A gentle breeze swayed the Queen Anne’s Lace and Black Eyed Susans as I descended into the river valley in search of bronze. Armed with a 4-wt. bamboo rod, intermediate sinking line, and size-8 copper-colored Woolly Buggers called “Red Hot Chili Peppers.” The fly is bamboo rod builder Tony Spezio’s variation of the classic fish finder. Deadfalls shielded rocky substrate from the current and casts to the downstream side were often rewarded with a solid tug. Nine smallmouth bass of 9 to 11 inches fought valiantly with multiple jumps and hard-hitting green sunfish filled out an action-packed evening.
Bamboo And Chili Peppers
