The Other Grow to More Than 50 Pounds

ar you voir ne water “temperate” reser fresh bass t a ive a F

e Oth Th er ➤ Striped bass are among the members of the ➤ temperate bass family, which thrive in freshwater lakes, reservoirs, and rivers from California to Georgia. ASS B> DAVE & EMILY WHITLOCK, WITH BILL TEMPERATE BASS ARE A BUTTS AND JOHN SMALLWOOD FAMILY OF FIVE GAME-

Photo ❱ Ben Levin FISH THAT ARE STRONG, INCREDIBLY AGGRES- SIVE, AND BEAUTIFUL, FLY-EATING PRIZES. I vividly remember catching my first temperate bass on a fly in one of my favorite Oklahoma creeks when I was 16 years old. That strike and relentless fight had me convinced that I’d finally hooked my dream, 5-pound small- mouth. You can imagine how surprised —and then pleased—I was when I brought in an exotic 15- inch white bass that had worked its way up the Mississippi River to the Arkansas River and finally to my little creek.

36 • FLY FISHERMAN • • flyfisherman.com • 37 ➤The Other grow to more than 50 pounds. Hy- es invigorates schools to hunt down brids average 6 to 10 pounds but they baitfish and crayfish. Fly Tackle fight like they weigh twice that much. Some of the most exciting and RODS. To choose the ideal fly tack- Their body shape and abnormally wildly chaotic fly fishing you can -ex le, first decide what sizes and weights large tails might suggest they are on perience in fresh water occurs when of flies best imitate what your target- ASS performance-enhancing drugs. a big school of stripers, hybrids, or ed bass are feeding on, and how much B Temperate bass roam in large white bass herd a mass of baitfish to rod you’ll need to control the fish, es- Every year since then, I’ve been schools, are aggressive feeders, fast the surface or into the shallows. I’ve pecially if hybrids and stripers are consistently taking these fine game- swimmers, and flourish best in lakes, seen perfectly sane fly fishers have a present. We believe that if we can only fish in streams and lakes all around reservoirs, and the large rivers that melt-down when a big school erupts take one rod, the choice would have to the country. At age 80, I finally get to flow in and out of these impound- all around them! be a 7-weight, 9-footer with a stout tip share this lifetime of experience with ments. Springtime, flowing-water Because they have excellent low- and mid-flex action. When targeting help from a pair of fly-fishing, fresh- spawners, they scatter their eggs over light vision, these bass most fre- stripers and big hybrids only, an 8- or water temperate-bass specialists from the gravel bottoms of streams when quently feed at sunup, sundown, on 9-weight, 9-foot rod is ideal. This cal- Springfield, Missouri. Bill Butts and water temperatures reach 55 to 65 de- dark cloudy days, and at night. Their iber of tackle best handles the bigger John Smallwood are magical when it grees F. The eggs sink or drift down- large eyes assist in low-light vision, flies, sinking-type lines and distanc- comes to finding and catching tem- stream, depending on the species, and sharp binocular focusing on fast- es needed to reach these big, spooky, perates on flies, and have contribut- until they hatch. swimming prey. The best fly fishing hefty prizes. ed significantly to this feature, as I Massive schools of these bass stage for these five bass occurs when wa- When white perch, white bass, and/ consider them my gurus for temper- in high-flow streams and rivers to ter temperatures range from 55 to 75 ➤ Many of the nation’s best temper- or yellow bass are the only opportu- ate bass. spawn, especially in the first two or degrees F. ate bass fisheries are in man-made nities, I enjoy just using a 6-weight, three visible shoals above still water impoundments and in the rivers 8½- or 9-foot rod. Usually these 1- to Fishy Cousins or below dam spillways or turbines. Tailwater Temperates flowing into and out of them. 3-pound fish are chasing bait from 1 to Temperate bass are all in the fam- These fantastic runs usually carry on After spring spawning, temperates Photo ❱ Dave & Emily Whitlock 3 inches long, so a 6-weight rod with a ily Percichthyidae (alt: Moronidae) for two to four weeks. Unlike many return to heavy foraging of baitfish, small fighting butt is perfect. and derive their more common fami- other game species, these fish active- crayfish, and emerging, burrowing streamers or poppers with drop- In lakes they hold and cruise along Since a typical temperate bass day ly name from their wide tolerance to ly feed until the very hour they begin mayfly hordes all summer until late pers. On more than one occasion, submerged river or creek channels usually requires a lot of casting with water temperatures between 55 and their spawning activity. Some waters fall. By midwinter, water tempera- I’ve watched her take temperate bass and on windy points, flats, and rip- subsurface flies and sinking lines, I 75 degrees F. There are four “natu- that contain whites, hybrids, and tures dip into the 40s, and their feed- nearly every cast during the last hour rap areas. recommend a mid-flex action instead ral” family members: striped bass, stripers may experience three consec- ing slows considerably. This is a good of daylight. It is some of the most ex- A boat outfitted with a fish locator of a fast-action rod, especially for white bass, yellow bass, and white utive or overlapping runs of differ- time to seek these bass below tailwa- citing fly fishing we could possibly is the ideal tool to find concentrations those fly fishers over 55, as it’s much perch; and also hybrid striped bass. ent species each spring! Any fly fisher ters or warmwater discharge power wish for. of temperate bass. I use a simple, 16- easier on joints. Striped bass and white perch can live would be overwhelmed with single- lakes. As winter water temperatures When temperate bass are not ac- foot aluminum skiff and 25-hp motor FLY LINES. Our choice for just in both salt and fresh water, but the day catches of these three species. give way to spring, this cycle starts tively feeding in streams, they will with an electric motor for most of my one line would be a weight-forward others live in fresh water only. Hy- Shad, herring, and shiners are their again. hold around main current edges in temperate bass fishing in lakes and (WF), Type III, 10- to 15-foot sink- brids are a hatchery cross between preferred foods, and they are most of- We have one area below a near- root wads, submerged logs, and fall- rivers. I always take along binoculars ing tip, but it’s important to also have male white bass and female striped ten caught on flies that imitate these by dam that most evenings from July en trees. Rock formations also attract for spotting congregating gulls and a weight-forward floating line like a bass. Hybrids are sterile, they have baitfish. Crayfish, aquatic insects, to October, when the generators are them, especially jetties, rip-rapped the splashes and wakes of surface- RIO Clouser, and a clear, monofila- incredible strength and stamina, and leeches, eels, and worms are also on running, Em and I can wade and banks, and midstream rubble islands. feeding bass. ment-core intermediate line such as a for fly fishers they fill the size gap the menu. Wind, changing weather, take four different temperates at the Stillwater Scientific Anglers line. between the white bass that average or sudden water flow increases from same time—stripers, white bass, yel- When I was striper fishing in the 1 to 2 pounds, and striped bass that precipitation runoff or dam releas- low bass, and hybrids—using shad Arkansas Ozark Mountains on big, clear reservoirs a few years back, I cast threadfin shad streamers to pods of 10- to 35-pounders that were break- Top 10 States for Temperate Bass ing and rolling on the surface. It was ➤ then I discovered that clear interme- 1. Alabama: Lewis Smith Lake for stripers; and the Coosa River system including Weiss and Martin lakes for striped, hybrid, and white bass. diate lines would outfish floating lines every time. The main reason for this 2. Arkansas: Beaver Lake and its tributaries the White River and War Eagle Creek; Norfork Lake and its primary tributary the North Fork of is that these big guys, feeding just un- the White River; Ouachita Lake and the Ouachita River; and Greer’s Ferry Lake. der the surface, were easily frightened 3. Georgia: Lake Lanier for striped bass; the Coosa River system, Allatoona Lake, and the Chattahoochee River system, particularly south- by a highly visible floating line on the west of Atlanta. surface. As a result, I always carry a 4. Kansas: Milford, Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Sebelius, and Webster reservoirs for white bass and hybrids. clear, intermediate line if I’m fishing streamers within 3 feet of the surface 5. Kentucky: Cumberland, Barkley, and Kentucky lakes for white, yellow, and striped bass; Barren River Lake for hybrids. in calm, extra-clear lakes or rivers. 6. Missouri: Stockton Lake and its tributaries Little Sac and Sac rivers; Table Rock Lake and its tributaries the James and Kings rivers; Bull Shoals Lake and its tributaries the White River and Beaver Creek for white bass; and Truman Lake and Lake of the Ozarks for white bass and hybrids. Bill Butts (left) and John 7. South Carolina: The Savannah River System including Hartwell and Clarks Hill lakes; the Santee and Cooper lakes system for stripers. ➤ Smallwood sort through 8. Oklahoma: Skiatook, Grand, Hudson, Ft. Gibson, Sooner, and Kaw lakes for hybrids and white bass; and the Arkansas River system Dave Whitlock’s collection including Keystone Lake, Webbers Falls Lake, Robert Kerr Reservoir, and Texoma Lake for striped bass. of temperate bass flies. 9. Tennessee: Cumberland River system lakes and tailwaters for white and striped bass; J. Percy Priest Reservoir for hybrids; the TVA lakes and tailwaters of the Tennessee River for white bass, yellow bass, and stripers. 10. Texas: Texoma, Whitney, Buchanan, Palestine, and Tawakoni lakes for stripers, hybrids, and white bass.

Photo ❱ Dave & Emily Whitlock

38 • FLY FISHERMAN • • flyfisherman.com • 39 ➤The Other FLIES. I believe that the most con- should have big eyes, and large shoul- stunned shad floating near the boat. Whitlock’s favorite sistently effective flies for any fish are ders to push lots of water. It’s also very I immediately tied on a size 6 Sheep ➤ temperate bass fly is a those that imitate what the species important to make your flies snag re- Minnow and proceeded to hook these Deceiver-type baitfish eats most often. For temperate bass sistant. Worrying about hang-ups can monsters on nearly every cast. Be- that would be baitfish and crayfish. prevent you from correctly casting and fore 10:30 that morning, after the sun imitation with large Crayfish are fed on mostly at night, fishing to those prime spots where the stopped the feeding frenzy, I’d landed eyes and plenty of flash. ASS so baitfish streamers occupy the most fish hang out, and losing your fly and six fish over 20 pounds on my down- B space in my fly box. We use stream- rerigging costs valuable fishing time. sized shad fly! Be sure to back up these lines with ers that are designed and tied to have Size is often important, too, es- In rivers, when the bite slows due at least 100 yards of 20-pound Dacron swimming, darting zigzag, and jigging pecially when bass are feeding on a to midday brightness, we regularly backing—more if your reel will hold actions. If there is significant surface school of baitfish. Temperates can be switch to 1- to 1½-inch steamers in ei- it. Big temperates over 10 pounds can feeding, wakers, divers, and poppers very picky about matching their food, ther neutral-gray and white, or olive easily strip a lot of backing out before are occasionally effective. sometimes as selective as trout feed- and gold, with amazing success you know it. We get a lot of boils and splashy/ ing on small, aquatic insect hatch- Bill also has an interesting “match- I recommend short, 4-foot ta- slashing surface breaks but often not es. [For a specific list and photos of the-size” system. He starts the day pered leaders with 24 inches of 10- consistent takes with surface flies. At “Whitlock’s 13 Indispensable Temper- with a synthetic hair pattern 6 inches to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon tippet that time, we have our best results ate Bass Flies” see flyfisherman.com/ long, and simply trims it a bit at a time for use with sinking-tip and inter- with a combo of a surface popper and whitlocks-13. The Editor.] until the fish start taking it consistent- mediate lines. Temperates are strong a good baitfish imitation tied on a 12- My best one-morning catch of strip- ly. This system saves him time, and and seldom leader or tippet shy, and to 18-inch dropper. ers began at sunrise in a bay on a tells him what fly size is working best. Photo ❱ Dave & Emily Whitlock it’s comforting to know that you have Colorful, attractor streamers can beautiful Ozark lake in late Novem- Fly fishers do seem to have an un- plenty of muscle in your leader, tip- also be successful. The universal at- ber. There appeared to be hundreds of resolvable dilemma however, when keep working on that one. fly-eating bass. May the temperates pet, and backing when a big fish hors- tractors that so often work anywhere 15- to 30-pound stripers at the surface stripers in particular are chowing Luckily, you don’t find the same be with you! es down your streamer and takes off are the Clouser or Deceiver designs just murdering threadfin shad. down on 10- to 15-inch and bigger problem when fishing for smaller hy- across a lake or downstream. The first made with chartreuse and white buck- I began with a 3-inch, size 2 Shad shad and trout. When this happens, brids, white bass, yellow bass, and Contributing editors Dave and Em- 20-pound striper I hooked on a fly tail or feathers. Sheep Minnow. For over an hour I our biggest fly imitations are simply white perch. The occasional “big fly” ily Whitlock live near Tahlequah, Okla- emptied my Seamaster reel, and only A wide, side-view profile is impor- cast into pod after pod of big, feed- ineffective while conventional lure problem can be overlooked when homa, where they operate the website my electric motor prevented it from a tant because so many fisheries contain ing fish and was totally rejected, and casters using 8- to 12-inch swimbaits, there is such a world of opportuni- davewhitlock.com and offer private fly- sure break-off. baitfish in the herring family. The flies dejected. Then I saw several 1¼-inch, jerkbaits, and Zara Spooks take big ty for these widely distributed, acces- fishing instruction. fish after big fish. I guess we’ll just sible, plentiful, and no-holds-barred

the EM 1. STRIPED BASS ➤ T PER Morone saxatilis, also called rockfish, striper, and linesides

ET AT The largest bass in this family, they average 8 to 15 pounds with frequent 40-pound catches. Stripers are anadromous bass that live in the E E ocean and spawn in fresh water. They are native to the East Coast, but have been successfully introduced to the Pacific Coast in Oregon and

M 2 S California. In 1940 they were found living and reproducing in a freshwater reservoir: Santee and Cooper lakes. This find soon began a successful series of freshwater stocking of Santee-Cooper fish that, much like the successful introduction of Pacific salmon to the Great Lakes, cre- ➤ ➤ ated an amazing new chapter for temperate bass and hybrid sport fishing. The North American freshwater striper world record on fly rods is 54.5 pounds. 3 2. WHITE PERCH Morone americana, also called silver perch and gray perch The white perch is a native of the East Coast in salt, brackish, and fresh waters. It has occasionally been introduced to the Great Lakes and in some Midwest reservoirs. They average about a pound and closely resemble a white bass, but without the stripes, and are hard-fighting gamefish that also taste delicious.

3. WHITE BASS Morone chrysops, also called sand bass and silver bass ➤ White bass are freshwater temperates native to the Mississippi River and its tributaries. However, they have been introduced to nearly all stream and lake waters from the East Coast to the Plains States, and selected Western waters. They average about 2 to 3 pounds. The fly-fishing world record is 3.75 pounds. White bass are very prolific, and most states consider the spring spawning run a significant sporting event. 1 Few states have size or number limits on them. Because of this, they are incredibly popular as sport and food fish. 4. YELLOW BASS Morone mississippiensis, also called gold bass, brassy bass, barfish, yellow perch, streaker The yellow bass is the smallest member of the family, normally weighing less than a pound. It is a freshwater native of the Mississippi River and the lower Arkansas and Red River drainages, and prefers deeper river and lake water than the white bass. Because of this, yellow bass are usually underharvested and tend to overpopulate and become stunted. However with their beauty, fight, and good taste, it is always de-

lightful to take them on light fly tackle, especially in streams.

5. HYBRID BASS ➤ Morone saxatilis x Morone chrysops, also called hybrids, wipers, palmetto bass, white rockfish, and sunshine bass 4 This hybrid is a highly prized freshwater gamefish and is usually raised by state and private hatcheries from a cross of a female striper and a

➤ male white bass. They are selectively used to upgrade sport fisheries and to control excessive populations of shad, suckers, sunfish, and other 5 forage fish. Hybrid striped bass, like many hybrid crosses, are sterile, resulting in fast growth and large size, on average 3 to 8 pounds. The fly- fishing world record is almost 27 pounds. PERCICHTHYIDAE 40 • FLY FISHERMAN • • flyfisherman.com • 41