Copyright 2021, The Orvis Company Inc. Ever since this long ago day I have tweaked my fly rod fishing to target smallies, and the thrill of hooking even a small bronzeback has never diminished. When clients false cast 4-5+ times per fishable cast, they end up taking about 400 false casts per hour. If you’re fishing smaller streamer patterns on an open river for Smallmouth as Greg Bostater does in Maine, a 9’ rod in a lighter line weight (6wt) will allow the angler to cast farther, cover more water, and get the most out of every fish. Its backbone is a 28-millimeter shank followed by a 2/0 hook. As always, any comments with tips and/or recommendations are much appreciated. It’s been a favorite for over 30 years. Fish behave differently in varying conditions and river systems. The smallmouth bass is a fast and nimble predator when chasing down minnows such as shad, perch, sunfish, smelt, ciscoes, chubs, and other small bait fish living in the river or lake you are fishing. He's written five fly fishing books, known as the Angler’s Guide Series. If you do a search for "best" or "top ten" streamers for smallmouth bass, you are presented with an eclectic mix of patterns, typically opaque, with big googly eyes and using all kinds of new-agey materials -- often accompanied by seductive promises of fish-catchess prowess. And oh, by the way, you can't have the recipe,… His most productive smallmouth streamer of late is 6 inches long, made of craft fur and named Big Bird. Some of the most productive lures for stream smallmouth fishing are 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits and buzz baits. Fish these streamers in a manner as close to how real bait fish swim, and keep them constantly moving. Smallmouth hold in shaded or deep water along grassy shorelines. They can represent insects, larvae, minnows, and crustaceans. When I realized a feisty smallmouth bass was on my hand tied surface fly, I began a new journey discovering how exciting catching smallmouth bass on streamers is. We need to use this to our advantage by presenting the sub-surface baits in as realistic manner as possible. Sand and gravel bars are also a feature of rivers where you can find smallmouth. Rabbit or Arctic fox strips make excellent streamers within minutes at the fly tying vise. Additional lead eyes, spinners, or material weight adds significantly to the line weight and rod power you need to cast them smoothly. It was a float trip in a really nice raft. Late sleepers will enjoy stream fishing for smallmouth since the fish have no set time table for eating. If you’re chasing down big Smallmouth Bass in Michigan like Mike Schultz, upgrading to an 8wt will maximize casting and fish-fighting efficiency. So, if you are interested in streamer fishing for smallmouth bass in rivers, this is an excellent learning tool for you. Smallmouth will hide among rocks and timber near the bank for added cover. Fly Fishing Tips: Adapting Streamer Designs for Warm Water. As I have learned the big smallmouths are more often caught with deeper fished streamers, although it is possible to pick off a 4 to six pounder on the surface if conditions are just right. I “accidentally” snagged a nice smallmouth with my fly rod while fishing for bull bluegills. 6. 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. For most of us, fishing revolves around work and family commitments, but the ideal time for smallmouth is early or late in the day. I live close to the Lake and can go quickly to see whether or not the bass are up and taking. Uxa notices smallmouth bass in streams bite more consistently throughout the day, whereas largemouth are usually more active early and late in a day. sub surface twitch flies and small streamers for panfish and largemouth bass on ultra light gear. If you try out this fly for yourself, please let me know in the comments how it worked for you. Fishing the way I describe as ideal you will false cast about 200 times per hour. Mike is a fly designer, product development specialist, and lead smallmouth guru at Flymen Fishing Co., as well as the owner and operator of New River Fly Fishing. Smallmouth like water temps in the high 60s and 70s, about the time trout head for the oxygen of the riffles. My initial reaction was I finally snagged the state record bluegill I have been seeking for years. First and foremost, it’s because of the darting action you can get out of this fly. The topic of this article is streamer fishing for trout. Around 20 years ago, Harry concocted the Strymph, a fly that can be fished as a streamer to imitate minnows and fished as a nymph to imitate aquatic insects. Leave a comment Posted in Fishing Reports Tagged best streamers smallmouth bass, Countermeasure smallmouth bass bug, fly fishing, Housatonic River smallmouth bass, Steve Culton Housy Report 9/6/18: the curse of the cold front 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. Your email address will not be published. I do most of my streamer fishing for smallies from a drift boat with single-hand rods, but I’ve found these ideas and practices crossover well for wade fishing and for most species in moving water. I only caught one smallie but it was 20". Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Naturally, rod choice depends on target species. Wing dams are common downstream of a dam. We are fishing the Holston River in Tennessee. Learn how your comment data is processed. Streamer Fishing for Trout – Pro Tips from a Professional Guide! I was using a 9' 7wt sink tip with a huge articulated streamer. Grassy banks. He came up with the fly when he was looking for something to "simplify his hunting in the morning". https://news.orvis.com/fly-fishing/video-top-5-streamers-smallmouth-bass Current breaks, eddies, shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there's dissolved oxygen and food there. A streamer is a fishing fly […] Grass lines Mar 15, 2018 - Explore Tom Boxler's board "Smallmouth Bass Fly Patterns" on Pinterest. Please Subscribe if you want to see more fly tying videos and quality fishing content. If you’re fishing big flies from a drift boat for Brown Trout out west (Kelly Galloup style), a 6wt or 7wt is probably up to the task. You really can’t go wrong with any of his offerings, but the Ol’ Cougar really is the cream of the crop, in my opinion. These are all prime forage for all species of trout in both streams and lakes. This is a tail water with a free stone construct. They include some shade of yellow, whether it’s straight up like a banana or a derivative such as orange or chartreuse. Our friend Colin McKeown of The New Fly Fisher and his colleagues spend a lot time chasing big smallmouth bass. Have a good selection as it is vital to match the baits to what type of live bait inhabits the particular waters you are fishing. It moves a ton of water and really has a great action. The month of May is one of the best months to fish for trout and smallmouth. You’re false casting over twice as much and fishing about 75% less of the water. 7. Smallmouth move into pre spawn mode and The design is simple, the presentation is easy and the result of fishing one is typically an aerobatic assault from a hooked smallmouth. Do you have other tips for our readers? Topwater poppers/spiders. Please share them with our readers in the space below. Sandrone’s streamers have something else in common. The water level and flow rate is controlled upriver at the dam. Chasing Musky or Pike? These are excellent bank fishing spots. Crayfish imitation lures work best as your go to fly rod bottom crawler baits. The large smallmouths feed heavily on crayfish and will pounce on your bait when presented correctly. For the best experience catching bronzebacks on streamers, I like a number 6 rod. Streamers usually are intended to imitate baitfish or leeches. I just hired a guide to fish for smallmouth at a local creek. There are always exceptions and different ways of doing the same thing. Your email address will not be published. The action of a streamer is dependent upon the fly tying material, weight, and style of retrieve. With its fat front trimmed down to a slim rear and just the right amount of weight, the SS produces an enticing side-to-side motion few other patterns are capable of. Tom's Fly Picks for Smallmouth Bass. Sneaky Pete Just the finest smallmouth fly ever made. And some of the biggest smallmouths I’ve ever caught fell for a 1/16-ounce Road Runner with a Mister Twister curly-tail grub. Smallmouth Bass Fishing: Big Water vs. Small Rivers Streams and river have currents making it easier to find smallmouth. Smallmouth streamers are usually bulky, heavy flies in sizes 8 to 1/0. A variety of soft plastics, such as spider-type plastic grubs (rigged on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads), tube baits, jerkbaits, and 6-inch plastic worms also produce smallies in the streams. I prefer an 81/2 foot 6- or 7-weight rod with a medium-fast action for this type of fishing. Not so as the fight continued with intensity very few large gills put up. For the big boys we want the lures to sink on as direct a vertical angle as possible, so use larger baits designed to be fished deep, or as bottom crawlers. Streamers are very versatile flies. Experience explosive topwater popper fishing or some of the most visual streamer fishing for smallmouth bass of the summer and some electrifying pike attacks on the fly! Smallmouth Bass Fishing Baits. If you have never tried fishing for smallmouth bass with a fly rod using surface and underwater flies you are missing some of the best action to be had. I tie my own streamers which are farely simple little creatures of deception. Use a good leader six to eight feet long with transparent 8 to 10 pound line. We need to use this to our advantage by presenting the sub-surface baits in as realistic manner as possible. Designed specifically for the pursuit of smallies in east coast streams by Bob Clouser, the bucktail pattern is the forerunner of all smallmouth patterns, as it is in many anglers’ streamer boxes. Streamers For After Dark Smallmouth Fly Fishing Streamers, big ones five inches or longer, which have a lot of movement, are preferred by the trout that feed in the full moon phenomenon. This streamer is deadly for smallmouth bass in moving water. For sight fishing, the white Shenk’s Streamer is hard to beat. Streamer fishing is more about conditions and matching your presentation to the conditions than anything else. The venerable Beetle Spin is a traditional stream smallmouth favorite, and does work well, but I prefer Strike King’s Mini-Kings spinnerbaits, usually fished without a trailer. Streamers can be used to target a variety of freshwater species. Bigger fish = bigger rod. Try these techniques and baits for catching smallmouth bass on streamer flies, and get ready for the best fishing action of your life. Water begins to warm and both species become more active as their metabolism increases.. Streamer fishing for trout can be at its best with trout chasing down baitfish to meet their calorie requirements. A 1/4-ounce spinnerbait is a favorite stream lure for either clear or dirty water situations. Articulated Zoo Cougar (a.k.a. The smallmouth bass is a fast and nimble predator when chasing down minnows such as shad, perch, sunfish, smelt, ciscoes, chubs, and other small bait fish living in the river or lake you are fishing. Just tie a Sneaky Pete to a 9-foot 2X leader, tie 20 inches of 3X tippet to the bend of the popper hook, and tie a big nymph or streamer on the end of this tippet. Even smallmouth on streams with gin-clear water can be taken consistently on larger lures with standard casting gear. Since 1856. Here, bass lurk waiting for grasshoppers and other terrestrial snacks to fall into the water. Streamer fishing for Smallmouth Bass I live in N. Georgia and fish TVA lakes in late April and most of May for smallmouth Bass. Required fields are marked *. Subsurface — Streamers Streamers are weighted flies that are meant to be fished beneath the surface of the water. 2. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Everything Smallmouth - Smallmouth Fishing Tips, Articles and Videos Everyday. They are designed to imitate everything from baitfish to leeches to crayfish. Fish Lefty’s deceivers, Marabou Muddlers, Wooly Boogers in black, Matukas, Sheep and Clouser Minnows, and various sizes of bucktails. Smallmouth can be caught if the water temperature lingers in the 50s, but cold water is better for trout. See more ideas about fly tying, flying, fly fishing. Your email address will not be published. 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