Select a state to find fishing and boating information:
Get A Fishing License
Get started fishing today, purchase your fishing license online, check regulations and more.
Register A Boat
Register your boat today. Learn how to register your vessel, boating laws and more.
Home > Take Me Fishing Blog > September 2015 > Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass are celebrated for their power and fight. Even the small bronze fish surprise many anglers because they represent like much larger fish. And what better way to “kick it up a notch” than to catch smallmouth bass on a fly rod? However, I have been making some mistakes on the Allegheny River.
The first two tips are from Lamar Underwood’s book, “1001 Fishing Tips” when fly fishing for saltwater “Silver King” tarpon but they can apply to fly fishing for smallmouth bass too, especially in slow, clear, shallow water.
Cast where the fish cannot see the fly land on the water. And while I’m at it, an awkward slap across the water by my floating fly line, thanks to the frequent fly-snatching brush at my back, can’t be helping either.
Work the fly away from the fish, rather than strip line to make it swim to the fish. Bass want the impression of a prey item trying to escape.
Minimize the “decision window.” In the slack water of river eddies, my fly offerings were getting many looks and follows but the fish were allowed to examine the fly too long. The reaction strike may have occurred more frequently if I had stripped the fly away faster or presented the fly to fish in faster moving water where the decision to hit or pass must be made more quickly.
Flies for smallmouth do not need to match a hatch as with a trout. Bite size flies representing minnows, crayfish, leeches, or grasshoppers should do the trick, providing you use a stealthy presentation. And when you do head out to battle smallmouth bass and lower hanging limbs with a fly rod, make sure you have your fishing license.
Have you had success with fly fishing for smallmouth bass?
Do you like this content? Subscribe to our Newsletter and get all the information you need to learn, plan, and equip for your next fishing adventure.
Andy is an outdoor writer (http://www.justkeepreeling.com/) and stressed-out Dad has contributed over 380 blogs to takemefishing.org since 2011. Born in Florida, but raised on banks of Oklahoma farm ponds, he now chases pike, smallmouth bass, and steelhead in Pennsylvania. After earning a B.S. in Zoology from OSU, he worked in fish hatcheries and as a fisheries research technician at OSU, Iowa State, and Michigan State.
The largemouth bass is the most popular freshwater game fish in the U.S. Learn more about how you can identify a largemouth bass, where to catch it and what bait and lures to use.
Do you like this content? Subscribe to our Newsletter and get all the information you need to learn, plan, and equip for your next fishing and boating adventure.
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Sign-up to receive our monthly newsletter with interesting blogs about fishing and boating. Get fishing tips and tricks and read personal stories from anglers who live and breathe fishing and boating. Learn new fishing skills, boating resources, fishing etiquette, conservation and more.
Please complete the following fields to subscribe to our newsletter.
SUBSCRIBERS PREFERENCES
What information would you like?