There’s nothing quite like watching a smallmouth bass explode on a topwater fly. Sometimes they sip it gently, sometimes they completely miss, and sometimes they hit it hard enough to make you never want to fish any other way.

Topwater fishing for smallmouth can feel complicated because there are so many different poppers, divers, bugs, and foam creations to choose from. The good news is that you really don’t need all of them.

I like to think of topwater flies as either aggressive, subtle, or somewhere in between. Some are designed to splash, pop, and annoy a fish into striking, while others drift quietly along like an easy meal. 

In this post, we’ll break down a handful of reliable options and when each style makes the most sense.

Why Use Topwater Flies for Smallmouth?

Catching smallmouth on topwater flies is the most exciting way to catch fish, it’s as simple as that. You get to watch your fly drift, pop, and wiggle down the current, then watch the fish sip, explode, or burst onto your fly. It’s all very visual and it happens right in front of you!

Topwater flies can also be extremely effective. When the fish are looking up at the surface, there is no better way to “match the hatch” than with a topwater fly. Or, they’re being stubborn and the only way to get their attention is with a disturbance at the surface. Topwater flies are my favorite way to fish for smallmouth and is a huge appeal for many anglers searching for smallies.

Aggressive vs Subtle Topwater Flies

I like to think of topwater flies as aggressive, subtle, or somewhere in between. Every fly on the following list can be fished in a variety of ways, but I’ve found this distinction a good place to start. 

Aggressive flies splash, pop, dive, and make enough noise to draw fish from a distance. These flies cause a commotion at the top of the water column that is hard to ignore. Subtle flies land softly and create just enough movement to look alive. They’re meant to be a little more natural and won’t spook fish off. 

The best option depends on the conditions, the mood of the fish, and honestly, what sounds the most fun to throw.

Aggressive Topwater Flies

Aggressive topwater flies are all about making your presence known. These flies spit water, make noise, and create the kind of commotion that can pull a smallmouth out from behind a log or up from deeper water.

I usually reach for these flies during low-light conditions, when the water has a little stain to it, or when the fish seem active and willing to chase. They’re also great for covering water because you can move quickly and see whether any fish are willing to react.

That doesn’t mean you need to strip them as hard as possible every cast. Sometimes a loud pop followed by a long pause is all it takes. But in general, these are the flies I use when I want to annoy, excite, or otherwise convince a smallmouth to smash something on the surface.

Deer Hair Divers

These are my favorite flies to fish for smallmouth bass. Deer Hair Divers have a unique head shape to them, which causes them to dive under the surface, then float slowly back up. When fished aggressively, they make this satisfying “plop, gloop” sound (if you know you know) that mimics wounded baitfish or frogs.

Deer Hair Divers are just fun to fish. No other fly has their type of action or sound and when the fish are looking up, they can draw violent strikes. They typically are larger flies fit for larger fish, but you’ll be surprised by how many fish (big and small) these flies can attract. I don’t leave home without at least a couple of these in the box.

Frog Poppers

Frog Poppers are the name I’m giving any larger-profiled, cupped topwater flies. I call them that because my favorite color in this style of fly is black, olive, and a little chartreuse- pretty much matching a frog.

These aggressive poppers sling water around and can draw in fish from yards away. Their silhouette has dangling feathers (hackle feathers usually) that resemble a frog kicking its legs around the surface.

You can tie these in any color you’d like, baitfish colors also work as well. I like the froggy colors and throw these around lily pads and sunken logs. When stripped hard, the cupped head will spit water out and any fish in the area will know that something is around. You can also fish them subtly- little pulses here and there mimic a frog swimming around the surface. Experiment to see what works for you, but know that Frog Poppers are an excellent choice if you want explosive eats!

Crease Fly

Crease flies have a large cupped head that generates the most splash of any fly that I know of. I purposely tie them with oversized heads so the surface commotion is maximized when I want to fish aggressively.

These flies are not for the subtle sips- we’re trying to elicit rod shaking takes with this fly. I like tying them in natural and baitfish-y colors to resemble a wounded fish trying to escape a predator. This fly is all about reaction strikes!

Crease flies are most effective on those perfect topwater conditions- low light and a little murky water clarity. These flies cause a commotion and can spook off wary fish- but can cause aggressive strikes from smallies that get pissed off enough to take a bite. 

Subtle Topwater Flies

Subtle topwater flies take the opposite approach. Instead of trying to wake up the entire river, they create a softer, more natural presentation that looks like an easy meal drifting overhead.

These flies are especially helpful in low, clear water, around heavily pressured fish, or when smallmouth are feeding on insects and smaller prey. They tend to land more softly and can be drifted naturally with the current rather than constantly stripped and popped. If you’ve ever dry fly fished for trout, this is a very similar method.

A subtle presentation doesn’t mean a boring take, either. Smallmouth may gently sip these flies from the surface, or they may still come completely out of the water to eat them. The main difference is that the fly gives the fish less reason to be suspicious- and sometimes that’s exactly what it takes.

Boogle Bug

This is a classic topwater fly for smallmouth bass. So much so that fly shops stock their shelves and every angler will tell you that you need a couple Boogle Bugs in your box. And the best part is that they’re right!

Boogle Bugs are a great all around topwater fly for smallmouth bass. They can be fished aggressively, causing a commotion at the top of the water. Or they can be fished with subtle little pulses to draw in fish. The hard cup head spits water out efficiently when the fly line is pulled.

I’ve found the most effective way to fish them is with a very gentle pulse. Cast it out, let the fly land, and every once in a while give your line a little pull to make it come alive!

Lastly, Boogle Bugs are very durable, able to last season after season, assuming you don’t lose ‘em in the trees. Not that I’ve ever done that…

Ole’ Mr. Wiggly

The Ole’ Mr. Wiggly has a ton of action all on its own. The dangly legs pulse through the water as it drifts down, resembling some tantalizing surface bug that smallies love to sip on.

This fly doesn’t necessarily mimic anything in particular. Rather, the profile and legs make it look like something edible that won’t require a ton of effort to eat. Simply cast this fly upstream, let it drift down, maybe give it a gentle pull or two and you’re good to go.

I like targeting the edges of rivers with Ole’ Mr. Wiggly flies. Smallies will get right on the edge and wait for any critters that may have fallen into the water. Ole’ Mr. Wigglies mimic a variety of those types of prey and are a great search pattern when you don’t wanna be too specific with your flies.

Gurgler

If you’re looking for a subtle commotion at the top, Gurglers are the way to go. These smaller flies have a foam head that creates just enough disturbance to get a fish’s attention without spooking them away. 

I like tying these in a variety of colors and have found baitfish patterns to be the most effective. The slender profile of a Gurgler looks like a baitfish to me, and the understated ripples (or gurgles) this fly makes gives a nice, natural presentation to smallmouth.

Terrestrials

Rivers, especially in the summer months, are full of grasshoppers, beetles, ants, or any other terrestrial type bug. Smallmouth are ready and willing to fill their bellies with these critters.

Often overlooked by smallmouth anglers, terrestrial type flies are a “match the hatch” style of fly that can be perfect for when smallies are picky. These are natural types of presentations that can be a day-saver when the fish are in that type of mood and nothing else works.

I like throwing these around grassy edges and under bushes from where bugs may naturally fall into the water.

Dry Flies

Don’t sleep on dry flies for smallmouth bass! They’re not just for trout.

Dry flies can be an effective option when there is a large hatch going on. In my home waters, there can be hundreds of damselflies or dragonflies flying around the surface on which smallies can gorge themselves.

Smallmouth are not as picky as trout with dry flies, so anything that somewhat resembles the natural hatch can work well. Worry less about the exact size and color, just get the general profile right of whatever is going on and you’ll be in a good spot!