If you are like me and live in an area where your trout streams get dangerously hot during the summer months, you'll probably want to start fly fishing for bass. Where I live in NJ, I"m lucky enough that I can find smallmouth bass pretty easily in our lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. I'm also surrounded by lakes and farm ponds where largemouth bass are a fun way to spend a morning or evening.
This is going to be a short intro primer on how to find and catch more bass, along with some tactics and tips, and finally a fly selection to cover your bases. This is not the be all end all on fishing for bass, as a matter of fact there are several books I would highly recommend if you want to further pursue that.
The first book is Pennsylvania based angler and guide Jake Villowock's book "Smallmouth Flies Top to Bottom". You can find it in fly shops near you or on Amazon. The other book that I would recommend is Pat Cohen's "Super Bass Flies". Both of these books give detailed tying instructions for some very effective flies and feature flies by other tyers that you could use as a reference source. Along with those books, I would also recommend "Smallmouth: Modern Fly Fishing Methods" by Tim Landewhere, as well as Skip Morris "The Art of Tying the Bass Fly". These books will prepare you for the tactics, techniques, patterns, and tying expertise required for the modern angler.
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Smallmouth Bass
Before I get into some tactics and techniques, here is a general guideline on gear required to catch smallmouth bass.
The True Beginner: You have fly fished for trout for a while, and now you want to see what else is out there in that river. It beats sitting at home when it gets hot out.
5 Wt Fly Rod with a Floating Line. If you fly fish for trout, you may (or probably) already have this set up. You can fly fish for smallies just fine with this set up so long as you realize the implications.
Fly Selection- You will need to choose smaller flies so you can still accurately cast them, but the good thing is smallmouth bass eat tons of small flies. You can fish with some of your trout nymphs and still catch smallies. Smallmouth bass will eat stoneflies, hellgrammites, damselflies, craneflies, even regular mayfly and caddis nymphs. Add in smaller crayfish, minnows, as well as beatles, ants, and hoppers and you'll be covered no problem. Just don't think you can chuck giant game changers because it will be less than economical with this set up, and will leave you frustrated and most likely skunked.
The Novice: This guy has begun specializing in fly fishing for smallmouth. He now fly fishes for more bass than trout, and is dabbling in techniques and fly patterns.
6 or 7wt Fly Rod with Floating and Intermediate Lines. You've upgraded your quiver with another dedicated smallmouth bass fly rod. Your style (and possibly the size of the fish where you live) have dictated which weight fly rod you purchased. If you are old school and just want more versatility, you went with a 6wt. You can now fish a lot more streamers than previously with a 5 weight. Or you went with a 7weight because you aren't sure how far you are going to push the smallie pursuit. Maybe it's taking too much time away from trout or other species. Either are a great choice. At this point you realize how effective intermediate fly lines are for catching even more bass, with more new school flies.
The 8wt: You are now obsessed with smallmouth fly fishing or you have a salt trip coming because it will work for both. Great for high water, large flies, as well windy days where it's really blowing. It will help push larger weighted flies where they need to go. You're probably subscribed to Schultz Outfitters on Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Myspace whatever. He's preaching gospel while on the precipice of new secrets every year with his team, constantly pushing the limits. You probably then dive down the Michigan fly fishing and tying rabbit hole and follow guys like Russ Maddin, Alex Lafkas, Tommy Lynch, John Seals, Matt Grajewski etc.
Summer Fly Fishing Tactics
Catching river smallmouth bass on a fly rod requires a blend of precision, timing, and fly selection that caters to the bass's aggressive and opportunistic feeding behavior. One of the most effective tactics is targeting structure—rocky outcrops, submerged logs, or ledge drop-offs—especially during low-light hours when bass are actively hunting. Casting upstream and allowing your fly to drift naturally with the current can mimic the movement of injured baitfish or crawfish, drawing strikes from ambushing bass. Streamer patterns fished on a sink-tip or intermediate line work well for covering water quickly, while a more delicate presentation near the surface can entice fish holding in shallower runs or eddies.
Fly selection plays a crucial role in success. Top choices include the Clouser Minnow, ideal for its baitfish profile and jigging action in deeper runs, and the Murdich Minnow, which produces flashy movement that triggers reaction strikes. For surface action, the Boogle Bug and Sneaky Pete are excellent poppers that draw explosive topwater takes during summer mornings and evenings. Subsurface, the Crayfish Clouser imitates one of the smallmouth’s favorite prey, especially around rocky bottoms. Finally, the NearNuff Sculpin excels in riffles and deeper pools, simulating a vulnerable sculpin with its weighted, head-down posture. Matching these patterns with the right presentation ensures consistent success and unforgettable fights from one of freshwater’s most spirited gamefish.
Largemouth Bass
I find largemouth bass fishing much less technical from a gear perspective than smallies, so I'm going to say having a 7 or 8 wt is great, but even if you have a 6wt or a 9wt (for pike say), you are doing just as good. I personally only fish floating lines for largemouth, and then just use a slightly longer leader.
When targeting largemouth bass in lakes, ponds, or reservoirs, understanding their feeding habits and habitat preferences is crucial. In warm, low-light conditions—especially early morning and late evening—topwater tactics shine. These moments are prime opportunities to fish flies that imitate frogs, insects, or wounded baitfish. The best topwater fly patterns for largemouth bass include the Deer Hair Bass Bug, Pencil Popper, Dahlberg Diver, Boogle Bug, Foam Hopper, and Mouse Pattern. These flies trigger explosive surface strikes, especially when worked around weed lines, lily pads, submerged logs, and shallow flats. Vary your retrieve with pauses and twitches to mimic vulnerable prey and provoke aggressive bass.
As the sun rises or fish move deeper, subsurface patterns become more effective. Bass often patrol drop-offs, submerged structure, and vegetation edges looking for easy meals. Productive subsurface flies include the Clouser Minnow, Game Changer, Woolly Bugger, Crawfish Patterns, Murdich Minnow, and Zonker. These imitate baitfish, crayfish, and aquatic prey, offering versatility in both clear and stained water. Use intermediate or sinking fly lines to reach the strike zone and focus your presentation near structure. Slow strips with intermittent pauses often outperform constant movement, enticing bass that are lurking in ambush. Combining smart fly choices with an understanding of bass behavior gives anglers a major edge in any freshwater setting.
I hope this article helped you. If you ever have questions, you can ask me online via Instagram at @primeflyco
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