No doubt about it, fly fishing for trout is a fine pursuit. Catching beautiful rainbows, browns, and brookies on tiny nymphs and surface flies requires skill and dedication. Stalking steelheads is the fishing favorite of many. Bringing a large trout to the net with a lightweight rod isn’t easy. The nuances of trout fishing provide a fascination that can last a lifetime.
However, fly fishing for bass is also great sport. It’s not unusual for a fly fisherman to bring in bass when spin casters and bobber watchers aren’t getting any action. Fishing for bass is a bit different from trout angling, but the basic skills are the same. If the angler can cast accurately and use the rod effectively, she can catch all kinds of fish in all kinds of water. Some different equipment is recommended, but the successful trout fisherman will almost certainly be able to catch bass.
Fishing for Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth are found in rivers and streams, much like trout. They will hit streamers, especially those resembling crayfish and small baitfish, that are cast into the pools that form near submerged trees, rocks, and other structure. This kind of fishing requires enough casting skill to keep the line out of the trees that line riverbanks. Roll casting may be a good choice. Wading into the river and addressing the pools from the outside will help the angler find room for a back cast. It’s not usually necessary to be able to get a lot of line in the air. A good lob will do the trick.
Fishing for Largemouth Bass
Largemouth like lakes and ponds. One of the best techniques for taking bass on fly rods is bass bugging. The big, heavy, deer hair flies are plopped down next to weeds, lilies, rocks, or underwater structure. This is a slow-paced kind of fly fishing. The bug should be allowed to sit for a few minutes after the cast, then twitched a bit before it is slowly retrieved. Often, the bass will lunge up and hit the bug as soon as it lands on the water, but sometimes the lure will float quietly for several minutes before it is engulfed by a feeding largemouth. Bass are stalkers. They hide under cover and wait for their prey. Bass bugs often have one or more strands of heavy monofilament on the hook side to make them less likely to hang up in the weeds. Note, they are not truly weedless. Every bass bugger loses a few bugs in the weeds, just as every trout fisherman looses a few flies.
Fly Tackle for Bass Fishing
Larger, heavier flies like big streamers and bugs require heavier tackle. A rod that works for steelhead fishing, such as a 9 ft. 8 wt., will handle these flies. However, manufacturers are offering fly rods designed specifically for bass and panfish. These sturdy rods are under the 8 ft. maximum allowed in bass tournament fishing. The 7’ 11” SAGE Largemouth and Smallmouth rods come with their own specialty fly lines. The Scott Concept Series Warmwater/Bass Rods are also designed for bass fishing. These rods are also tournament legal at just under 8 feet. A more affordable option for those not concerned with tournament regulations might be the Temple Fork Outfitters Signature Series. It’s not necessary to have an expensive rod and reel in order to fly fish for bass. The important features are adequate weight and responsiveness to throw heavy flies a good distance. Overloading the rod will help send the weighty bugs and streamers sailing.
The contents of the bass fisherman’s fly box will be different from that of the trout enthusiast. Instead of tiny nymphs and little, parachute surface flies, there will be a collection of streamers, poppers, and bugs. These should mimic bass’s favorite foods: bait fish, crayfish, and small terrestrials. Froggy-looking poppers and bugs are a good bet in summer. Mouse patterns will tempt bass after dark. Bass will hit surprisingly large prey. If the angler wants to catch a lot of bass, he should tie on a medium-sized popper, but if he is going after the big ones, he needs to think big. Fly-tiers can have a ball creating bugs and poppers with big eyes, bright colors, and wiggly rubber legs.
Fly fishing is growing in popularity, and many enthusiasts are realizing that it offers great versatility. Whether fishing graveled streams where trout are plentiful, or still water that harbors largemouth lunkers, fishing with flies brings great results.
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