| Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in | | | | their true natural environs. Bass cruising the shoreline in |
| popularity. The largemouth bass is considered by many | | | | 1-3 feet of water, needing to bulk up for the upcoming |
| the greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to just the | | | | spawn. It is then that the bass are the easiest to catch. |
| Eastern United States, the largemouth bass has been | | | | Being fiercely territorial and in a feeding frenzy, they will |
| introduced all over the continent. When most people | | | | attack anything in their path with a ferocity that makes |
| think of bass fishing they think of, stiff fiberglass rods, | | | | this fish legendary. |
| heavy lines and large lures. But more and more | | | | After the spawn the bass seeks out deeper water, |
| fisherman are finding the advantage of fly fishing for | | | | however, early morning and evening in particular can |
| this game fish. | | | | give one great action all summer long. And with the |
| Advantages of fly fishing: | | | | cooler waters of fall, bass return to activity that makes |
| Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food | | | | a trip to your favorite bass whole a worthy endeavor. |
| imitations. While large lures only imitate a small number | | | | Techniques: |
| of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all the | | | | Early in the morning, I usually fish the banks with |
| sources of bass food, including small organisms like | | | | steamers. Casting out Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, |
| nymphs and even dry flies. Fly fisherman can also cast | | | | Muddler Minnows, and even a leech pattern or two. |
| out mice, frog, and a variety of other food sources for | | | | One to three feet of water is where I concentrate, |
| these opportunistic feeders. Many times bass are | | | | while the bass cruise actively looking for fish to eat. |
| found in shallow water, hiding under or near logs or | | | | In the spring time by afternoon I have switched to |
| snags or in weeds. Fly casters have the advantage of | | | | floating bass bugs. The very thing that makes bass fly |
| more accurate placement, and being able to place their | | | | fishing so fun. Casting one toward a nice looking bass |
| offering quietly without spooking skittish fish. | | | | hiding spot, I allow it to sit there for a few seconds. If |
| Bassy Water: | | | | you allowed the fly to 'pop' upon landing and have a |
| Largemouths usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit | | | | nice bass picked out, often times this all that is needed |
| sluggish, but nevertheless with a speeding up | | | | for the bucketmouth to inhale your offering. Make sure |
| metabolism, they are seeking food. Most largemouth's | | | | your rod tip is at the proper angle to absorb the hit, or |
| will seek food in the shallows, being territorial the best | | | | the game will be over before it begins. |
| hiding places will go to the biggest fish. Recognizing a | | | | If after a few seconds the 'hit' doesn't occur, begin |
| good bass hiding spot is the first step in successful | | | | retrieving your fly at intermittent intervals like would |
| bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas will provide | | | | occur in nature. This 'popping' action is what attracts |
| cover for the wary lunker. Often times bass can be | | | | the bass to your offering. Watch for the wake as the |
| spotted by the careful observer, in clear water bass | | | | great hunter is not at all shy, and remember especially |
| will appear green to pale olive across the back and | | | | trout anglers, the bass's mouth is huge and these |
| white to pale yellow in the belly. In some areas a | | | | animals were built for eating. |
| partner system will be beneficial with one angler | | | | Flies: |
| standing above the water to provide a bird's eye view. | | | | Well, The Big Y Fly Co. ( is about selling flies, so you |
| Float tubes can also be helpful allowing an angler to | | | | didn't think we would forget that did you. If it is still |
| cover a lot of water in shorter amount of time, | | | | unclear bass are opportunistic carnivores with huge |
| although you give up some of the advantages of sight | | | | mouths, that will eat anything. There are the usual bass |
| angling. | | | | bugs that float like the Frog, and the Mouse Rat. Then |
| When to Fish: | | | | there are the divers, that float and then sink when you |
| Largemouth Bass emerge in the early spring from | | | | retrieve them, like the Dahlberg divers. And then there |
| deeper water. The exact timing depends on the region | | | | are the streamers, like the Woolly Buggers, Clouser |
| and the severity of the winter. But when ice begins to | | | | minnows. Furthermore for those hot days or big |
| thaw and the water warms up, the largemouths | | | | reservoirs, there are sculpins and leeches, that like |
| metabolism begins to quicken albeit slowly at first. The | | | | bass will seek deep water. |
| strikes won't be as hard, as the reticent fish, slurp in | | | | The great Largemouth Bass has soared in popularity |
| minnow patterns. Much like a trout slurps up an | | | | like few other game fish. If you haven't ever |
| emerger pattern. | | | | experienced fighting one of these, you are missing out |
| But once the water begins to warm to 60 degrees. | | | | on something special. Now introduced virtually |
| The largemouth's thoughts turn to spawning. In many | | | | everywhere throughout the continent on North |
| areas this is around April. And the bass feed furiously, | | | | America, there bound to be some great bass fishing |
| and seemingly without much thought to selection. It is | | | | not for from your door. |
| during this time, that the bass fly fisher can found in | | | | |