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AKA: Weed guards - bass

There are times when you just have to fish right into structure but every time you do you get hooked up. This is particularly so when fishing for Saratoga amongst lily pads, Barramundi amongst the mangroves and Mangrove Jacks and Bass amongst the snags. At those times to increase fishing time and save a lot of frustration I suggest you use flies with double weed guards. Forget about single weed guards they are almost useless and only cut down the snag rate a little if at all.

I am often asked if weed guards cut down on hook up rates. Well logically I suppose they do but I must say that the increased fishing time you get and the fact that your not loosing flies or having to "go in" and retrieve flies more that compensates for that. In most cases however strikes from tropical fish are quite aggressive and I don't think that the weed guard even comes into the hook up equation.

I use two types of double weed guards.

The "bass" weed guard can be tied on a wide range of hooks . . . in the example below it is tied on soft plastic jig hooks and well suited to temperate zone fish such as bream or bass.

An alternative anti snag guard is a "tropical" weed guard tied on solid hooks and mainly used when fishing to tropical species.

Materials

Monofilament - needs to be stiff and thick. I use 40lb Schneider for both types of weed guards.

Process - "bass" weed guards

A	Prior to commencing dressing of the fly Wind the thread down the hook shank to the bend of the hook and then return it to somewhere between 1/4 and 1/2 way back along the shank of the hook. Select two piece of hard mono and tie them on top of the hook shank with the tag ends facing in front of the fly.

B	When you have dressed the fly Kink the monofilament down behind the eye of the hook so that it sits along the vertical section of the hook shank. Using fine monofilament or invisible thread lash the two guards into place all the way to the eye of the hook and with one weed guard on each side of the vertical section of the hook shank. Whip finish and trim the tying thread.

C	Kink each weed guard so that it points a little to the side and backwards and trim off at about twice the gape of the hook. Lock the weed guard and fly whip finishing into place with a drop or two of super glue.

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