Smallmouth - Get Your Bass Out There!

Springtime draws the fishermen out of the woodwork.  Most fly fishermen flock to the local streams to catch trout.  Locally, the Deschut...

Springtime draws the fishermen out of the woodwork.  Most fly fishermen flock to the local streams to catch trout.  Locally, the Deschutes river is well known for it's Salmonfly hatch in May and June.  That fishery is no secret.  But there is a secret spring fishery that can produce fat fish with relative solitude.

Smallie with a Slumpbuster in a Ghost Net

Smallmouth Bass move into shallow water in the spring time and spawn during the full moon in May or June in many areas.  Their migration into the shallows make them accessible for fly rod enthusiasts.  We have some pretty nice bass rivers and ponds around here that make fly fishing for smallies a great option, whether you like the big river, smaller rivers or ponds. 

Finding the fish can be the hardest part.  You have to know that there are, in fact, smallmouth bass in that body of water.  Then you have to spend the time finding them.  They are often found in 2-6' of water, preferring gently sloping shelves with structure and rocks, but there are lots of places that they can be found that don't fit that general description.  They like to hang out in rivers on downstream ends of islands and good ambush points where they can pick off salmon smolt on their way to the ocean (where there are salmon).

Male smallmouth are generally smaller than females, and they are easier to catch, as there are typically more of them.  We want to find those big female bass.

Another falls for the Muddy Buddy

Gear

Having a float tube, pontoon boat or similar craft certainly makes things easier, but is not necessary, especially if you can walk along the shore with ease.  The fish are usually not that far off shore, and are sometimes found tucked right up against the side of the river/lake.

I prefer a 6wt or 7wt fly rod for bass fishing.  I am currently fishing a TFO BVK 7wt.  It is by far, our best selling smallmouth rod, although it is not the only choice.  Fast action rods are preferred by most anglers as they are typically easier to deliver a bigger fly.

Lines

Rio makes a Smallmouth Bass line, and Scientific Anglers makes a Bass Bug Taper line.  Both of those are excellent choices.  I typically bring two setups.  One has a Scientific Anglers Titan Floating Line.  The other is the Titan Sonar Hover/S2/S4 sinking line.  I don't use that as much as the floating, but it comes in handy.  The Titan line has a great profile for throwing bass flies.


Retrieve

Varying the retrieve is key.  Throw it out, let is sink and strip slow.  Or maybe, throw it out, don't let it sink and strip fast.  Maybe somewhere in between?  It may take a while to figure out how they want it.  It may not matter some days.  A lot of the big bass I have caught have been just as the fly is still sinking.  Figuring that part out is part of the fun.  


Flies

Muddy Buddy - a winner

There are a lot of options.  For most scenarios, I prefer a trout streamer in a size #2 or #4.  Coneheads are nice because they get down quickly.  My favorites are the Muddy Buddy, Slumpbuster, Zuddler and Olive Blossom Special.  Other favorites are the Super Bugger, Bananarama, and Trophy Dungeon.  I tyipcally fish a red, olive or yellow color, but they can easily turn off or on to any color at any time.

Pop's Popper

After the madness of spring spawn, the larger fish can be harder to find, but the action doesn't stop.  Poppers can be very productive, especially early and late when there is no sun on the water.  Whether it is a hair popper like a Lime Cocktail, Morris Froggie or Tap's Bug,  or it is a popper made from foam like the Soft Foam Popper, Foam Popper or Pop's Popper, smallmouth love to crush them. The John Day River is a local, very productive smallmouth fishery where you can go out any day in the summer and catch a bunch of smallmouth.  It is a good spot to practice casting, catching and confidence building.


Smallmouth fishing can be super fun and a nice change for weary trout fishermen.  They are found all over the US, so find a local fishery and give it a shot!

Andrew Perrault
-Fishing, usually not catching