| For fly fishing for bass can provide some of | | | | Bass are generally found in areas of the |
| the most exciting fishing in the country. The | | | | water that have a lot of vegetation and |
| largemouth bass is probably the most popular | | | | cover. They spend a lot of time near the |
| game fish in America. The popularity of | | | | water's edge among the grasses, reeds, and |
| fishing for bass is partly because no other | | | | other plants. |
| freshwater fish has a wider distribution. | | | | |
| Largemouth bass can be found from southern | | | | Many fly fishermen fishing for largemouth |
| Canada to South America. Smallmouth bass are | | | | bass use bass bugs and poppers. Poppers were |
| also excellent for fly fishing, but they | | | | designed as a surface lure to be skipped |
| prefer slightly cooler waters and are not as | | | | across the top of the water in a series of |
| ever present as the largemouth variety. | | | | quick retrieves. Other good fly patterns for |
| | | | largemouth bass or the Muddler Minnow and the |
| Generally, the warmer the water, the larger | | | | Wooly Worm. There are some fly fishermen that |
| the bass will grow. For example, a four or | | | | prefer to use streamers and bucktail. |
| five pound bass may be large for a northern | | | | |
| lake, but warmer southern waters regularly | | | | When fly fishing for bass the fly is worked |
| produce 10 pounders and better. The | | | | differently than it is for trout. Poppers are |
| temperature of the water is a key factor not | | | | worked not only for their appearance but also |
| only in fly fishing, but in all fishing. When | | | | for their sound. Generally, when a fly is |
| fishing for bass it is an especially | | | | cast for bass it should be allowed to remain |
| important factor. | | | | unmoving for a longer period of time then for |
| | | | trout. It is estimated that 60% of bass |
| The best fishing will take place just after | | | | strikes are made on a still fly. Bass tend to |
| the bass have spawned, which is going to vary | | | | inspect your fly for some time before making |
| according to the temperatures. For largemouth | | | | the decision whether to take it or not. It is |
| bass spawning takes place when the water | | | | important to remember while fly fishing, that |
| temperatures reached the low to mid-60s. In | | | | the warmer the water, the longer it will take |
| Minnesota for example, a female bass may not | | | | the bass to take a fly. |
| deposit her eggs until mid-June, while in | | | | |
| Florida the female bass may spawn as early as | | | | At times fly fishermen like to tease the bass |
| February. | | | | with repeated casts over the area where they |
| | | | think he's holding. Teasing can sometimes be |
| The behavior of the largemouth bass is also | | | | a very effective method in bringing a lazy |
| influenced considerably by the top | | | | fish up for a strike when nothing else seems |
| temperature of the water. On hot summer days, | | | | to work |
| they usually feed during the early morning | | | | |
| hours and then again during the last few | | | | Fly fishing for largemouth bass can be a |
| hours of daylight, when the sun isn't as | | | | wonderful, exciting experience. |
| bright and the water temperature is cooler. | | | | |