Fly fishing for bass? When you talk about fly fishing to most people, most of the time they think you are talking about fishing exclusively for trout. There are some spots, however, where you can actually fly fish for trophy sized bass as well. Both largemouth and smallmouth bass are widespread in rivers and lakes across the country (and around the world), so why not give fly fishing for bass a try!
Fly fishing for bass can be extremely challenging as well as extremely satisfying, even for the most seasoned fly fisherman. Bass typically have larger mouths than the trout so you have many more lures to choose from. Bass strike hard and fight strong so when you are for fly fishing for bass you’re going to have a fight on your hands!
Experts will usually suggest you use a 6-7 weight rod, but if you are experienced you might want to try a lighter weight (4-5 weight) rod. The only downside to using a lighter weight rod this is it might make it more difficult to cast larger flies. So beware if you aren’t experienced. You can use a floating or a sinking line with a weight forward taper. You should have a 7 ½ to 9 foot leader tapered down to a 10 pound test.
Bass are aggressive and opportunistic feeders and will bite at just about anything. In general, flies for bass fishing are usually larger. Try big muddler minnows, clousy minnows, wooly buggers, poppers, leech patterns, and crayfish patterns. Size 8 or 10 would be a little on the small side while size 2 or 1/0 would be a little too large, so opt for something in between.
Largemouth bass live in shallow water habitats among reeds, water lilies,
Fly Fishing For Bass
and other vegetation naturally found in the water. They are usually found in warm waters in the 80 degree range and are typically not found in waters deeper than twenty feet. They prefer clear waters with little or no current and lots of cover. They stay fairly active year-round, but tend to stay near the bottom in the winter months.
Both smallmouth and largemouth bass are found in various locations across the United States. The rivers and streams of the Northeastern U.S. in the Adirondack Mountains are great fly fishing areas. There are also some world-class bass in the Great Lakes. Southern Ontario in Canada can also provide some great opportunities to catch trophy sized bass.
Fly fishing for bass can be a great experience for both the beginning fly fisherman as well as those with a little more experience. Fly fishing for bass requires a little bit of finesse and strong wrists if you hook one.