Fall 2021
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So, while the bass may be up there to eat shad, they’ll really eat just about anything in order to fatten up for winter. And evidently, that includes as many of the little blue and red dragonflies as they can eat.
“From September through October, you can watch bass eating those dragonflies constantly when you get in the right areas,” said Bertrand. “And when you do, it unlocks one of the most consistent patterns for catching fish, especially when the fishing is tough.”
What Bertrand said there is important about the “right areas.” After all, if you think a bass is swimming up from 8-feet down in dingy water to intercept a flying insect midair, that may be crazier than this pattern itself.
No, the “right areas” are ones that set up best for bass to use their eyesight to the fullest.
“We’re talking shallow water, a couple feet or less, that is super clear,” shared Bertrand. “And it has to be slick calm.”
In other words, some of the hardest conditions to catch a bass are also the prime conditions for this pattern. Hence, why this pattern can be so helpful.
LET IT (DRAGON)FLY
So, let’s say you buy into the concept of this pattern. Now what? How do you imitate a dragonfly with a lure? Break out the fly rod?
Fortunately, you can leave your 8wt fly rod at home. Some simple modifications to existing lures are more than enough.
“This is already the best topwater time of the year, and I’m usually burning the bank with either a buzzbait or a Berkley Choppo,” says Bertrand. “I won’t change lures if I see they’re eating dragonflies. I just modify them.”
For the buzzbait, he’ll size down and often go with a blue-skirted version to semi-imitate a blue-colored dragonfly. For the Choppo, he’ll again size down and grab a translucent color, as the clarity makes it hard for a bass to distinguish the size of the prey or what it truly is that’s making the disturbance on the surface.
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