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This article was originally published in Midwest Outdoors, January, 2004

FLOAT & FLY: BEYOND THE BASICS

The float and fly has been described as a simple technique. It is that. Just tie a tiny jig below a bobber and throw the assembly, using a long noodle rod, over a deep point or near a steep bluff wall. Do this in water 55 degrees or colder and you will catch smallmouth, so they say.

That’s true, as far as it goes. Like most simple things, however, there is a little more to it than that, especially if you want to be successful over time.

To understand the technique in full, one must go to the birthplace of the float and fly; Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee. For accurate and reliable information there is no angler better than professional smallmouth guide Ralph Sandfer.

According to Sandfer, an angler wanting to be consistently successful with this innovative fishing technique must first develop an appre ciation for wate r temperatures. As the water temperature drops through 55 degrees and heads towards the 50 degree mark the float and fly comes into its own.

That is when he breaks out his tiny jigs, long rods and his collection of Bob’s Bobbers. Sandfer’s favorite jig is made by Punisher Jigs, LLC. His favorite size is 1/16-ounce. Some of them are tied with craft hair, others with feathers.

Synthetic craft hair, renowned for its ability to remain buoyant and exhibit subtle movement throughout the day, has been a favorite for years in this Tennessee impoundment. It has worked well, with some modifications, for the float and fly technique.

As the water temperature continues to drop over the winter– to 40 degrees in some years, things change. The smallmouth and baitfish alike become even more lethargic. They do not swim so much, as they just glide or float through the water. As a consequence, according to Sandfer, other tools are required to make smallmouth bite. The subtle movement of craft hair becomes a detriment in the icy cold, crystal clear water of late winter.

When confronted with this problem, Stephen Headrick, owner and CEO of Punisher Jigs, LLC (www.punisherjigs.com), as well as a smallmouth expert in his own right, spent countless hours analyzing the situation. He finally settled on a jig tied with duck feathers as his solution. He saw that duck feathers most naturally imitated the movements of cold water baitfish. (As a practical matter this means no movement at all.)

When asked about it, Headrick says this lack of movement is something many anglers do not understand or appreciate. “Watch a cold water minnow; it just glides along– almost like it is floating. It doesn’t really swim at all. That’s important to understand,” Headrick says. “That’s why we developed and now market a feather jig for very cold water. Feathers remain buoyant and so have a ‘live’ look to them, but they don’t really move either,” says the smallmouth guru.

The Punisher Jig maker admits that he has tried several materials for tying his cold-water jigs. He even, for a while at least, smeared Fish Dope on the craft hair feathers to mat them, which of course, reduced movement. Nothing was quite right, however. He then found duck feathers. After much trial, effort and testing he knew he had what he needed.

Headrick opines that duck feathers are essential to the success of his tiny baits. “They are naturally buoyant and water resistant. They stay that way all day long. On top of that, they display almost no movement. Duck feathers are all we use most of the time,” he says.

Sandfer agrees, “To catch smallmouth in cold water your bait must imitate the natural forage. Feather jigs will definitely provoke more strikes in cold water. They look natural,” says the longtime professional guide.

Legendary Dale Hollow smallmouth guide Bob Coan (toll f r e e 1.866.233.2471 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) is also a firm believer in feather jigs for cold water. Coan may be the best float and fly technician in our nation. He designed and developed Bob’s Bobber, a revolutionary bobber designed especially for the float and fly. That said; he believes feather jigs are the most important innovation to come along since the concept of hanging a jug under a bobber itself. “An essential tool for cold water,” is his view.

All of these anglers tend to mute their colors when the water gets cold and clear. They like natural duck feathers with just a hint of soft blue, green, red or chartreuse on the back side of the feathers. These experts believe soft, natural colors match the mood of the smallmouth that are suspended in the waters of Dale Hollow.

Both Headrick and Sandfer insist that their jigs be tied with red thread. Sandfer believes red triggers a feeding response in the smallmouth looking for an easy meal. Headrick agrees. Interestingly, neither Tennessee smallmouth expert paints the heads of their jigs. “Painting the head is a waster of time and effort,” Sandfer says.

He points out that he is catching a lot of cold-water smallies with a plain lead head, 1/16-ounce,. Tied with red thread, using natural duck feathers with just a hint of color. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it,” is Sandfer’s thinking. Do not let that comment fool you, however. He has tried painted heads. They did not increase his bite, so he doesn’t use them. Anglers like Sandfer try everything. They are always looking for an edge. That is how they know what works. That is why they are successful.

Sandfer also emphasizes that anglers expecting to catch fish during cold water periods must larn to slow down. When he says s-l-o-w down he means it. “When you think you are fishing slowly enough, slow down even more. And even then, you are probably fishing too fast,” is this smallmouth experts advice.

He emphasizes that anglers must let the jig hand motionless in the water for at least a minute, sometimes longer. Then, bring it back to the boat a few inches at a time, allowing it to suspend motionless between pulls.

According to Sandfer, if you move the jig too fast you defeat the purpose of the float and fly. “The whole idea behind it is to mimic suspended baitfish so that suspended smallmouth will try to feed on them,” he says.

The float and fly: It’s still simple, just not as simple as it once was.

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