next cold front arrives on Friday

14- The final trip of 2011-

Darren and I were able to get together once again for a day on Van Sciver lake. The float 'n fly has been the hot bait of choice and although I had to really work for bites today ,my 2 smallmouth bass came on the float 'n fly rig.

Copyright 2012
Allen C. Winco
All rights reserved