Easy Baitfish Flies for Fall Smallmouth
Fall is coming up and that means one thing for smallmouth- feed up on baitfish. As winter approaches, smallies want big, dense meals to fill their bellies. Less time for snacking, more time for feasting.
I love fishing for fall smallmouth. The leaves are changing, the bite can be on fire, and some of my favorite flies can be chomped on with aggression and consistency.
Complex baitfish flies are fun to fish, but most of the time I’m going with the tried and true patterns. I’ll spend some time spinning up some new, flashy styles but oftentimes find myself going back to the basics. I like to stock my box with the proven patterns, along with some experimental flies.
Here’s a list of my favorite, easy to tie baitfish patterns that catch fish- along with some that are a little trickier, but just fun to fish.
Easy to Tie Classic Baitfish Patterns
This is my list of those classic, easy to tie, effective baitfish patterns that no box should be missing. These are go-to confidence patterns that I carry at all times during the fall.
Clouser Minnow
The Clouser Minnow exemplifies the classic, easy to tie, effective baitfish pattern that has caught fish for years. There’s no doubt you should have a handful of Clousers in your box in the fall!
The weighted dumbbell eyes allows you to fish this fly at a variety of depths and gives it a great jigging action. Chartreuse over white is my go-to color.
Kreelex
If you’re looking for a flashy baitfish pattern, tie up a Kreelex. This fly’s materials will shimmer in the water and demand attention.
I’ve seen fish drawn to the shine of this fly, coming out of the depths to take a bite. While the flash can overwhelm the fish at times (at least I think it does), there’s no doubt a time to stimulate them with this shiny fly.
Plus, it’s very easy to tie!
Lefty’s Deceiver
If you want a bigger, bulkier baitfish fly look no further than the classic Lefty’s Deceiver. This fly has caught fish for decades all around the world.
Lefty’s Deceiver is easy to spin up and offers a larger profile that matches bigger bait. Or, it’s just an enticing meal for smallies to chomp down on when they need to bulk up for the winter.
Sparkle Minnow
If you want something sparkly that looks like a minnow, we’ve got the fly for you! The Sparkle Minnow combines the baitfishy elements of the Wooly Bugger and makes it shine, grabbing the attention of anything in the water.
The original recipe gets a little complex, so I like to the easy-to-tie version. Spinning these up are a breeze, the color combinations are endless, and they just flat out work. They do a great job mimicking smaller prey, with the added sparkle to trigger reaction strikes.
Murdich Minnow
The Murdich Minnow’s profile mimics skinnier baitfish out there. While many flies do a great job resembling shorter, stouter prey, the Murdich Minnow goes more for the thin, pencil-like baitfish roaming around out there. Or, it just looks like something that can be eaten!
Murdich Minnows are another easy to tie pattern that fills that need to mimic larger, more slender prey. Smallies crush ‘em, especially when they want to put on the pounds before the cold sets in.
Fun, (Slightly) Trickier Baitfish Patterns
Like any angler, I love to experiment. Trying out new flies I’ve found on the internet or in books is one of my favorite things to do.
While these flies may not have the classic/historical runway to them, they are quickly becoming staples in my box and newfound confidence patterns. They’re a little bit tricker to tie, but the action and profile of these flies is undeniable. If you want to try a few new flies out, give these a shot!
Roamer
Jake Villwock’s Roamer is now a staple in my box. The profile of these flies catches both fish and fisherman- they’re just cool looking flies that flat out work.
There are a couple more in-depth steps to this fly but I think they’re well worth it. I love the ability to customize these patterns to what I think will work best. I have full confidence that the colors and size of the flies I tie up will give me a chance to hook into the big boys and girls that come out to play in the fall.
Laser Jerk Changer
Blane Chocklett’s Gamechanger turned the fly world on it’s head a few years ago. That sounds dramatic (and it is), but it really did change the game- pun absolutely intended.
The magic of these flies comes from the articulated shanks. The side-to-side serpentine action of these flies is unmatched. There’s really no other fly that can replicate it.
Honestly, they’re a little bit of a pain in the butt to tie. They’re repetitive, requiring the same steps over and over. But, they are absolutely worth it.
This Laser Jerk Changer is a slight variation from the traditional Gamechanger which I’ve found a little easier to tie and just as effective. They’re worth the time and effort and will give you a truly unique action to your fly that can drive smallies nuts.