Fly fishing is an art that can take years to master and is quite different than all other types of fishing. So before you buy a new fly fishing rod and head to the river, you must first consider what you’re looking to get out of that first fly fishing excursion. Whether you have fly fished before or are just curious about how successful fly fishing for bass can be, this guide is for you.
If you’ve ever seen the movie “A River Runs Through It” (and if you haven’t, I highly recommend watching it after you finish reading this article) you’ll recall the wonderment you felt watching the Maclean brothers fly fish.
The beauty of the crystal clear Montana rivers, the grace and technique shown with each cast, and the peacefulness of the forest, all for the pursuit of an alluring freshwater fish. A cinematic masterpiece in and of itself, the movie is enough to make any fisherman want to escape into the wilderness to try their hand at fly fishing.
You might be thinking, ‘I want to catch a beautiful rainbow trout like the Maclean’s do in the movie’ and while trout, grayling, and salmon are the most popular species of fish to catch with a fly, they present challenges that can skunk even the most experienced fly fishermen.
But fly fishing for bass presents one of the most opportunistic ways to try your hand at fly fishing and I’m going to show you exactly what you need to do it the right way, so you can build a great foundation for your fly fishing skills.
Why you should fly fish for bass
Bass are some of the most popular gamefish in the country so there’s no question as to why catching largemouth on the fly has been rapidly growing in popularity. The reason these fish are so popular is the possibilities they present.
- Bass survive well in warm water so they are available almost everywhere.
- They are very opportunistic fish and respond well to noise and flash.
- Bass live in predictable places; near rocks, submerged trees, weeds, grass, lily pads, drop-offs and anywhere baitfish congregate.
Source: Fix.com
In the early morning hours or just before the sun sets, bass can be found in shallow waters and in the middle of the day, they’ll be found in deeper waters seeking shade. Because of this, it’s best to head to the water during low light hours when the bass will be cruising and feeding. These characteristics not only make it easy to find bass, but the fish’s openness to all different types of equipment make it so that once you find a peaceful spot full of shade and submerged structures, you can quickly reel one in!
What equipment do you need to fly fish for bass?
Another reason fly fishing for bass presents so many great opportunities for your first outing is that there’s no need to purchase top of the line gear.
Bass respond well to almost any leader size as well as many different types of flies, as its more about presenting the fly than making sure the bug you choose is appealing. These fish are not picky and their feeding habits can be observed rather quickly so you can get to work drawing them in.
Here’s a quick guide as well as some fly fishing rod and reel combos to make sure you have the right gear:
Rod
Just about any fly rod will do for bass, it just needs to have enough backbone to handle a strong fish. A 5-8 weight, 9’ rod will do just fine for about any kind of bass.
You can get away with a 5 or 6 weight rod if there’s no wind or heavy weeds, but if you’re flinging heavier flies, you’ll want to go up to an 8 weight. This will be helpful if you’re fishing in the middle of the day and need to use heavier flies, sink tips, or sink lines to drag across the bottom where the bass are hanging out.
Reel
Due to the aggressive, hard-hitting nature of freshwater bass, you’ll need a reel with a strong drag system. You don’t need a top of the line reel to wrangle in bass, but something with sealed drag technology is nice to have and will last you a long time.
Reels can be built in a cast construction or with built bar stock aluminum and a machined finish, so it helps to consider durability. If you’re going to be hiking, scrambling and wading you’ll want something that is going to withstand any bumps, scratches and falls you’ll take while wandering around the forest.
The most important thing to consider, as it will affect your fishing on almost all species, is retrieval rates. Large arbor reels give you a wider spool diameter and faster retrieval rates, which will work to your advantage. Bass don’t typically peel out tons of line while backing, but if you reeled in a monster smallmouth, which I hope you do, a reel with a super large arbor will allow you to stay within your backing and pull that fish in faster and with fewer cranks.
Here is a great list of Fly fishing rod and reel combos that fit these criteria
Leader
There are a few different fly fishing leader types available out there, and while the bass aren’t picky to any specific type, it’s important to know which options are best for this type of fly fishing.
Tapered leaders are made specifically for bass fly fishing and saltwater or striper leaders will work as well. Get something 7-9’ with a 0X-3X leader in the 10-15lb range.
Many fly fishermen use a 10-15lb monofilament test ranging from 6-9’ depending on the wind and what flies you’re using. This is a very basic set up and will get you exactly what you need without getting too complicated.
This is more for experienced fly fishermen who want to get creative, but once you have a better understanding of what works for you, you can build your own tapered leader by knotting. Usually, you’ll want to build 4’ of 10-15lb mono with 3-4’ of 5-8lb mono attached. Again, these figures will change based on the wind and the environment you’re fishing in.
A full-floating line is likely all you’ll need to reel in a hawg on most fly fishing situations, but don’t be afraid to experiment with full-sink lines that have serious grain if you are fishing during the hours where the bass will be hanging out at deeper spots in the river.
It’s important to remember that you need power in your line. You don’t need top shelf, flashy line, but you need to make sure it’s strong enough to battle a backing bass, especially when it hits the fly hard.
Flies
There are bass specific flies such as bugs, poppers and frogs, but many different trout flies work just as well. Remember, it’s more about presentation and finding the right areas to cast into. It will also depend on what time of the day you are fishing, as you’ll need to account for the sink and action of the fly you choose. Here’s a quick list of go-to flies for bass fishing:
- Yellow, green and black large poppers
- Deer hair bass bugs
- Frog imitations
- Woolly buggers
- Large dry flies
- Hoppers and beetles
- Big and buggy flies with articulating feathers if you want to get fancy
- Clousers that imitate baitfish
The technique for bass fly fishing
Presentation and special techniques
As mentioned, catching a bass on a fly rod is more about presenting the fly than being an expert with your gear.
Cast to one of those predictable spots, near a stickup or submerged tree and wait.
Be patient and let the fly sit there so the bass has enough time to track it.
Once you start to retrieve again that’s when you’ll likely get the hit.
Utilize the twitch/pause technique (similar to strip and pause) by casting, letting the fly sit or sink for 3-5 seconds, twitch the line an inch or so, stop and repeat. This will give the fly a lifelike appeal to the bass.
By using rapid retrieve you can give the fly the appearance of being in distress, which will appeal to the hungry bass.
Cast past the target spot, strip hard and irregular, taking necessary pauses as you go. If you are using a floating line, jigging the fly is essential to give the fly some life.
Allow the fly to sink just off the bottom, jig it up and down slowly with 5-10 second pauses in between.
Conversely, if you’re using different gear like a sinking line, you’ll want to use the floating/diving retrieve technique where you let the line sink and then use long slow strips to give the fly action just below the surface.
Bottom Dragging is another great technique to use for lower depths, where you tie a 2-4’ sinking line on to a floating line and let the line sink all the way to the bottom. The fly will suspend in the feeding zone while you slowly strip it in.
Depending on the time of the day, the location you’re fishing in and natural elements you have around you, you’ll want to use any variation of these techniques.
The key to fly fishing for bass is to get creative and think like the fish. Presenting the fly in an appealing way, giving it life and action, will ensure that the bass see their meal and are eager to land a hit.
Landing a hit, while not losing the fish
The way bass hit a fly fishing line is quite unique. Their strikes can range from hard hits to subtle bites. Because of this, you’ll want to focus carefully on how you respond to any hits so you don’t end up losing the fish.
Don’t lift the tip when you feel a hit, instead, keep your fly fishing rod pointed at the fly and bury the tip a few inches under the water. When you feel a hit, strip the line hard and apply sideways pressure to the rod.
It’s important to keep constant tension on the line, especially with a subsurface fly. This pressure will allow you to detect any slight indication of a hit, usually shown by side movement or slacking of the line.
Use the line, not the rod, to impart power. Bass can strike the fly as soon as it hits the water, as they are attracted to the plopping noise, but they also might not always slam the line.
You’ll want to be prepared for whatever the fish are doing that day, so make sure you’re paying attention and wait to scratch your nose before you cast out again.
A hit can occur when you least expect it, and that’s part of the excitement, so always be ready for a fight!
Fly Fishing Tips and Tricks
The most common issue to run into while fly fishing for bass is getting the fly snagged, due to the locations where you’re going to need to cast. Using a weed guard for monofilament flies is the best way to combat this, but if you do get stuck, pull slowly and wiggle to shake it loose.
When fishing with a popper fly, the pause is essential, as you’ll want to allow the ripples to disperse before you start to strip. This makes the action more realistic.
Fishing in low light or even full darkness can help you score a genuine trophy. To do this, you’ll want to use a heavier 10-12 weight rod with large streamers or topwater flies. This will help you strike while the fish are feeding in shallower waters.
If all else fails, try out some plastic creature bait. Most bass flies aren’t real flies anyway with their rubber legs, leather claws, and heavy features. Keep some small plastics in your bag and give it a shot towards the end of the day. It’s about getting creative so you can land that fish so don’t worry about trying unconventional methods.
Remember, Bass are extremely opportunistic fish and are attracted to the action, noise, and presentation of a nearby fly. At the end of the day, its about getting out in nature, having fun, and of course, landing a nice fish! So use these tips, remember the essentials and get out there. I can ensure after your first time fly fishing for bass, you’ll be hooked and will be on your way to fishing like the Maclean brothers!