How to Fly Fish for Bass

Perhaps there's no greater moment in fly fishing than when a largemouth bass takes a popper cast along the edge of the water. Bass originated in the Mississippi River and was recognized as a prime game fish over lakes, rivers, streams and coastal waters.

Instructions

1. Fly fish for bass on a four or five weight, but this may pose problems when casting bigger flies. An 8 or 9 foot, six to seven weight rod with a floating and sinking line both in a weight forward taper is recommended.

2. Take a few different types of flies with you. Smallmouth bass are opportunistic enough that they will take dry flies. The more usual flies of choice for any bass are usually larger and inclined to induce a bigger bite. Such flies could include dalberg divers, big muddler minnows, clouser minnows, woolly buggers, poppers, leech patterns and crayfish patterns. Size 8 or 10 would be on the small side, while size 2 or 1/0 would be considered large.

3. Consider the right technique for bass. Though you can occasionally catch bass, particularly smallmouth bass, with dry flies, most of the time you'll find the fish by "fishing the water." That is, move quietly along the shoreline and cast to shore cover. Let the popper sit, twitch it, and let it sit again. Then pop or chug it to draw a strike. Also remember: the larger the fish, the larger the bite, so the larger the fly.

4. Think like a bass. Fishing for bass should involve some degree of stalking them the way they stalk their prey. You need to be aware and observant and anticipate the fish's next moves. Try to anticipate potential ambush points. The main idea is that bass have a propensity to lie in wait for their prey. If you follow that same propensity, you will likely have more success than if you simply sat somewhere and waited for the bass to come to you.

5. Pick up a bass by grabbing its body. If you try to pick up a bass by its mouth, it will squirm away from your immediately. You can nearly immobilize a bass by holding it between thumb and forefinger.