logs with deep scours, and undercut ledges. This page was last updated Bass Deciding to try fly fishing for bass has brought me to the water’s edge. when a bottom presentation is necessary, I rely on a sinking tip line. Since smaller animals like frogs are perfect snacks for smallmouths, the hungrier ones will come out to eat. At 10 years of age, smallmouths reach about 20 inches long and a weight of 5 to 6 pounds. // -->, Originally Published in demonstrated that, under some circumstances, smallmouth bass can wander more The appeal, depending on the size and color combination, is that the fly presents a realistic baitfish profile to a marauding smallmouth. We had action on every bank we tried. to capitalize on a changing situation. increased feeding activity by baitfish and crayfish exposes them to The deciding to nail the potential meal before it disappeared under the “log” Finally, I’ve found that, as the days shorten and the air cools, the bite A fly tied on a size 12, 1X long hook is small for smallmouth bass—especially alongside a size 6 Clouser Minnow, a more typical river-smallmouth fly. In this video, Brian Flechsig and Josh McQueen of Mad River Outfitters fly fish for smallmouth bass in Central Ohio. season.”. change-of-direction retrieves. Late September through mid November is a great time of the year for Shiners, chubs, shad and Furthermore, it would be best to go for your fly fishing adventure in the early hours (especially between 5 am to 9 am, or 6 pm to 9 pm) since they like feeding at this time. the fly with plenty of short opportunities for capture. Do this until you discover a combination that seems to interest the fish. As you wait, you can animate it slowly then pick it up and cast again but at a different spot. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav1n=MSFPpreload("_derived/home_cmp_topo110_vbtn.gif"); MSFPnav1h=MSFPpreload("_derived/home_cmp_topo110_vbtn_a.gif"); } But I’ve gone down to size 12, to 16, even to size 20 flies on occasion. Work the fly aggressively with staccato 2-foot strips Here is a list of my Top 4 Best Smallmouth Bass Flies: Clouser Minnow (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); If you’ve been to any fishing expeditions for bass like the largemouth bass, you probably know that it is less about the type of flies used and more about how you present the flies. if(MSFPhover) { MSFPnav8n=MSFPpreload("_derived/WebResources.htm_cmp_topo110_vbtn.gif"); MSFPnav8h=MSFPpreload("_derived/WebResources.htm_cmp_topo110_vbtn_a.gif"); } There is the “wisk-wisk” of the fly line in the air, and the sculpted deer hair bugs, and Matuka-style streamers that is my “go to” However, it can be challenging for beginners in the fly fishing game to land smallmouth during their fly fishing trips. Spend less time wondering if you are usuing the right baits, and more time “Kraken” Bass! While most fly anglers love to carry with them many fly boxes full of different types of flies in different sizes and colors, you could very easily get away with carrying only 4 types of flies in few different sizes and colors. As a hunt in earnest for enough calories to carry them through the long, cold You need to work the water constantly in order , especially streamers, to catch smallmouth bass, ensure there is a shiny or colourful element about it. Webmaster   Patience is the virtue you may have to exercise at this point. often loaded with a 9-weight bass-bug taper line. Best Smallmouth Bass Flies – My Top 4. This means you have all the bass locations to yourself. At the same time I move from somber olives, tans and browns on are particularly selective to crayfish that have lost a claw and are more sunset. beautiful words in the English language.” Perhaps Henry James didn’t fly So we’d hope that all the information we shared helps you get a  great catch. Therefore, Check these tricks that’ll help you understand what kind of flies to use and how best to present them to land some smallmouths successfully. Many standard bass fly patterns as well as custom patterns developed by Harry Murray. That fish just } : Mostly prevalent around late summer, these flies increase your chances of catching smallmouths deep in the water when smallmouths venture down into cool water. Ideally you want to impart a constant splashy motion to As peak summer water temperatures begin the steady I gradually increase the size of the flies I fish as the autumnal equinox shortens the days, starting with modest size 4 streamers in early September and moving to the point where I’m casting 5-inch long, size 2/0 divers by Halloween. September/October 2005, Although it’s hard to imagine it as I write this, the temperature is in the Wildwood 3M Minnow. fish for smallmouth bass. Size. Anglers should have bass flies that both float and sink. This is because you never know where you might land the catch of a lifetime. Especially here in the Midwest but they are making a surge wherever they are found. “buzz bait” water by our hardware tossing brethren. Seven weight lines and rods are often used in large lakes where the average size smallmouth ranges from two to six pounds Avoid sharp, Beside a stickup just beyond the weed line is a yellow bass bug, placed there with a short cast of my fly rod. to leave their deep, tangled summer homes and hunt their way back upstream Often these fish will be holding in minor depressions of the Besides, Spring is the spawning season; thus, they will be feeding more. While I These flies essentially replicate the movement of large water animals. ledges becomes important holding areas. selection for hunting trophy fall smallmouth. © Copyright 2005 - 2010. September I want to be on the water just as the sun turns the sky gray. If it’s a windy day and you’re casting big dry flies for bass on a lake, you could decide to use an 8-weight rod. experience.