***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. This info is geared towards beginners.
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 Smallmouth Bass.
 |
| Smallmouth Bass on Fly |
 |
| Smallmouth Bass on Fly |
 |
| Smallmouth Bass on Fly |
Smallmouth Bass are typically found in rocky streams with relatively cool, clear water. They also may be found in larger rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. As the lake smallies are often found in water depths that would require specialized flyfishing equipment to reach, I will focus on the stream fish in this blog post.
In the streams, Smallmouth Bass may be found in a number of locations. One is rocky areas with some depth, especially if there is current. If there is a rocky point, the smallmouth might be right on the point in the fastest current. They can be in shallower rocky areas, especially in summer when the riffles provide additional oxygenation. At other times, they may hang out in the slower deeper water (not stagnant) areas, such as an eddy adjacent to current. And they can also often be found near large rocks, root wads, and fallen trees. Check anywhere. I've had times when I couldn't locate Smallmouth Bass in likely-looking areas, and then would be surprised to find them in seemingly random and innocuous-looking areas.
Smallmouth Bass can be caught pretty much year-round, depending on where you are. In warmwater streams, the warmer months seem best, and I've struggled to find and catch Smallmouth once the water temps dropped below around 50 degrees. In spring-fed streams such as those found in the Ozarks of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas, Smallmouth often move closer to the spring source during the winter, and remain fairly active.
They have large mouths, so you can usually catch Smallmouth Bass on flies in the #8 to #2 hook size range, and even up to 2/0. I've caught some nice ones on surface flies...like Blockhead Poppers, Howitzer Head poppers, and large foam hopper / stonefly patterns. Subsurface, I've had good results with crayfish / sculpin patterns, large nymphs, smaller (size 2 or less) GameChangers, Clouser Deep Minnows, Lefty's Deceivers, Conehead Zuddlers, and Stu Thompson's DDH Leech. Most any color of fly will take Smallmouth Bass, but one that seems to outshine all others, for me, is YELLOW!
Blockhead Poppers is probably my favorite fly to catch Smallmouth Bass on. When using subsurface flies, try a variety of retrieves until the fish react the way you want. Sometimes that's letting the fly drift downstream as it slowly sinks. Other times its really giving the fly an extremely erratic action that gets them excited. Try it all!
For gear, a 5 wt or 6 wt fly rod is more than sufficient. I typically use a 9' long 6 wt fly rod, mainly because there may be larger smallmouth bass in the areas I'm fishing, and I will likely be casting larger or heavier flies. 8-12 lb fluorocarbon tippet is perfect. They are super-strong fighters, and I've learned in enough situations, that a 5wt just wasn't enough when I start catching 16"-18" Smallmouth. So, you can use a 5 wt if you don't have a 6...if you DO have a 6, USE IT. :)
Here's a few pics of Smallmouth Bass I've caught while flyfishing:
