Topwater Bass

Trout aren't the only fish looking up.  I recently hit a lake full of bass and panfish with one of my favorite hopper patterns.  In addition to a couple of BIG bluegill, I found a couple of nice bass that wanted to play.

The first fish was cruising with a school of fish in the middle of the lake, periodically nailing something on the surface.  Casting the hopper out in front of the fish and twitching it resulted in an explosion and some tail-walking as a nice bass came to hand.

The next fish was sitting up along the banks.  I was drifting within casting range of shore and pounding the fly up under branches and near structure when a swirl suggested that a fish ate.  When the line came tight, I knew I was into a nice fish.  The 4 weight rod bent and 5x tippet straining, I gradually worked the fish out away from the snags and into open water.  Finally, a quick picture, then I revived the fish.  With a splash it took off to be caught another day...