by Dante for Colorado
Here's a technique for open water that's been really productive for
us, especially for all
species of trout here in
Colorado. It's called
the "Fly and Bubble".
How we use this
technique is pretty
simple. There are many
variations for using a
fly and bubble, so the
method I'm going to
describe is by no means
the only way. Hopefully,
others here will share
their tips, tricks, and
techniques, too! I
start with a 7' medium
action rod. I wouldn't
go smaller as this might
lose the "whip" action
you'll need to get
maximum casting
distance. Next, I
spool 8# Fireline on my
spinning reel. Other
lines have worked for me
in the past, but the
Fireline has the
strength and sensitivity
I like the best. Now
comes the bubble.
Casting bubbles come in
a couple of different
styles, shapes, sizes,
and colors. I like the
clear plastic style made
by South Bend. They're
sold in packs of 2 or
12. I buy the 12 pack in
2 different sizes (1 1/2
and 2 1/4 inches) since
they're pretty cheap.
The bubble will have a
shaft through the
middle. Thread your line
through the top and out
the bottom of the shaft.
I know it sounds simple
but it can be easy to
thread it upside down.
Just make sure the top
of the bubble is
pointing towards the rod
tip. Trust me, when
changing a bubble at the
water's edge while the
fish are biting, it's
not uncommon for me to
put it on upside down in
my haste to get a line
back in the water!
Once the bubble is on,
thread a small bead on
your line. This will
help keep the bubble
from smashing against
your knot and will also
add a "clicking" sound
which seems to help
attract fish! At the
end of the line, tie a
small #12 clip.
That's it for the rig.
Now comes the leader.
Start with a line weight
that's 2 "steps" down
from your main line.
Since I use 8# line on
the reel, I'll use a 6#
leader line. I've used
Trilene XL for a long
time but lately I've
switched to P-line. As
far as the length of the
leader, the longer the
better but not TOO long.
A good rule of thumb is
to stretch your arms
apart. The distance
between your fingertips
is how tall you are!
(Try it!) I'll pull out
that amount of line plus
a couple of inches for
the knots. Next, I'll
tie a small swivl on one
end and the fly I'll be
using on the other end.
Now, attach the swivl to
the clip on the end of
your main line and your
almost ready to start
fishing. (Yes, you can
eliminate the clip
altogether but I like it
because when I'm done
fishing, I simply detach
the leader and use the
clip to attach the main
line to an eyelet. This
keeps the bubble from
swinging around and
getting tangled while
hiking back out). All
you have to do now is
fill the bubble with
water. If I'm using a 2
1/4 inch bubble, I like
it filled a little more
than half way full. Any
more than that and it
gets a little heavy to
throw. That's it!
That's my basic set-up
for a fly and bubble. Of
course there are many
tips and tricks to add,
so I'll mention a few
right now...otherwise
this post will get
really long! A) I use
the smaller bubble when
I want to fish deeper
than 6 feet. Fill the
bubble completely full
of water so it sinks.
Before casting, toss it
out in front of you and
count down the sink
rate. This will give you
an idea of how long to
wait before starting
your retrieve. B)
Keep your rod tip down
when retrieving. This
allows more line to drag
through the water and
helps the line to spool
more tightly onto your
reel. If the line
doesn't spool tight,
there's a real good
chance it will backlash
on your next cast. C)
You will probably be
casting farther than you
ever have before!
Therefore, try not to
overthrow. Sometimes I
think I can throw it
across the lake... but
end up making a mess!
D) A SLOW retrieve works
best! Add a few pauses
and twitches... make
that bead "click".
There's nothing like the
sensation of calmly
retrieving a fly when
suddenly... WHAM! (I
live for that!)
Finally, experience is
the teacher. Any new
technique feels a little
awkward at first, but
time and practice will
make you proficient
before you know it!
And best of all... you
WILL catch fish!!!
BTW... You'll quickly
become a fly geek. You
can now plan on packing
several flyboxes along
with your lures!
~Dante from Colorado
About the Author
google
Dante is an excellent fisherman, who resides in Colorado. He has few peers
when it comes to using a fly and bubble. He is a major contributor to Fishin'
Secrets with Eric Allee and Friends
http://www.fishinsecrets.com
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