Fly fishing for smallmouth bass

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My first experience with species Micropterus dolomieui occurred during my starvation days while living in Los Angeles. I saved up to buy a license because, after two years of surviving in the concrete of west L.A., I was willing to forgo a few meals of Top Ramen in order to get back to my roots fishing. After digging through a map or two, I decided that the Kern River was my goal.

Curling out of the canyon outside of Bakersfield, vacation spot of the Onion Belt, the Kern flows down a very steep gorge from the Kings Canyon Wilderness area. It was early summer and cream and purple yucca blossoms hung from spikes against the rocky canyon wall. Getting to the river was an exercise worthy of a military assault. Climbing ropes and a harness would’ve been more helpful than my neoprene waders as I slid and scrambled through the rocks. Add the 100-plus-degree heat and the fact that anywhere from 5 to 10 people drown every year on this river, and the quest for fish became downright Biblical.

When I finally reached the river, I had lost 10 pounds of water and I worried more about heat stroke than my casting stroke. After many hours of fishing, I had a couple of suckers for my effort, and I still had to climb back out. As I gathered my strength, I surmised that there really weren’t any fish in this rubble-strewn river. Just then, at the head of a boulder, the surface broke and a greenish bronze fish launched itself completely out of the water and splashed down into the current... I think it was laughing at me. Worse, I couldn’t tell what it was. I’ve seen a lot of trout and this didn’t look like those I was familiar with. From the lackluster lumps I’d pulled in earlier, I couldn’t believe the suckers were exuberant enough to try anything that acrobatic. I thrashed the water unsuccessfully until long after dark trying to get a closer look at that fish.

If there ever was an argument for the passion and intensity of fishermen (the uneducated might call it stupidity, mule-headedness, and gullibility), it would be the fact that I actually went back to the Kern. At the end of another fruitless day, as the sun set behind the trailer homes and date trees, an eight-inch fish slugged my white zonker from behind a rock. Moments later, a gleaming little camouflaged fish with golden red eyes pulsed in my hand. The realization came slowly but with increasing enthusiasm to a trout fisherman: "Hey, this must be a smallmouth bass!"

Smallie, or bronzeback, the smallmouth bass is a member of the black bass clan. Only the largemouth bass ranks above it in size in the sunfish family. The smallmouth is an interloper here in Utah. Only the Sacramento perch is native west of the Rockies. However, the northern strain of the smallmouth bass has taken to the clean waters of Utah and is rapidly taking its place as a respected member of the sporting fish family. In fact, a sportsman no less illustrious than Lefty Kreh says of the smallmouth, "When it comes to total cunning and sheer ferocity, especially for its size, there are very few freshwater gamefish that surpass the smallmouth bass, and that includes the largemouth."

Distinguished by its mottled green, black, and bronze color fading into a white or yellowish belly, the smallmouth is most readily differentiated from its more famous cousin by the fact that its upper jaw doesn’t extend past the eye. As well, the dorsal fin on the smallmouth doesn’t separate into two distinct sections as it does on the largemouth. Smallmouth are also more comfortable in water closer to trout temperatures than the muddy sloughs and ponds often associated with largemouth bass.

Smallmouth exhibit an interesting dichotomy. Young smallmouth are perhaps the ideal fish for introducing a person to the sport of fly fishing. Aggressive, not leader shy, not picky, easy to find, and, when you catch one, you’ll catch others. But, once you decide to chase a trophy, bronzebacks can be as discriminating and smart as any rainbow on the Railroad Ranch. The key to catching smallmouth? Two points: Structure. Crawdads.

Most agree with Kent Sorenson, Northern Region biologist for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: "While trout are open water wanderers, smallmouth are tied to rocky substrate. Look for a fairly steep gradient on the shoreline. Bass tend to stay a little deeper."

"All you’ve got to do is find broken, rocky banks and there’ll be bass there," says local professional guide and writer Larry Tullis. Tullis has fished for smallmouth from coast-to-coast and has found great fishing at Flaming Gorge. Look for rock and rubble first, flooded trees and brush second. Smallies are not cruisers like trout. They act like much larger predators. They find cover, waiting for their prey to come to them, then launch a short ambushing attack.

One of the main reasons smallmouth are found holding on to rocky areas is that their favorite food is found there – crayfish. Crawdads are to smallies like paparazzi are to Dennis Rodman. If smallies are the junkies of the fish world, then, crawdads are their fix.

"Smallmouth bass, once they reach about five inches (usually end of the first year), eat mostly crayfish and small fish... Large smallmouth, those over 13 or 14 inches, eat just about anything they want including crayfish and large suckers, sculpins… and other fish species," according to eastern fisherman and author Stu McQuin. Often, you’ll catch smallmouth with their noses rubbed raw from rooting around in the rocks looking for those tasty, crunchy, crawdads.

Smallmouth also adapt well to manmade structure. Utah’s reservoirs have well-maintained dock facilities that often provide great cover for smallies. Check for specific regulations at each facility. Generally, your best bet is to float out from a structure and then throw under it, letting the fly sink along pilings before stripping back.

Another characteristic that endears smallies (and largemouth for that matter) to fishermen is that they are much more tolerant of close approach than trout. When fishing flooded timber or submerged debris, you can usually get right over the structure. This is helpful for precisely guiding your fly along the vertical profile of the tree or stump and then being able to get any hooked fish away from structure quickly to avoid spooking other fish or hanging up in flooded branches.

Water temperature is an important consideration. Smallmouth are active when temperatures are between 65 and 75 degrees, with 67 to 71 being ideal. One interesting exception is that large smallmouth continue to be active late in the season even when the water is as cold as 40 degrees, and as early as the ice comes off and the sun begins to bring the water temperature back up.

Perhaps the best fishing of the season is as the spawn occurs, from May through June. The smallies become very aggressive as the males dig out nests in the gravel and rubble in shallower water, attracting up to four different females to lay eggs in the same nest.

Gearing up for smallmouth is relatively easy. Smaller bass can be a lot of fun on a five-weight rod, though in order to more easily handle the bulkier, heavier flies often required, a nine-foot, eight-weight is the way to go. Remember, smallies are like little bulldogs; they dig and fight fiercely. An eight-inch smallmouth will put bend in your rod and a smile on your face. If you do get into a trophy, (anything over 12-inches) you’ll be glad to have a heavier rig.

"A 12-incher on a fly rod is a tussle," warns Terry Peterson, a buyer at Anglers’ Inn. You’ll want a weight forward, floating line for surface action and then a sink tip and full sinking line in order to follow the fish. Smallies, especially the bigger fish, hold a little deeper than trout. Leaders need to be more able to horse fish out of cover than give you delicacy and finesse in casting. Six to nine feet of 10-pound test will do the trick.

Fly selection is simple as well. Guide Lowell Finney (who is as likely to be found at Deer Creek fishing for smallmouth come June as on the Provo fishing for trout) has one word for fly selection: "Chartreuse!"

Chartreuse woolly buggers and crystal buggers are the first things he reaches for. On a level sinking line, stripping near cover, these buggers, along with white and chartreuse Clouser minnows, may be the only flies you need. Others, such as Peterson, reach for a crayfish imitation first.

"Woolly buggers in brown and black, bunny leeches, deceivers in colors to imitate chubs and other bait fish in white, silver, and chartreuse work well. Inverted zonkers in copper, silver and pearl should do it," says Peterson.

One pattern of great interest is a design by Tullis – the wiggle crawdad. Tied primarily from foam, the wiggle crawdad has the action of a flatfish and dives like a crank bait, making it a necessity in your fly box.

Perhaps the most unusual pattern you can throw at a smallie was developed by Ed Engle. This pattern costs pennies and can be made from junk in your garbage can. Quickly tied from rubber bands and other refuse, the "bandit fly" is so intriguing, you’ll want to tie up several. Novice tiers should be able to create one patterned after the photo with this story.

As the weather warms up, top water action for smallmouth can be a cure for any fishing woe. Lefty’s bug, the gerbubble bug, smaller Dahlberg divers, and pencil poppers are preferred. According to Kreh, color is not important – it’s the action that counts. Anything with rubber legs, and undulating marabou is a good choice. Pick colors you can see well. Mornings and evenings seem to produce best top water action, according to Tullis and Peterson. Smallmouth move into shallows to feed as the sun retreats and then head back to deeper water as the sun rises. Night fishing for smallmouth can produce the biggest fish as they come in to feed.

Whether from a boat or float tube, many prefer casting to shore, stripping down the descent of the shoreline cover. Be prepared for snags. You want to be bouncing your subsurface imitations right along the bottom so you’re going to lose a few. Simple ties you can whip up in a hurry are a plus. Tullis prefers to take advantage of the smallmouth’s tolerant nature and strip parallel to the shoreline, keeping the fly in the strike zone where the fish are holding for a longer period of time. Peterson recommends starting slow, particularly early in the season.

"Slow is good. Slower is better. Bass are curious. If you fish fast they may chase it. But if you fish slow, curiosity kills them. As soon as your imitation hits the water, they are aware of it even 15 or 20 feet away. Make yourself slow down. Eventually, they will pick it up." Let your line go right to the bottom and wait. Then give a small strip and wait.

"With a faster retrieve, the take is easier to detect. With slower retrieves, you must keep a tight line as you strip and stay in contact with the fly. Point your rod straight at the fly, even putting the tip in the water."

A point Tullis makes that is important when fishing for any species is that larger predatory fish often strike their prey to stun it first before taking it. Don’t jerk your rod tip up when you feel a hit.

Often, fish will hit their prey and then turn immediately to eat the stunned morsel. Don’t pull it away with a premature hook-set. In fact, Peterson recommends waiting until the fish begins carrying the fly away before setting the hook. This may mean waiting as long as 10 to 15 seconds as the bass takes the fly in and spits it out several times before deciding to take it.

While back East the Penobscot, Delaware, Susquehannah, and Potomac rivers are famous for smallmouth fishing, here in Utah it is strictly a still water proposition. Close to the Wasatch Front, several reservoirs offer not just good opportunities for smallies, but world-class opportunities. Armed with your eight-weight and crawdad imitations, Deer Creek, Rockport, and Starvation all await with great smallmouth populations. However, Jordanelle may soon be known as one of the premiere smallmouth fisheries in the entire Western U.S. Farther away, Flaming Gorge and Lake Powell offer superb fly rodding for smallmouth bass.

Deer Creek provides several great locations. Near Charleston, where the Provo River enters, there is ample brushy cover to work for smallmouth. Working south there are a few rubble piles that will almost always hold fish. The north shore along the railroad bed is classic smallie habitat – rocky shore sloping into 10- to 15-feet deep water. Cast into shore and drag your fly back to deeper water or run parallel to shore. The south shore near the developed beach offers dock pilings and a rocky point as you work west.

Starting the first week of June, Finney reports, few fishing opportunities are as rewarding as casting those chartreuse crystal buggers near the dock with a five-weight and a full sink line. Bring the family and let them picnic and play on the beach while you fish. The south shore of the island and the willows in the flats also hold smallies.

Flaming Gorge is overpopulated with smallies. A vast majority of the shoreline is recouple and outcropping.

"Forty to 100 fish per day is possible, (the smallmouth) are just about everywhere. Find a submerged point in 20 feet of water and you’ll find bigger bass," says Tullis.

"Check near the dam and around boat docks," suggests Peterson. Whether at the Gorge or Lake Powell, look at the rock walls. If you see a hanging arch where a slab is missing, you know there is a rock pile underneath it, Peterson advises.

Pineview, along the north side of Cemetery Point and in the canyon near the dam, yields smallmouth, according to Kent Sorenson, as does Willard Bay around the perimeter of the dike. Rockport at one time was a thriving smallmouth fishery but has slowed in recent years. Starvation also holds smallmouth. When the striper and largemouth fishing gets slow at Powell, don’t overlook the smallmouth.

"Everywhere, every bay, every point holds fish," says Peterson. Put an Aquaview in the water and you may see some of the biggest smallmouth anywhere. The restrictions at Jordanelle have helped it become a premiere bronzeback fishery. Putting the bass back is the best way to ensure it stays that way.

Much of the eastern shore and Provo channel is most readily accessible by boat. However, the western shore with its many points and bays provides ample opportunity. Work the docks and rocky shore as you get closer to the dam.

"Small fish in open water you can fly rod all day," reports Peterson. The bigger fish will be deeper or in the sticks. Be ready to lose flies.

As I tie up a few chartreuse crystal buggers, I wonder... my trout fishing mind has tried to find some subtle secrets, some esoteric bit of knowledge, a private pattern known to only a handful, a hidden honey hole. I’ve tried to probe with questions to divulge the complicated intricacies of smallmouth behavior... It seems it comes down to this: Find a pile of rocks and throw woolly buggers. Tullis said it best, "Bass can be moodier than trout. Other times they’re just plain old stupid and hit anything you throw at them."

Read Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass, by Harry Murray. Though focusing primarily on rivers, this is a very informative book that discusses all aspects of fly fishing for smallmouth, from top water flies, bugs, poppers, and tactics, to new brands of streamer, nymph, and "strymph" fishing. He explores food and feeding patterns. He also shows how best to read the water, fishing from boats, casting techniques for big flies and how to tie them, and choosing rods, reel, lines, and leaders. Also, check out his web site for information about smallmouth fishing clinics: www.murraysflyshop.com

Also, Fly Fishing for Bass, by Lefty Kreh. The master provides a straightforward treatise that covers all the basics. Though less thorough than Murray’s, it is also a more concise read. See Lefty’s web site at: www.outdoors.net/lefty/index.asp

Check out the article by Stu McQuin titled, "The Bronze Back." This is the one to read running out the door, fly rod in hand. Just the facts, Ma’am: www.agron.missouri.edu/fly fishing/stu_mcquin.html

Give yourself a treat and spend some time on Ed Engles’ pages at the New York State Sportfishing and Aquatic Resources Education Program web site. There are instructions for the bandit fly. Also, need a tying vice for six bucks? How about a clouser minnow from a seat belt? Ed will have you seeing fly-tying materials everywhere you look: www.pronetisp.net/~seaa/SAREP/index.html

Larry Tullis’ wiggle crawdad is available at Anglers’ Inn and Sportsmen’s Warehouse.