| Cameron Larsen | | | | in their true natural environs. Bass cruising the |
| Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in | | | | shoreline in 1-3 feet of water, needing to bulk up for |
| popularity. The largemouth bass is considered by | | | | the upcoming spawn. It is then that the bass are the |
| many the greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to | | | | easiest to catch. Being fiercely territorial and in a |
| just the Eastern United States, the largemouth bass | | | | feeding frenzy, they will attack anything in their path |
| has been introduced all over the continent. When | | | | with a ferocity that makes this fish legendary. |
| most people think of bass fishing they think of, stiff | | | | After the spawn the bass seeks out deeper water, |
| fiberglass rods, heavy lines and large lures. But more | | | | however, early morning and evening in particular can |
| and more fisherman are finding the advantage of fly | | | | give one great action all summer long. And with the |
| fishing for this game fish. | | | | cooler waters of fall, bass return to activity that |
| | | | makes a trip to your favorite bass whole a worthy |
| Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food | | | | endeavor. |
| imitations. While large lures only imitate a small | | | | Techniques: |
| number of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all | | | | Early in the morning, I usually fish the banks with |
| the sources of bass food, including small organisms | | | | steamers. Casting out Woolly Buggers, Woolly |
| like nymphs and even dry flies. Fly fisherman can also | | | | Worms, Muddler Minnows, and even a leech pattern |
| cast out mice, frog, and a variety of other food | | | | or two. One to three feet of water is where I |
| sources for these opportunistic feeders. Many times | | | | concentrate, while the bass cruise actively looking for |
| bass are found in shallow water, hiding under or near | | | | fish to eat. |
| logs or snags or in weeds. Fly casters have the | | | | In the spring time by afternoon I have switched to |
| advantage of more accurate placement, and being | | | | floating bass bugs. The very thing that makes bass |
| able to place their offering quietly without spooking | | | | fly fishing so fun. Casting one toward a nice looking |
| skittish fish. | | | | bass hiding spot, I allow it to sit there for a few |
| Bassy Water: | | | | seconds. If you allowed the fly to 'pop' upon landing |
| Largemouths usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit | | | | and have a nice bass picked out, often times this all |
| sluggish, but nevertheless with a speeding up | | | | that is needed for the bucketmouth to inhale your |
| metabolism, they are seeking food. Most largemouth's | | | | offering. Make sure your rod tip is at the proper |
| will seek food in the shallows, being territorial the | | | | angle to absorb the hit, or the game will be over |
| best hiding places will go to the biggest fish. | | | | before it begins. |
| Recognizing a good bass hiding spot is the first step | | | | If after a few seconds the 'hit' doesn't occur, begin |
| in successful bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas | | | | retrieving your fly at intermittent intervals like would |
| will provide cover for the wary lunker. Often times | | | | occur in nature. This 'popping' action is what attracts |
| bass can be spotted by the careful observer, in clear | | | | the bass to your offering. Watch for the wake as |
| water bass will appear green to pale olive across the | | | | the great hunter is not at all shy, and remember |
| back and white to pale yellow in the belly. In some | | | | especially trout anglers, the bass's mouth is huge and |
| areas a partner system will be beneficial with one | | | | these animals were built for eating. |
| angler standing above the water to provide a bird's | | | | Flies: |
| eye view. Float tubes can also be helpful allowing an | | | | Well, The Big Y Fly Co. ( is about selling flies, so you |
| angler to cover a lot of water in shorter amount of | | | | didn't think we would forget that did you. If it is still |
| time, although you give up some of the advantages | | | | unclear bass are opportunistic carnivores with huge |
| of sight angling. | | | | mouths, that will eat anything. There are the usual |
| When to Fish: | | | | bass bugs that float like the Frog, and the Mouse |
| Largemouth Bass emerge in the early spring from | | | | Rat. Then there are the divers, that float and then |
| deeper water. The exact timing depends on the | | | | sink when you retrieve them, like the Dahlberg divers. |
| region and the severity of the winter. But when ice | | | | And then there are the streamers, like the Woolly |
| begins to thaw and the water warms up, the | | | | Buggers, Clouser minnows. Furthermore for those hot |
| largemouths metabolism begins to quicken albeit | | | | days or big reservoirs, there are sculpins and leeches, |
| slowly at first. The strikes won't be as hard, as the | | | | that like bass will seek deep water. |
| reticent fish, slurp in minnow patterns. Much like a | | | | The great Largemouth Bass has soared in popularity |
| trout slurps up an emerger pattern. | | | | like few other game fish. If you haven't ever |
| But once the water begins to warm to 60 degrees. | | | | experienced fighting one of these, you are missing |
| The largemouth's thoughts turn to spawning. In many | | | | out on something special. Now introduced virtually |
| areas this is around April. And the bass feed furiously, | | | | everywhere throughout the continent on North |
| and seemingly without much thought to selection. It | | | | America, there bound to be some great bass fishing |
| is during this time, that the bass fly fisher can found | | | | not for from your door. |