test) depending on the weight of the fly and anticipated size of the fish. Anglers in the Heartland, for example, where shad are common, … Landing a smallmouth bass is tough because they never give up. Home » Fly Fishing Streams for Smallmouth Bass. Latest. If you've been fishing a section of river or stream without success, or if you haven’t seen any activity on the water, it’s time to move on. However, in rivers, smallmouths are active all day long, even in the heat of summer. Correct fly line. - Randy Ratliff, Fly-Fishing Techniques for Smallmouth Bass, Virginia Blue-Ribbon Streams: A Fly Fishing Guide (Blue-Ribbon Fly Fishing Guides), Trout Fishing in the Shenandoah National Park. Listen in and learn his secrets. His go-to fly is "just whatever seems to be working". Fly rod rigging is simple enough for stream bass. During the day, they stay in water 10 to 30 feet deep, and although you can catch them on a sinking line it’s a lot of work. It is as defeating as drag in a stream when you need a natural drift. They feed in a different manner compared to the largemouth bass, a little similar to brown trout. Photo courtesy Kip Vieth. … This book is well suited for any fly fisherman from novice to expert who is looking for specific tips on tackle and techniques for smallmouth bass … Smallmouth bass can also be found in lakes and reservoirs. "They are down in the water and you want to get those things up in the air, and you don’t want a wishy-washy tip on it." He came up with the fly when he was looking for something to "simplify his hunting in the morning". When fishing smallmouth, Harry’s standard rod is a 9-foot-7 weight, specifically Harry Wilson’s 907B, a 9-foot-7 weight with a bass action and a very strong tip. By Joe Cermele. ", Harry’s favorite attractor fly is a Carolina Blue Popper, also called “The Eye”, which was developed by Bill Gallosh in Richmond, Virgina around 40 or 50 years ago. Most lakes in Northwestern Ontario have similar conditions and habitat and can grow big Smallmouth Bass but our lakes are remote fly-in outpost lakes and due to low fishing pressure, they produce unusually large Smallmouth Bass and great numbers. They feed on hellgrammite larvae and the dobsonfly larvae the same way the browns and the rainbows would in the Yellowstone River. You most likely will not run into lunker bass, so throwing 1/0 bass bugs … For bigger flies, a 4-weight is the ideal rod. Mar 6, 2018. bass on a fly rod, you're not likely to forget it. The appeal, depending on the size and color combination, is that the fly presents a realistic baitfish profile to a marauding smallmouth. Breaking down a stream to find smallmouth involves a simple strategy: Starting at the head of the stream, think about the food that’s there – primarily Hellgrammites and Sculpins. They hide back under the banks and feed on hoppers and things drifting along. Below is a list of five different flies that run the gamut in terms of presentation possibilities. 2. Smallmouth on rock ledges . The problem is, day in Smallmouth bass fishing in lakes during midsummer is usually a dawn and dusk commando operation. Beyond his native waters, the lessons Bob offers in this book can be directly applied to smallmouth fisheries across the country, from creeks to large rivers. Clean, clear water has a quality of vitality and levity that turbid water lacks. When exploring these waters always make sure that the stream has enough water flow. Mike Jones: i’ve spent extensive time wading the creeks of western kentucky for smallmouth bass with my uncle. Habitat. Joe Randolph: Fly fishing from a canoe is the way to go. December 28, 2016. There are those large enough to float and those that are too small to float or, When wading, you have to be use stealthy approach. Although Uxa owns a bass boat now … This rod is effective when fishing heavy flies like the Hellgrammites. If. These fish are … Nothing beats the fun and excitement of seeing a five, pound smallmouth come up from the bottom of a clear water stream and crash an imitation of a frog on the surface. You'll find his practical approach to finding and hooking up with these exciting fish an enlightening experience. San Marcos – A Special Fly Fishing River. A fishing guide explains how to catch your biggest smallmouth of the season—in the dead of winter . The San Marcos river is a special fishery. Fly Fishing for smallmouth bass is right at the top of the list for many anglers. This rod is effective when fishing heavy flies like the Hellgrammites. Pound for pound, they are considered the strongest fighters of any freshwater fish by many anglers. test) to 1X (about 9 lb. These hard fighting fish are always a surprise. Bob Clouser's name is well known in fly fishing circles beyond his home area of southcentral Pennsylvania. A 5 to 7 wt. Fishermen should understand, though, that there's a big "if" that comes with floating the upper river. east coast to the west coast of the United States and Canada. Which begs the question . It is often easy to attempt to set the hook before the fish actually has the fly in its mouth. Finding Smallmouth In Lakes and Large Rivers: In clear lakes and large, clear rivers, smallmouth will travel great distances to take a fly during the middle of a sunny afternoon. Casting & General Fly Fishing Tech. "I do love smallmouth bass fishing on both the upper and lower Greenbrier," he says. At this water temperature wet flies, feather minnows, bass-size nymphs, streamers, bucktails and spinner-and-flies will all take fish. Drawing from a lifetime of smallmouth bass fishing, guiding and teaching at his angling schools, Harry Murray has developed his own approach to evaluating rivers and streams in order to find the best places to fish. Your craft should not drift with the wind or move under paddle or motor power: If it's moving, your fly will drag and you'll lose the precise fly control you need. You’ll catch Guadalupe Bass along with largemouth and smallmouth bass. More Fishing. Fishing streams for smallmouth bass offers a small-water alternative for bass anglers on a strict budget. Smallmouth Bass Strategies - Dave Karczynski, Top Ten Smallmouth Bass Flies and How to Fish Them - Brad Miller, Drifting for Smallmouth Bass in Wisconsin Tributaries - AJ Dudek, Housantonic River - Trout and Smallies - Torrey Collins, Smallmouth Bass with a Big Bite! In Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth, Bob Clouser shares the extensive knowledge he has developed over a quarter-century of guiding for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. floating line and 6 to 8 feet of leader will handle most applications. Holes — Good winter and summer stream haunts. Although they are usually taken for the table, many fishermen practice catch-and-release fishing to improve fish population. Shorter rods from 6 feet to 7 ½ feet long for line weights from one weight up to four weight are ideal. Smallmouth can be caught in water as deep as it is possible to fish a fly, on the surface, and anywhere in between. The length of the rod will depend on the overhead canopy. rod with matching wt. This well-illustrated book provides an in-depth look at smallmouth bass fishing with the fly rod drawn largely from Clouser's own experiences on the Susquehanna River. Nothing beats the fun. To become a better smallmouth angler, start thinking about your flies not as general foodstuffs, but as presentation technologies: Each design allows you to cover water at different depths and speeds, and with different actions and profiles. "They are not going to feed on the size 20 bait as nymph like a brown trout would on the spring creek. There's good fishing, if there's enough water to float." It’s basically just the reverse. Shoreline wood, rock and weed cover — Submerged logs, laydowns extending off the bank into the water, rocks and aquatic vegetation will all hold stream bass. With that outfit you’re ready for even over-size smallmouth bass. The most fun you can fly fishing for smallmouth bass is catching them when they are feeding on the surface. On leaders and tippets, a 9-foot 2x is the standard size. His articles can be seen regularly in many national fly fishing magazines. Current breaks, eddies, shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there's dissolved oxygen and food there. That’s why Harry does most of his fishing from 5 p.m until 8.30 p.m. "Try to fish the middle of the river in the middle of the day in the bright sun, why, if you get them, you’re going to earn them. Fish the sections of the river that provide the two key elements for the smallmouth bass: food and structure. Harry, who owns and has operated Murray’s Fly Shop in Virginia for 40 years, has designed over 50 fly patterns for both trout and bass. Others are too deep to. Written by: Kip Vieth, Wildwood Float Trips. Harry Murray has been fly fishing, guiding and teaching others about smallmouth bass most of his life. Fly Fishing for smallmouth bass is right at the top of the list for many anglers. In Harry’s area in the Shenandoah River in Edinburg, Virginia, smallmouth bass often come into the tributaries to spawn at around 50 degrees which is normally around the middle of April until the middle of May. A handful of each in a few colors and sizes will have you well on your way to your best bass … If they are a little of symmetry, they can twist your leader causing you to break off the big fish. This particular category of fly fishing is growing from year to year. The mighty smallmouth is found in over 2,000 rivers and thousands of lakes across North America, and readily strikes flies year around. Between their geographical abundance, hyper-aggressive nature, and the power they can impose against a taught line, bass are a great opportunity for anglers to diversify their regularly targeted species, as well as have a great fight. Above 58° F., and on up to 65°, try bass bugs, especially if you notice any surface rises. Matching the natural food in the smallmouth drainages is not tough since they are always in the stream – they live in the cobblestone bottom, usually under the riffles. They’re going to go for a mouthful. Fishing for freshwater Bass (specifically smallouth and largemouth) can be one of the most intense and rewarding experiences on a fly rod. Author Orvis Staff Posted on June 12, 2015 May 21, 2019 Categories Fly Fishing Tags fly recipes, fly-fishing for smallmouth bass, fly-fishing tips, top 10 flies. Enter your information to get notified of our upcoming information packed interviews. The fly size dictates the line size and the line size dictates the fly size. A perfect species for fly fishing. Recipes and fishing techniques for 32 of Bob Clouser's favorite smallmouth patternsTen tips to catch a trophy bassLocal expertise for fishing the nation's best bass rivers, including the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, the Umpqua and John Day in Oregon, Maryland's Potomac, Maine's Penobscot, and the Little TennesseeIn Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth, Bob Clouser shares the extensi Along with Harry Murry and Lefty Kreh, Bob Clouser is one of the Dean's of fly fishing for bass, especially in rivers, so I'm sure this book has been eagerly anticipated by a great many fly … This is the most valuable thing in smallmouth fishing. So at the head of the pool, read the water using polarized glass. You can access the San Marcos near the towns Fentress, Staples and Martindale. He can discuss the various minnows found in smallmouth rivers, the flows that match them and the most productive techniques for fishing them. It will make your quest very pleasant, extremely rewarding and it will even help you catch more large bass. With "Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth", Bob Clouser offers a follow-up to his excellent book Clouser's Flies, this time taking us on the stream and letting the reader pick the mind of an experienced and highly knowledgeable angler. I use a little heavier tippet for stream bass than for stream trout – 3X (about 6 lb. But he explained, "The blue popper is the way we go on the top, but when we go underwater, then we’re trying to match the natural foods.". Bring your 6 or 7-weight to the San Marcos. You will learn, or brush up on, casting, fly fishing equipment selection (fly rod, fly reel, fly line, flies, wading gear), knot tying, reading the water, entomology, nymphing, streamer fishing and topwater fishing. Fishing The 7 Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers If you’re hitting the water for bronzebacks this summer, you’ll want to fill your tacklebox with these go-to baits Gear. ", On the other hand, "if you’ve got a cobblestone bottom water waist-deep, shaded bank, you should be able to take those bass all day long.". They are found in hundreds of rivers, small streams, lakes and reservoirs from the. Harry discourages going much finer than 2x. The preferred method of fishing for smallmouth bass in streams is fly fishing. An experienced teacher, Bob anticipates the questions and challenges faced by anglers when they first encounter a smallmouth stream. Selecting the proper tackle for your smallmouth bass fly fishing will enable you to get the most out of your pursuit of this fine fish. Regarding line size, it has to be big enough to carry the fly … For bigger flies, a 4-weight is the ideal rod. Shoals — Smallmouth, especially, will often move onto these shallow structures to forage for crawfish and minnows. Is he going to be below that ledge? While you’re getting down in the middle or tail of the pool and looking out for the fish, ask yourself where the bass is going to be: "Is he going beyond that riffle? If you have not tried fly fishing for smallmouth bass, you should. The Smallmouth bass prefers clearer, cooler water than largemouth bass. “Anybody can afford an old pair of torn-up tennis shoes (for wading),” said Jack Uxa, a Missouri guide who has been fishing streams throughout his home state since he was about 9 years old. Finding Smallmouth In Small Streams and Creeks: There are two types small streams and creeks. Fishing Small Creek and Streams From A Boat: Most small streams can be waded, but many don't have the proper access points to wade from the banks. Catching a five pound smallmouth on a 5 or 6 weight fly rod is something you want forget quickly, if ever. Copyright © 2021 Ask About Fly Fishing | As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases through links from this website. 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