A few of us ONLY fish for bass using a fly rod and fewer still mostly use
only popping bugs on topwater.
Here's a few tips per your questions:
1. Make sure you get a bass bug taper fly line for your rod.
2. With the size of your rod, do not try to cast bugs larger than size 4.
3. White popping bugs work better early and late in dim light.
4. All black tarantula bugs and yellow and black bee stripe bugs work
during the heat of the day tossed way back under shade near deep water.
5. Do not false cast over bass water. Cast into open areas between lily
pads not into or on top of them.
6. Messenger's Frog and Texas Bullfrogs work in froggy waters such as
grass, lily pads, weeds, etc.
7. Mouse Rats and hopper patterns work well next to banks and logs.
8. Rubber legged Spider and cricket patterns in black and brown work well
near brush, trees, banks, rocks and grassy areas.
9. In heavily fished bass water, count to 10 before twitching popping bug
to increase strikes per cast.
10. If the popping bug does not hit the water first, pick it up and cast
somewhere else.
11. Sharpen popping bug hooks.
12. When daily temps exceed 100F, use glow in the dark and fluorescent
popping bugs for night fishing.
13. For more fun, add a nymph dropper 24 - 30 inches beyond your popping
bug.
14. A 7 1/2 foot 7-8 pound leader with a 24-36 inch 6 -7 pound tippet
should work well with your rod and bass taper.

Hope this gives you some ideas.
Good luck!

John


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"Richard Liebert" wrote in message
...
Anyone out there fish bass bugs on a fly rod?
I'm gonna start this spring.
I would like to hear about which flys work for you and how/when/where do
you
use them.
-Rick