Largemouth Bass on Fly

***I haven't shared much regarding techniques for quit a while, my recent posts being more about the fish with which I am so enamored.  I'm going to start sharing more specifically what I've learned for the various species I've caught.

We all know fish in different waters can behave differently and have different preferences.  But I think overall this will give folks who want to try for certain species more info that can hopefully get them started off on the right foot, rather than going blindly.  We can all shorten our personal learning curve by first learning from the experience of others.***

This blog post is about Largemouth Bass. 

Largemouth Bass on Fly

Largemouth Bass on Fly

While I've caught Largemouth Bass on by flyfishing in lakes, ponds, creeks and rivers, targeting them in still water has been by far the most productive for both numbers and especially good sizes of bass.  That's what I'll focus on here.

For the sizes of flies I typically use for Largemouth Bass, I prefer 9' fly rods in 6wt-8wt.  An aggressive weight-forward fly line helps cast the heavier/wind resistant bass flies.  I like Airflo 40 Plus, but many others will work.  I've had enough broken tippets to have learned that 12 lb Fluorocarbon tippet is what I like to use for Largemouth Bass.

Most folks flyfishing for bass will be starting out on smaller public or private waters, like detention ponds in public parks, for example.  Bass in such waters will strike a wide variety of fly patterns.  Some of the best ones I've used include:

- Blayne Chocklett's GameChanger baitfish patterns, with overall lengths of 2.5"-4" being excellent producers,

- Flymen's Surface Seducer® Howitzer Articulated Baitfish Popper,

- Blockhead Poppers

- Microjigs under a strike indicator are EXCELLENT producers of even BIG bass, especially through the Fall.  Think "Float-n-Fly".  Extremely effective!

Other solid fly patterns include Woolly Buggers in a variety of sizes, weights, colors, and lengths, as well as other baitfish patterns.  I've not experimented much with crayfish patterns for Largemouth Bass, but they could be a good option.

(Check out this blog entry of mine regarding one of the best years I had for Largemouth Bass over 18" on fly:  https://fishndave.blogspot.com/2019/12/2019-iowa-flyfishing-summary.html )

Cast along shorelines, weed pockets, and weed edges for best results.  In waters lacking weed cover, target woody structure or rocks.

Here's some Largemouth Bass on fly pics:

Throw Some Curves at the Fish

It had been very windy for several days.  I waited later into the evening before trying to flyfish for bass, hoping the wind would decrease.  I tried the single-jointed GameChanger-style flies that have been working well for me.  I may have had a bite or two, but no hook-ups with fish.

The fish are throwing me a curve ball here.  Well, I threw one right back.  Since the bigger fly didn't work, I went small and slow.  I put on a 1/48th oz microjig under an indicator.  I caught 5 small crappies, but did also get one bass.  And it was a beautiful 20-incher!

Bass on Topwater - October 2, 2014

I went flyfishing after work last night.  Weather was cloudy and windy.  The public pond I visited had a horrible 20' wide solid band of matted algae around the entire perimeter.

I really only fished one shoreline, and worked it one way with a chartreuse mylar bugger, hoping for crappies on the outside edge of the algae.  No crappies, but I did catch a couple bass a a few bluegills.

Still hoping for crappies, I worked the shoreline back to my starting point with a microjig under an indicator.  Not much action on that.

By this time, it was pretty dark, but I switched to a blockhead-style popper to try for bass.  It took me forever to actually get it on my line, because of the poor light conditions.  Within a couple casts, I caught a small bass on it.  Then I moved back down the shoreline to the next spot, and made a cast or two.  After a great strike, I had a nice fish on, and somehow managed to land it despite all the algae I had to bring it through.

It was a 20" Largemouth Bass, and one look verified that it was the same fish I had caught twice before this year on flies.  I was so happy to have caught it again....after releasing the fish, I just went home.