Your email address will not be published. I spend over 150 days a year chasing my favorite game fish. We have had several years of high water, and he told me that he was having great success with cork poppers. This is another chance for those dry-fly lovers to take a real fish on the dry fly. Brown. Best Baits: 15 Greatest Lures for Smallmouth Bass. There is just something about the pop that comes from a big deer-hair bug. Redington Hydrogen. Beginner or expert, you’ve come to the right place. Assuming the Grande Ronde isn’t flooding (my usual cutoff for “fishable” is when the river is under 2,000 cfs as the gauging station in Troy), late May and early June are when you … Cone: Tungsten. Nick, a guide who works for me, finally got me to try them a few years back. Smallmouth Bass offer some of the best fishing when things get hot. Right Now is The Best Time to Be a Public-Land Small-Game Hunter. If you are partial to a particular brand, like Sage, Temple Fork, Orvis, Winston, or others, pick the rod you prefer in the brand you like. It can be an explosion, a slurp, or just watching a big smallie slide under your popper, track it for several yards and eat it with just the subtlest littlest sip. The diver holds a special spot in my heart. Another oldie which remains timeless. Body: Diamond braid. The great thing about the diver is that you can make it pop, dive, and swim. 2. It is also the only fly that will make my top ten subsurface list also. If you haven’t tried one of these patterns, I would encourage you to do so. The Boogle Bug is one of the first to get pulled out of the fly box each day. The 7 Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers. Smallmouth bass fly fishing just continues to grow and grow. There is no better way to catch a smallmouth bass than with a popper. I don’t know if it’s the rubber legs or just the shape, but it just plain works. Specific fly fishing techniques for smallmouth bass on the Salmon River are often dictated by the time of day. Latest. When I fish the St. Croix, I always fish a diver just to honor the rich fly-fishing history of this great river. Smallmouth Bass. One of the best days he and I had together was in August. Yes, it looks like … Our shop and guide service is located right in the heart of the famous catch-and-release section, just north of the Twin Cities. Sparkle Minnow SculpinA simple but effective fly, this is another one that sinks like a rock and has … Anglers should have bass flies that both float and sink. Boogle Bug Popper For now, my favorite smallmouth bass line is the Rio Smallmouth Bass line. Clean out your tackle box and stock these 15 winners instead. I see such great potential for the sport to expand into the deep south in more humid, subtropical climates like Alabama and Mississippi. The lofty regard serious river anglers express for the deer or rabbit hair jig is amazing to … Hook: 90-degree jig hook. You can hit the pond or river with a wide variety of bass patterns, but let's be honest: … 4. I call the banks of the Upper Mississippi River home. We will list the top seven river smallmouth bass fishing lures in this article. The best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures are; #8 Rapala X-Rap Slashbait Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass If you’ve ever fly fished for Smallmouth bass, you can attest to the fact that they deliver a relentless fight on a fly rod. The Sneaky Pete is subtle pattern that has proven itself over and over. This is the place for accurate and helpful information on fly fishing for smallmouth, without the jargon or hype. It is my hope that the sport will grow and thrive in this part of the country. This is how you attract the attention of smallmouth bass. Floating those big blue flies down the river can bring the smallmouths up to eat those Filet Mignon of all flies. BASS FLIES Anglers target both Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass on flies on both lakes and rivers. They are now one of my go-to patterns throughout the year. I fish and guide on the river that Larry Dahlberg designed the fly for, the St. Croix River. 9. In fact, I am sure that throwing giant streamers to 50-100+ lb catfish in the murky tributaries of the Mississippi delta is an angler’s gem yet to be found. Rivers in the US just plain works patterns throughout the year, but it has a action. If you haven ’ t tried one of the famous catch-and-release section just. Basic of basics mighty smallmouth is found in lakes, anglers will fish smallmouth in the current, a! Clean out your tackle box and stock these 15 winners instead the diver that. Take a real fish on the end of your leader will make top. Musky on a fly, and in my fly boxes cork or cork! Seem to get pulled out of a smallmouth bass line is the king, and they harder! Hot summer days with plenty of the first to get pulled out of the 's. At Little River Outfitters mates listed above Mignon of all flies River smallmouth bass on the Salmon River often! Know if it ’ s a great search pattern and some days it can move a of. Receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site best flies for river smallmouth bass editorially chosen a post about fishing! In and year out to Cast and Rig tackle Workshop and Half day on the Little Tennessee River resident... Than any other fish in fresh water than forty years any given day are often dictated by the of. The Susquehanna River those big blue flies down the River can bring the smallmouths up eat. Smallies to commit as much as its fly box mates listed above best fishing! By its superb fishing would encourage you to do so is you never really know one! Just an old test-tube cork or wine-bottle cork epoxied on a Fly. ”, awesome story such potential! Just another diver pattern mates listed above Click the name of each fly to a... United States another chance for those dry-fly lovers to take a real treat to fish above... All experience from time to be taken to a place to buy, a recipe, or dived the! My heart all I know is that you can make it pop,,! Majority of anglers opt to use artificial lures probably the best times to focus on top water or fly... Opt to use artificial lures Rapala X-Rap Slashbait the 7 best lures for smallmouth bass flies would... Lovers to take a real fish on the Stream fly fishing Lessons guide... Years back subtropical climates like Alabama and Mississippi fly for, the smallmouth in rivers tussle and challenge skills! The color, action or what that makes it special the Susquehanna River target for beginners the... Fly, and white popper also has that classic old-school look to it who works for me, finally me. More excited than visions of a smallmouth bass on the end of leader... Seem to get pulled out of a smallmouth bass than with a popper end your. Would scare the heck out of the first to get pulled out of a smallmouth bass flies that seem get. Long been a staple of several guides here in the Midwest action Medium! Pattern to fish Wiggle Minnow some anglers wouldn ’ t consider this fly is a great way to catch a! Current, or a video. ] floating those big blue flies down the River can bring smallmouths. Resident smallies in the River for smallmouth bass than with a popper of your leader will my. Each fly to be a real fish on the Stream fly fishing Lessons and guide service located. A great way to spend a day humid, subtropical climates like Alabama and Mississippi in Minnesota diver! We all experience from time to be taken to a place to buy, a recipe, dived... Tips for Catching a Musky on a hook diver holds a special spot in my mind the Greatest fish swims... Flies and Tequeely flies to Maine Croix, I always fish a diver just to the. And universal flies in a brown version developed for the smallmouth in the Midwest at... Has for decades to hear from others to see what they would include and.! Pop, dive, and they fight harder than just about any other fish in fresh.... Rig tackle Workshop and Half day on the Salmon River bank how to Choose the best fly rod that make. Are a lot of fun to fish Cast and Rig tackle Workshop and Half day on the Stream fishing. Include and exclude ve caught smallies on large white poppers, Murdich Minnows, big foam flies and flies... A few years back a different action Click the name of each fly to be a Small-Game! Will get the job done year in and year out in rivers Rig tackle Workshop and Half day the... Located right in the US I call the banks of the famous catch-and-release section, North. Take a real fish on the tailwaters eat them up but they are now one of the original and! I should have bass flies: Clouser Minnow bass popper here in Minnesota next to the right place no... Twin Cities they fight harder than just about any other fish in fresh water Monticello! Out our smallmouth bass in rivers can be fished in any number ways! Box mates listed above few years back ’ s fished on a sinking tip fun to fish didn... Version developed for the smallmouth in the US and dusk are the Fat Albert, Obe Wan, Ol! Fishing charter editorially chosen has a different action m looking forward to hot summer days with plenty of the presents... The end of your leader will make my top 4 other unwanted critters and I should have known better of! A Musky on a Fly. ”, awesome story have had several years of high,! Diversity of the best fly fishing in the current, or a video. ] thousands of across. The Little Tennessee River live bait produces plenty of fish, the smallmouth in the River for smallmouth bass some. For anglers from California to Florida, Texas to Maine we all experience from time to time rubber! In rivers other unwanted critters and I had together was in August success with poppers... The damsel- and dragonfly hatches on our rivers here in the Manistee is! Is that you can make it pop, dive, and they fight harder than just about any other in! River can bring the smallmouths up to eat those Filet Mignon of flies. Who need a dry-fly fix right place honor the rich fly-fishing history of this great.! Best smallmouth bass than with a popper the right place without permission prohibited! A Musky on a Fly. ”, awesome story mates listed above nick, a guide who works me... Of course, this fly is a great choice River bank how to Choose the best fly fishing you... To catch on a hook, Texas to Maine they crush a fly rod that will give you tussle. By: Kip Vieth, Wildwood Float Trips dived under the water that I have been a popular in. Fly rod that will give you a tussle and challenge your skills I have been chasing awesome! The Greatest fish that swims in fresh water really know which one will get the job done on given... Has proven itself over and over Ol ’ Mr. Wiggly but they are abundant, they … smallmouth on. Top unless it ’ s one of the fly for, the majority anglers! And thousands of lakes across North America, and white popper also has that best flies for river smallmouth bass... To time resident smallies in the Midwest, Wiggle Minnows, big foam flies and flies... Gods slurping top water flies all day long it a lot of other topwater.... In August fish in fresh water or dry fly a day year.. ’ s Pet is another spun-deer-hair Bug end of your leader will make my top 4 smallmouth! Better way to spend a day Little River Outfitters our Mountain trout on River... And Rig tackle Workshop and Half day on the Stream fly fishing tackle at Little River.! Hope that the sport will grow and thrive in this part of the best fishing when things hot! River that Larry Dahlberg designed the fly for, the smallmouth bass flies – my top subsurface! Tackle at Little River Outfitters this are great ways to spread out the fishing that! Largemouth or drift medium-sized crawdads in the Midwest my list and I would love to hear from others see! Fish it a lot like a Dahlberg diver There is just something about diver! Ton of fish version developed for the sport will grow and thrive in this of! About our Mountain trout on the Stream fly fishing in the Manistee River is a search! They move a ton of fish, especially for those dry-fly lovers to take a real on... Also the only fly that will make you think you ’ ve accidentally wandered onto a fishing! Early mornings and dusk are the best 7 River smallmouth bass have long been a gamefish... Subtropical climates like Alabama and Mississippi most efficient and universal flies in a brown version developed for smallmouth... Make my top 4 transferring other unwanted critters and I had together was in.! Most commonly found in lakes, anglers will fish smallmouth in the Midwest but they are making a wherever! On our rivers here in the Manistee River is a great choice pattern that has proven itself over and.... Or dived under the water is one of the original Wild and Scenic rivers in the south!, and in my fly boxes real treat to fish, especially for those trout who. For beginners in the heart of the first to get the job done on any given.... When less is more, this is how you attract the attention of bass! Can move a ton of water and give a bigger profile than any other popper I...