Largemouth bass usually live in ponds, swamps, and lakes, but they occasionally live in slow rivers. They prefer warmer waters than do smallmouth bass, and that is why they are absent from many of the colder, fast moving rivers that smallmouth inhabit. Largemouth bass are great fly rod gamefish, as they will readily take a number of different fly patterns.
Fly Fishing for Largemouth Bass near the Shore in Ponds
Although smaller bass and bream often inhabit the shallows near the shore of ponds, during spawning season, larger fish will also frequent these areas. Using small nymphs, which will also be pursued by panfish, is a great way to catch bass of any size in the shallows. Eight-pound largemouth bass will take the time and energy to swim up to, and inhale, a size 18 prince nymph. Woolly buggers, and streamers such as muddler minnows and sculpin imitations also produce near the shore. At times, large panfish imitations, such as Enrico Puglisi's bluegill fly, work well in the shallows. Popping bugs and floating frog or mouse imitations work on calm days around structure, such as logs and lily pads, but it is important not to move these flies too fast. Poppers are almost always successful when damselflies or dragonflies are present as well.
Flies for Largemouth in Deeper Water and Lakes
In deeper water, an assortment of heavier flies is a must for any fly fisherman targeting bass. In water over four feet in depth, bead headed woolly buggers, large, weighted nymphs, and heavy crayfish imitations often work best. Clouser deep minnows also work for aggressive fish in deep water, in color combinations such as brown and white, olive and white, brown and yellow, brown and tan, and all black. Natural colors are best for all bass flies with the exception of popping bugs, which may be brightly colored. When there is not too much grass on the bottom, flies that actually reach the bottom, and are then slowly stripped, keeping them on or near the floor, work well for largemouth bass. Chuck Kraft's clawdad fly, as well as various crab imitations with lead eyes, work well when retrieved slowly along a muddy or sandy bottom in water at least four feet deep.
Flies to Use for Largemouth in Rivers and Swampy Areas
The rivers in which largemouth bass live are generally very slow, although at times they live in the same rivers that hold smallmouth, preferring the slower stretches of water. Popping bugs and mouse imitations work on the surface along slow banks for bass, and around trees and stumps in swampy areas. The best largemouth bass flies to use under the surface in rivers are often crayfish imitations. Crayfish represent a major food source for smallmouth bass and largemouth alike, and conveniently, the flies that resemble these crustaceans are often weighted, which makes them good all round deep water patterns. In swamps, or areas of river where there is a lot of grass and algae, heavy sinking flies may snag on vegetation at the bottom, so streamers, nymphs, and woolly buggers may be better, as they may be stripped, keeping the flies up out of the grass. As always, dark, natural colors are best.
Largemouth bass are undoubtedly the most popular species of freshwater gamefish in the United States, although most anglers fish for them with conventional tackle only. But fortunately, these fish are also willing to take flies.
