Fly Fishing Tactics for Smallmouth Bass: Fishing for pressured bass in skinny waters

We tend to think of bass as being more aggressive and less spooky than trout, but when conditions get tough, bass can be as finicky as trout. So the next time you're out on your favourite river or creek and the bass aren't biting, start thinking like a trout angler.

[@briantalbot7929]

Bass are very spooky in skinny water and I've been lengthening my leader upwards of 12 ft to cast to them without my fly line getting anywhere near them and it helps a ton

[@VadimDrevenchuk]

Hi Peter, your shirt is very bright and stands out. That might be the reason why you hand to almost crawl to your fishing destination. Green or brown color would blend in more with surroundings. 👍 But when it comes to fishing, anything goes… :)

[@hooked4lifeca]

If we're talking about a small mountain stream that sees very few people, I'd agree with you, but when we're talking about a river that flows right through the middle of a town, shirt colour is meaningless. I'd rather wear a light coloured shirt, not cook in the sun and take my chances with the fish.

[@hawleygriffin1800]

This is my life: By this time of year (late October) the smallmouth by me have had every lure ever manufactured thrown at them. Won't touch a crank bait, won't touch a spinner, Rapala or topwater. Won't touch a sassy shad, Mr. Twister or tube bait of any kind. With the fly rod, they completely ignore any kind of crayfish fly, Clouser minnow or Swimmin' Jimmy. All that stuff works well in May and June. The population isn't that big and is heavily fished. Water is colder and the algae has died now. I had some August and Sept. evenings when I caught a dozen or more. Waited until the weekend warriors got done thrashing the water on Saturday and wade fished from 6PM until 9:45 with some emerald shiners I seined in a creek off the river. Fished them on a drop sinker and floating jighead a foot off the bottom and caught nothing. In the summer and early fall, there are always bass chasing minnows and splashing all around as they feed. None of that going on now. Kind of confirms the fish have moved down to deeper water, which in this river maxes out 7 or 8 feet. Not enough water this time of year for the bass to actually get up the creeks where I seine the minnows. Too many fisherman and not enough fish to take the pressure. 3 weeks ago I caught 3 dozen crayfish in the river and picked out a dozen and half of the smallest ones. Put a couple of orthodontic rubber bands around them and then stuck a #4 hook under the rubber band. Bass didn't want "em. They all get wise.

[@hooked4lifeca]

Yup. In late season we've often resorted to dead drifting smaller flies on a tight line. Works better than most other methods we've tried.

[@JohnDozierSr50]

Very informative and were you using single spey cast or ? Snap T. I have not tried any of these cast,but know they will help my cast in tight areas.

[@hooked4lifeca]

If I recall, I used a Snake Roll, Circle Spey and a Double Spey in those clips. I never use the Snap-T as I dislike that cast. It's other name is "Snap-Tip" as it can saw off your rod tip if done incorrectly. The Circle Spey replaces the Snap-T and it's a more relaxed cast with none of the Snap-T's smash and splash.

[@JohnDozierSr50]

Thank you I will practice on those cast.