After many attempts over the last several years I finally lined up with some fast action fly fishing for surfacing whitebass while kayaking. I caught eight on the fly and two on conventional spinning gear in about an hour and a half Wednesday evening at Lake Somerville.

The wind had kicked up more then I'd like but I was sure that the whites would be right where they have been reported to be holding and were on Monday. Normally I do not kayak open water when the waves are rolling big but I was not to be detered this trip. There were very few boats out and like Monday I had the whole area to myself but another fisherman joined me for the last thirty minutes or so..

I had tied up some special flys after Mondays poor showing with the fly gear but I had done well with spinning gear. I had only used one of the new flys when it became clear that they were to big, because the whites would short strike several times. So I tied on a normal clouser and pretty much hammered them after that.

If anyone fly fishes out of a kayak then you know how tough it can be to keep everything working right and untangled. If you want to know what it's like to flyfish out of a kayak just try casting while sitting on your butt!

Sounds like quite the adventure. I have never fished from a kayak; has it gotten into your blood? I hear it can do that.

Gotta love whites hitting on top

Great report! I did some camping up there a few years ago, and took the canoe out into open water to fish. Saw a guy fly fishing from a yak. He was using a pretty simple idea with top waters. He would cast out in one dirrection, then pull back his fly, over his head to the other side. So he was covering both sides, and his fly would land the same distance away each time.
I went up a creek, and really got into some Whites with light spinning gear. I later found out that creek was, The Yegua. I really wanted to try it this year with my fly rod, but I think the rain kept me away during the spawn. After reading your report, I really need to get up there and try my luck. A couple of years ago, a friend took me up to the Yegua. We parked along the side of a road and walked down to the creek. I remember thinking it must be a popular spot during the runs, because there were well traveled paths on both sides of the creek. Because of all the trees, casting might be a problem, but the creek was narrow and deep. Just roll casting up and down, might be the ticket.
I will contact my friend and see if he can get me the location of where we were. We got there from his ranch in Lexington, so it was not that far from there. I will post the map when I get it.
Thanks for posting your report!

I know the whole area and have fished the creeks that feed Somerville most of my life. The area on the Yegua you fished is most likely Newmans Bottom or Irwin bridge, both are very popular in the spring. This last spring was really great up in the creeks and most everyone I saw had caught lots of fish at one time or antoher.

Not long ago I took Charlie (formerly of Bass Pro Shop) to Hubbard for some sandie action. We managed 41 and two nice hybrids. They are a ball!
Still have my yak. It's a trip when you get into a herd of surface feeding sandies. Helpful hint: If you dangle your fly overboard in a surface melee you might get an unplesant surprize. The fly was up to the tip-top and a white bass hammered it almost a foot above the water.

I'm just coming into fly fishing & I want to do the same on LL
although I will be fishing from a regular boat.
I've chosen a 7' 5-6wt rod w/ a $25 Okuma single action reel
I guess I put enough line on it, w/ #6 wt-foreward line &
a 4# trilene leader about 2' long. using some flies that
"flies-by-night" tied up for a tourney a while back
(chart/white mylar streamers about 2" on a #6 hook)
will this work?
-Brian

Brian

If I read you right you are using four pond test mono leader? That will be OK until the first decent sized fish comes along. Get some 20 or 25 lb. test, about two feet, and put some 10 lb. test, another two feet or so, on the business end. That will give some better casting and won't let you down when a big old hybrid busts that fly. At least a better chance than with 4 lb.

I second what Robin suggested, except I use a single straight 4 to 6 foot peice of 12 to 20 pound mono. A #6 hook is kind of small but it will work. I tie my streamers with a #1 stainless steel hook to hold the really big fish if one was ever to pick up my fly. I use an 9ft 8weight and often tie on two flys at a time for twice the fun !

Brian,
Try your Azul Loco or your Taco Salad! They'll work fine for sandies. We'll have to hook up and get after them, I know where they've been lately. Drop me a p.m. or email.
Have you used those dropper flies I sent you?

brian, i used to be into short fly rods. if i was you, a 9ft would work much better.

I have got into the patice of taking a short 2 wt 7' and my 10' 5 wt when fish out of my toon. I just about have it all covered, when it tight and over hanging trees and when it is all open up.

I hit the lake again Saturday but between the wind and the fish not working in my favor I relented to the spinning gear. Caught about five nice whites and twenty or so little black bass all on the roostertail.

Missed the fish again on Wednesday evening..

I know what you mean about yaking the open water of a lake. I can yak down a river or steam with rapids and not worry. Put me on a lake in open water and I will start sweating. Sound like you are having a good time