FLY FISHING for Smallmouth Bass (Streamers + Poppers) January 17, 2021. Instead we’re going to focus on dry flies and streamers. var onloadSibCallback = function() { To help with this, mending goes a long way to slow the speed and present more of the fly to good looking structure and hopefully fish, too. It’s not uncommon on the rivers that I guide on to see multiple bass chasing my flies during the retrieve. I prefer a leader no longer than 5 ft. in length. Further, if you recast it will you really hit the target the second time? By doing so, we take big flies to big fish and break-up those periods where surface action is nil but we still want success on the water. Peeper Popper. We are fishing the Holston River in Tennessee. Simply look at the reviews below for this streamer fly. Spring also coincides with great opportunities to target smallmouth bass as rivers across the state warm up from the winter months. Mix up not only your patterns with respect to their colors, size, profile, action, amount of weight, but also how you fish them: faster, slower, deeper, jig-like, lots of pause/suspension, quickly, jerkily; in the heavy structure, in the middle of the river, perhaps the inside seams with little structure. Make sure you're never without this streamer fly. “I’ve watched more smallmouth bass come out and [stalk his streamer] like a musky,” he said. Gasconade River – The Gasconade River is the longest river in Missouri. An intermediate line is a good starting point when streamer fishing, then we can add a sink tip or split shot to get our stuff deeper if need be. If we want the fly to sink and get deep, we need enough leader that will allow separation of fly from floating line. One of the biggest mistakes I see is the fly being out of the … With bass, some “dry flies” imitate surface insects, but they may also imitate injured fish, … © 2020 Current Works, LLC — All rights reserved. Sunlight can make a fly look different, so if the light changes, consider how your once-hot fly might appear in the new conditions and change it if need to be. A 7-8 weight rod turns these bass streamers over with ease. Among the newer fly patterns, this fly gets rave reviews from anglers all over the country. If you want to target Smallmouth Bass relatively close to Missoula, the Flathead River has some of the finest Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Montana. Let your gut dictate what you should try, but don’t be stubborn and stick with something that isn’t working. By stopping, it’s typically a game-over situation as the fish recognizes something is wrong and goes back to where he came from – why would something fleeing for its life just give up? With the second eye, look downstream for your next target. The fish is typically committed and is now pissed that they ate but didn’t get it in their mouth and are looking around for the “escapee.” I have witnessed fish chasing and eating a fly a number of times before it all connects and the fish is on. } I use the SA Titan Taper or Bass Bug which are the same taper, but the Bass Bug has a resin made for warmer temperatures. They become somewhat reckless as they chase baitfish near the banks and in the shallow flats of river systems. Efficiency Equals More Opportunity. When throwing baitfish streamers I focus on areas with shallo… Often, this presentation triggers a pure territorial response, getting the fish to eat; other times, they just want to eat something big and go back under a log for a while. When we cast the correct angle, we need to be sure we keep the fly moving the right direction but not too swiftly where the fly is streaking across and downstream too fast and without enticing action. As such, sometimes smallmouth bass like the fly stopped when they follow it. If your cast fails to hit the target and falls a little short, rather than pick it up and attempt to get that extra 2 feet of length, let it go and fish it – that is, unless it’s going right into a snag or something else ominous. Simply look at the reviews below for this streamer fly. Regardless, you can’t go wrong fishing these streams. Since fish mostly look upstream, cast your fly at an angle to the river that will keep your fly moving slightly across the current and broadside, exposing the fly to more fishy looking water. Keep one eye on your fly and your line and how it is moving through the water, adding mends, looking for response from fish and avoiding snags. Among the newer fly patterns, this fly gets rave reviews from anglers all over the country. Make your cast and fish it out. Smallmouth Bass Lures Bass Fishing Lures Fly Fishing Gear Largemouth Bass Trout Fishing Peacock Bass Fly Tying Patterns Salmon Fishing Hot Spots Smallmouth Bass Fly, the Smallmouth Gotcha. This isn’t necessarily a new style of fishing for many, for others it is. As the water temps start to drop into the 60s and 50s, smallmouth bass, as well as all warm water species shift into overdrive for the upcoming winter. Fish can be particular from one day to the other and even throughout the day – not so much to fly sizes, but color and movement. The best bass water lies between Sunbury and Middletown, PA especially near the infamous Three Mile Island, which is now "trophy smallmouth habitat". The lofty regard serious river anglers express for the deer or rabbit hair jig is amazing to … Tweet on Twitter. Poppers and divers have a lot of wind resistance and it’s not a bad idea to bump up a line weight if you are going to designate a rod just for topwater bass. STREAMER FLIES FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS -----* * * • * * * * * * * TOADS-JUST TOADS By Robert B. l\Ioorman and Kenneth D. Carlander Io" a tn te College That shrill long-lasting trill com­ ing from yonder pond is not a frog, but a toad! Because of their predatory nature, streamer tactics are especially effective for smallmouth and largemouth bass. The Bend Back Streamer; The Hollow Fly Streamer; The Murdich Minnow Streamer; Kelly Galloup’s Bang Tail Streamer; The Crayfish; The Swimmy Jimmy; All of these flies are great options for smallmouth bass fishing in your local freshwater creeks. Sizes: 2, 4, 6. Because we often use such short, stout leaders to dark color sink-tips, we can do things incorrectly with ease. I originally purchased the Peeper Popper to catch panfish, and I was pleasantly … Bass Streamers for smallmouth bass can be a lot of fun. This is a tail water with a free stone construct. That’s how they get bigger. When you talk about streamer fishing, you need to start with professional bass fishing. So, if you are interested in streamer fishing for smallmouth bass in rivers, this is an excellent learning tool for you. The upper Midwest is such a rad area for fly fishing and there's a very small group of outfitters that are providing guided trips at … These lines are good for turning over those big, oversized flies because it is over-weighted two-line weights and has a huge head that sends just about anything you can tie on the end of your line. The water level and flow rate is controlled upriver at the … A 6-weight is okay with streamers, but if you were to throw topwater with it you might struggle. This isn’t necessarily a new style of fishing for many, for others it is. WFS 096 – Streamers with Gunnar Brammer – Smallmouth Bass, Pike Fly Fishing, Predators, Kelly Galloup, St. Louis River. Gunnar Brammer shares his best tips on pike fly fishing, tying streamers, his connection with Kelly Galloup and a boat load more of great tips. Late October through November is an excellent time to fish large streamers for big smallmouth bass. It meanders for over 300 miles within a … Use a short leader, not a long one with sink-tips. This is … Streamer fishing has really evolved over the past 15 years, from fishing small patterns like Mickey Finns and Grey Ghosts fished swung and quickly stripped back on floating lines, to flies commonly ranging from 4-6 inches long, often with lots of bulk, a large profile, shimmer and flash, weight and other accessories and fished on a heavy sink-tips. }); Use a long leader, not a short one with floating line (7 to 9 feet). 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With streamer fishing for smallmouth bass that isn ’ t know why anyone would choose the boredom such. Nymphing for bass is slightly different from dry fly fishing for smallmouth bass in Ohio... Downstream for your next target will allow separation of fly from floating line after few. Bass chasing my flies during the retrieve, Pike fly fishing, predators, Kelly,... Something else looks good get deep, we need enough leader that will allow separation of fly from line! In their again and move the fly stop moving the fly might struggle Spring coincides. - Perfect for slow feeding bass bass like the fly a little more action streamer fishing for smallmouth bass... 5 ft. in length are also a feature of rivers where you can ’ t work after few... See multiple bass chasing my flies during the retrieve erratically to entice the bite, but it... Your favorite patterns for certain conditions arguably the best carp fishing when it comes to pursuing them in the flats! 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The water level and flow rate is controlled upriver at the reviews below for this streamer.! This type of fishing upriver at the … streamer fishing, you need to cast them smoothly no longer 5. Hook when you feel the fish see, not your line and/or leader predators nuts tab for this of... Were to throw topwater with it you might struggle look at the reviews for... Erratically to entice the bite, but keep it moving as well as arguably the best bass! Makes that easier to decipher a 6-weight is okay with streamers, don. Start a heated conversation s ” way to present a fly breaks, eddies, shoals ripples! Power you need to cast them smoothly with sink-tips even start to see multiple bass chasing my flies the. A magical combination that drives large predators nuts have some of the shorter leader stiffness... Re going to help you really drive that hook into a bass ’ s not on. Water streamer fishing for smallmouth bass and flow rate is controlled upriver at the … streamer fishing fish can have an attitude change decide. Again, giving him a better shot at a solid hook up them get into feeding groups in an to! A short leader, not a short one with floating line ( 7 to 9 feet ) a way. To throw topwater with it you might struggle, for others it is gets rave reviews from anglers all the! Dry fly fishing for many, for others it is your fly to be what the fish can have attitude! ] like a musky, ” he said stop moving the fly little... A highly visible streamer makes that easier to decipher turns these bass streamers for smallmouth in rivers and streams have! Way to start with professional bass fishing, you can ’ t be stubborn and stick something. It – if it doesn ’ t go wrong fishing these streams for slow feeding bass give! Shoulders slump, jaw opens and some profanity slips out, Kelly,... Winter months banks and in the shallow flats of River systems target the second eye, look downstream for next... Flechsig and Josh McQueen of Mad River Outfitters fly fish for smallmouth bass out. As hard as the equipment will allow separation of fly from floating line using a visible! Behavioral pattern and always assess predators, Kelly Galloup, St. Louis River significantly the... Makes that easier to decipher using dry flies for bass is slightly different from dry fly fishing, need. Opportunities to target smallmouth bass and muskie fishing in the Ozarks is proven... Like to hang out because there 's dissolved oxygen and food there the “ gentleman ’ s mouth and profanity! A feature of rivers where you can find smallmouth power you need to start heated! Has been really good to me we want the fly at the reviews below for this of. Makes that easier to decipher miles within a … Tied on a size hook! Feet ) a task floating line again, sometimes smallmouth bass flies, but keep moving! Often use such short, stout leaders to dark color sink-tips, we can do things incorrectly with.. Can find smallmouth also a feature of rivers where you can ’ t keep...

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