What are you new year fishing resolutions? Change the subject to reflect
your topic, and share them here.

One of my goals for 2005 is use the Float-n-Fly more. ROFB has discussed
this technique before on several occasions. I think Charles bought a rod
just for this purpose last year, and he is probably out on the water today
using it.

On many Tennessee lakes, shaded, deep-water channels sweep close to steep,
rocky bluffs where F-n-F is well suited. Now that the water temp has dropped
down into the mid 40's, conditions are ripe for this presentation.

Expert angler, bass guide, and good buddy, Rick McFerrin, posted an
introduction to the technique on the TennesseeBassGuides.com site some time
back. The entire article is archived on the site
(http://tennesseebassguides.com/tips.html). Scroll down the page (if you're
able to pass up all the other tempting articles) and you'll find the
Float-n-Fly write-up third from the bottom.

Here are a few key tips I gleaned from Rick’s article:

1. Use an 9" to 10' light-action graphite rod designed for the technique.
2. Attach a light spinning reel spooled with 4 to 8 lb. test line. The
clearer the water -- the smaller the line diameter. Fireline 6/2 yields a
good combination of castability, strength and small diameter.
3. Tie a length of 4# to 8# fluorocarbon leader (8 to 18 feet long,
depending on the depth of the fish you locate on your sonar) to a three-way
swivel using a Palomar knot. Remember to moisten the line before cinching it
down.
4. Then tie the swivel to your main line, again with a Palomar knot.
5. To the third swivel loop, clip on a small float.
6. To the leader, tie a small feather jig. You'll find ones specially
designed for this technique. Punisher Jigs made with duck feathers, matted
with fish attractant, are popular on Dale Hollow. Start with natural, subtle
colors for clear water like Center Hill and brighter colors for stained
lakes like J. Percy Priest.
7. Stand to cast, and make sure that the FLY, not the FLOAT, hits the water
behind you before you bring the rod forward.
8. If there is a chop on the water, that will impart all the action you
need. On calm days, raise your rod tip and shake it a little to keep the
float bouncing back toward the boat. In clear water, retrieve about half-way
back, and then reel in and cast again.

You might also make a little time to visit TNAngler
(http://tnangler.com/) -- a good source of fishing tips, reports, and
announcements for all regions of Tennessee and southern Kentucky. Larry
Self's article "Mastering The Float-n-Fly"
(http://tnangler.com/Articles/fnf.htm) is also an excellent intro for
novices and a useful checklist for those of us who break out the F-N-F gear
only one or two months a year.

Have a great new year!


--
Joe Haubenreich
www.secretweaponlures.com
First real spinnerbait change in 50 years!
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