Introduction

Smallmouth bass are one of my favorite targets on the fly rod. They’re aggressive, hard fighters and offer the perfect integration of challenge and reward. Smallmouth bass are not necessarily the hardest fish to catch but you still need to make accurate casts and presentations with your fly. They’re not going to hammer any ole’ fly that you plop on their heads, nor are they as finicky or picky as trout. They do however, often reward you with a well presented fly with a surprisingly fierce fight.

Smallmouth are also abundant and easily accessible to many people in the US. Many rivers and colder water bodies of water are likely to hold smallies. With that type of access, smallmouth are a great target for beginner fly anglers.

While smallies can be found in lakes and reservoirs, this guide we will give a focused overview of fly fishing for river smallmouth bass, their seasonal patterns, where to target them, and how to catch them on the fly.

Also, check out our review of “Smallmouth: Modern Fly-Fishing Methods, Tactics, and Techniques” by Dave Karczynski and Tim Landwehr

What are Smallmouth Bass?

Smallmouth bass (micropterus dolomieu) are a freshwater fish in the sunfish family. They are generally brownish green with vertical bars spanning their bodies, which tend to be slender and muscular. This allows them to be notably powerful swimmers for their size and are a favorite target of all types of anglers across the US.

Smallmouth bass are native to the middle and northern regions of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes Region (most notably in the St. Lawrence River) and have been introduced in nearly all the US States. Also known as bronzebacks or brown bass, smallmouth thrive in colder water compared to their cousin the largemouth bass.

While smallmouth and largemouth are cousins in the same family, they differ in appearance and habitat. Smallmouth like cooler, clearer water especially in streams, rivers, and clear water areas of lakes, while largemouth seem to prefer warmer temperatures and slower moving parts of rivers and streams. 

Largemouth bass are also greener in color with a more horizontal lateral line spanning their bodies. Additionally, a telltale sign of a largemouth is its jaw extending past the midpoint of the eye.

Understanding Seasonal Patterns of River Smallmouth

Like all other fish, seasonal patterns affect smallmouth behavior. Knowing what fish like to do during certain parts of the year and in certain ranges of water temperatures will strongly impact their level of activity and the way we fish for them. Personally, I have always been impressed with guides’ knowledge of how weather and seasons affect fish behavior and is undoubtedly a reason they are able to put people on fish with consistently.

There are two big factors in smallmouth seasons: water temperature and the spawn. Water temperature strongly impacts the level of fish activity and the spawn can help predict when and where fish will be. These two factors will be affected by the season of the year.

The seasons of smallmouth can be broken down into 6 categories, with some nuances revolving around the spawn in the spring. Keep in mind that these are general patterns. These seasons affect most of the fish and there may be some rogue smallies that do their own thing. That non-perfect predictability can be frustrating, but would fishing be fun if you could predict everything, all the time? This will give you a good basis on understanding fish patterns during certain times of the year.

Spring

As the waters warm up from the winter, smallmouth begin to get active. They’ve spent most of the winter sluggishly amid cold water and once that water temperature begins to increase, so does their appetite. During this time of the year, they’ve got two things on their mind: feeding and reproducing. Much of their behavior is determined by the spawn during this time of the year and there are some important distinctions within this time window to consider.

Pre-Spawn (Water Temperature: mid-40s)

Once the water temperatures hit the mid-40s, smallmouth begin to depart their deep-water winter haunches and head for the shallows. They like to hang in “transitional” areas such as drop offs or points. Transitional areas or “staging” areas are anywhere the bass can shift from their winter homes in deeper water towards shallower water as the spawn approaches.

Spawn (Water Temperature: Upper 50s to mid 60s)

As the weather warms up and water temps hit the upper 50s to mid 60s, smallmouth begin to spawn. It’s important to note that not all bass spawn at once. Once the water hits their preferred temperature ranges, some fish may spawn quickly, some will begin to build nests, and some may hang out and continue to stage.

For spawning purposes, smallies seem to prefer shallow areas of the river with hard bottoms, small rocks, or even sandy spots. Essentially, they look for areas to create nests where eggs can be laid. Smallmouth are strong, but they’re not strong enough to move boulders or sunken trees, so they must find areas where they can kick out debris in order to make homes for their offspring.

Male smallmouth create these nests with their tails and fins. Shallow areas with clear water and a hard bottom make for the best spawning grounds. The males use their fins and tails to kick out rocks, sticks, or any debris to create round “beds” where they do their thing with the female and baby smallmouth are made. You can see these beds very clearly a lot of the time and it’s best to avoid stepping on them if you are wading. 

Females then move up from the staging areas and are courted by the male fish and choose their mates. There’s no confirmed basis for how females choose their partners, but I like to think the males flex their fins to show off their muscles in order to attract female mates. From there, the magic happens and baby smallmouth are created. 

Males will guard these beds for up to 4 weeks after eggs are laid to protect their young. Some anglers choose not to fish beds during the spawn for ethical reasons. Catching fish during the spawn can disrupt the reproductive cycle of the species which could endanger the future of the fish. There are other fish to catch that are not actively mating, so some anglers (and states) feel that it’s best to let the spawning fish do their thing during this time.

Post-Spawn (60’s to low 70s)

Once the fish are done spawning, they tend to need some time to recuperate. Post-spawn smallmouth are notoriously difficult to catch. The females have spent the spawning season mating and laying thousands of eggs while the males have spent a ton of energy making beds, spawning, and protecting their young. Once this is complete, smallmouth require some time to chill out.

This post-spawn rest period can last about 2 weeks and really slows down their activity. They’ll hang out in deeper, slower moving water or anywhere they don’t have to constantly fight the current. Drop offs near their spawning nests are a great place to look for them, but they’ll be tough to hook in their post-spawn trance.

Once they’re done rejuvenating themselves, they’re back to feeding and often they feed aggressively. Smallies will transition back to shallow water to feed on baitfish and catching fish on topwater becomes a great option.

Summer (75-90 degrees)

After most of the fish have spawned and the weather really starts to cook, smallmouth enter their summer patterns at the mid-70s water temperature mark. At this time, smallies are all about finding cool water whether that be in deeper, slower areas like drop-offs, or faster, shallower water like riffles and runs. They don’t like to cook in the boiling water and tend to post up in areas that provide shelter from the summer heat.

This is the time of the year where time of day comes more into play. Smallmouth will take advantage of low-light conditions (sun up, sund down, cloudy days) when feeding. Early morning and late in the afternoon, fish will come to the shallows when they get hungry and then depart back to deeper water once the water temps feel like a sauna. The 80 degree water temperature mark is a good barometer for indicating when smallmouth enter this patterning phase.

Check out more in Top Tips for Summer Smallmouth Fly Fishing.

Fall (below 70)

As the summer heat cools down, smallmouth will begin to transition towards slightly deeper water closer toward their deep water winter haunts. Channels, points, and drop offs offer good access to deep water and shallow flats to feed. 

Fishing in the fall can be very productive. During this time of the season, water tempertures can be in the 60s which the comfort zone for smallmouth. They’ll also bunch up and hunt in schools, so if you catch one smallie, there’s a good chance there are several more around!

When fishing in the fall, explore each depth of the water column. Depending on the conditions and what part of the season it is, fish could be feeding in the shallows, prepping themselves for the winter, or suspending in the middle. It takes a little experimentation, but know that once you find one, you likely found a pack of them.

In general, if the water temps are in the upper 60’s, fish more shallow water and as winter arrives and the temps drop, so do the fish. Target deeper water as it gets colder!

Winter (60 and below)

In the winter, smallmouth bass go deep. They’lll seek water in the 20 feet and below range but if your local honey hole doesn’t go that deep, they’ll find the thickest water they can. They’ll seek out water that suits their comfort and safety zones as much as they can and could be willing to travel miles in order to find their most suitable stretch of water.

Smallmouth fishing in the winter is notoriously slow but is known for a time of the year to catch trophies. Their metabolism slows down, meaning they don’t burn as many carlories, which in turn means they need to eat less. Nevertheless, fish still gotta eat during the winter at some point, they’re just consuming less and less willing to chase prey down so fishing very slowly is key. Some anglers like to size up their presentations and offer big, meaty meals that are easy for the fish to chow down on. If they’re gonna eat, why not make it a big, easy to consume meal?

Understanding Smallmouth Habitat

Smallmouth habitat is all about structure. Structure is a big buzzword in bass fishing for good reason: any part of the river that deviates from the norm- drop-offs, ledges, trees, docks, rocks, runs, wood, weedlines, seams, etc. are all likely smallmouth bass holding spots. Smallies are opportunistic, ambush predators so if you find an area that can provide shelter and access to food, there likely will be smallies hangin’ out. 

Smallmouth often have well defined ranges of home habitat. Once they find an area that they like, with their perfect combination of water temperature, water clarity, depth, and structure, they’ll generally stick around that area. These ranges can be somewhat large during the prime of the year when water temps are in their comfort zone, but can shrink when water temps get either too hot or too cold and there are few areas in the system that fit their criteria. Most notably they’ll group up in schools during the hot summer months and the cold water of late fall and winter.

One notable separation from their largemouth cousins is that smallmouth generally don’t love dense growth or murky water. Largemouth love spots of the river with heavy weeds, thick lilypads, and slow off-colored moving water where smallies generally stick to areas with cleaner water, faster current, and slightly more open space. I generally like to think of smallmouth as more active, energetic fish and will seek out water where they feel safe but have access to food and structure. 

Understanding their habitat impacts the way we target them and knowing the areas smallies like to live and hunt can strongly amplify our ability to catch them.

Targeting Smallmouth Bass in Rivers

Putting it all together, when we target smallmouth in rivers, we need to find water that is clean, moving, and has structure. Now that we know their habitat and seasonal patterns, we can use satellite images to break down an area of the river.

Check out more on Using Satellite Images to Catch More Fish.

The following is a breakdown of a river in Illinois, but the same process can be applied to any river. 

This section of river offers solid options with a variety of holding and hunting areas for smallies. It’s a smaller river, most of the water is 1-4 feet deep with some deeper spots and generates consistent, clean water.

• Swift Current
  • These spots are where the water runs swiftly and consistently and has access to cover. I’ve noticed smallies come out here to feed and quickly retreat back to their haunches. 
• Trees/Wood
  • Overhanging trees offer cover for smallies to hide from birds and other predators. These are great spots, especially in the summer when the trees offer a cooler, shadier spot for fish to hang out.
• Deep Holes
  • This is a big, deep hole where I’ve found fish like to rest and recouperate. I haven’t caught a ton of fish out of this hole, but it does have access to shallower water and have found fish on the drop-off.
• Slow/Stagnant Water
  • Haven’t caught a single smallie out of this water, but have found that largemouth and carp like to hang around in there. While not actively feeding, you can try to catch a reaction strike from these fish, but they likely won’t be smallmouth.
• Rocks
  • Rock piles are home to crayfish, arguably the number 1 target on a smallmouth’s diet. Bump a fly around these rocks and there’s sure to be a fish hanging around.

When targeting smallmouth, fish these prime areas first. Depending on the time of the year and weather conditions, smallmouth can spread out so it’s best to experiment until you find a pattern.

Learn more on how weather patterns affect fly fishing for smallmouth bass in Cold Fronts and Smallmouth Bass: Feast or Famine?

Fly Fishing Gear for Smallmouth Bass

Fly fishing gear for smallies is mostly streamer fishing and the proper gear revolves around throwing bass bugs. The weight of the rod and the size of the fish you’re targeting will be mostly determined by the size of the fly you want to throw.

For more details on streamer fishing, check out The Beginner’s Guide to Streamer Fishing.

Rods

Fly rods for smallmouth can range, depending on the size of the fish in your waters and the size of the flies you throw. I’ve caught smallies on a creek with a 4 weight and smallies on an 8 weight on bigger water when chasing the big girls. The best all-around fly rod for smallmouth bass is a 6 weight. This weight class can handle a wide array of flies and is the perfect combination of fish handling capabilities and fun. A 12 inch smallmouth can put a bend in your 6 weight and will be able to handle the 4 pounders you hook into.

Rods with fast actions are also key for smallmouth. You’ll be primarily streamer fishing with sometimes bushy bugs, so you need a rod that can sling those through the air. Rods with fast (or even extra fast) help you cut through the air.

For the angler looking to mix things up, moderate action fly rods can also be a lot of fun. Mostly used on super clear waters and spooky fish, moderate (or even slow) rods can delicately present your flies without much of splash. Glass rods are popular for this type of fly fishing, though if you’re just beginning, stick with the standard fast action.

Reels

Reels for smallmouth are pretty standard. Any quality reel with a solid drag that matches your fly line size will get the job done. Smallies will go on runs and can peel drag, especially when they get in a fast current. 

You don’t necessarily need a sealed drag with these fish, that’s more a concern if fishing in the salt. It’s nice to have a sealed drag knowing that nothing can get in your gears, but isn’t vital for fishing freshwater smallmouth. In general, any quality reel, including one you might already have, will get you reeling in smallies.

Lines and Leaders

Fly lines for smallmouth bass can be very important for efficiency and castability. You can get away with a standard weight-forward line, but specific “bass tapers” improve your casting dramatically. Bass tapers help turn over bushy flies and can cut through the wind with significantly more efficiency and ease. 

Bass tapers generally have relatively heavy heads (the part of the line closest to the leader) and are extremely helpful when casting larger or bushier flies. When I picked up my first bass tapered fly line, I was shocked by how big of a difference it made. I tried using it for trout in a pinch one time and it very often over-threw smaller nymphs and made dry flies sound like a volcano eruption. If you know you’ll be using this line specifically for bass, I would recommend anyone getting a specially produced bass taper fly line. 

For the vast majority of my smallmouth fishing, I use a floating line. When I’m smallmouth fishing, I’m generally fishing at or near the surface. However, there are times when you need an intermediate or full sinking fly line, especially if you fish larger bodies of water. These will help you get your fly under the water and to the right depth. Personally, I fish smallmouth mostly in small rivers, so if I need to get a fly down deeper, I just throw on a poly or versileader to get my flies down deep.

Leader and tippet strengths are pretty straightforward and largely depend on the size of fly you’re throwing and the size of fish you are targeting. On a floating line, an 8 ft leader tapered down to 10 pound tippet is a good starting point. If you are targeting larger fish or know you’ll be banging your fly around rocks and trees, bump it up to 15 or even 20 pound. On any sinking line, the same logic applies, though cut your leader and tippet down to 3 to 4 feet so your fly tracks smoothly with the line.

Check out more on leaders in Best Fly Fishing Leaders for Smallmouth Bass.

Flies

One of the great things about smallmouth is that they are not that picky when it comes to their forage. They are opportunistic feeders and are willing to chow down on minnows, crayfish, hellgrammites, frogs, etc. Flies for smallmouth therefore can range from baitfish patterns, crayfish patterns, and topwater poppers.

According to many scientific studies and many anglers, both conventional and fly, crayfish are smallmouth’s most sought out delicacy. Some studies will claim that 60+% of a bass’ diet is crawdads. From experience, smallmouth will hammer just about anything as long as it looks like food. I love fishing crawdad patterns when I need to fish slowly along the bottom, but generally stick to faster moving “search” flies like baitfish patterns and topwater as I explore a body of water for fish. 

Depending on the time of the season, it’s important to know whether bass will likely be holding down deep, near the shallows, or suspending in the middle of the water column. This is vital for figuring out what type of pattern to fish. Fishing topwater poppers for smallmouth is one of the more addicting forms of fly fishing. It generally coincides with trout slowing down, so many people quickly swap their 4 weight dry fly rods for 6 weights and start slinging bugs for bass. 

My personal go-to pattern for smallmouth is (no surprises here) the Wooly Bugger in black, olive, or brown in sizes 2-6. Smallmouth have a pretty versatile diet and the Wooly Bugger resembles a variety of prey, so I have a ton of confidence that smallies will strike it thinking it’s either a crawfish, baitfish, or hellgrammite.

Some of my other favorite flies for smallmouth are the Murdich Minnow, Gamechanger, Clouser Minnows, Kreelex, Crayfish patterns, Dungeons, poppers, and Gurglers. Selecting the type of fly is less about “matching the hatch” and more about “matching the mood” of the fish. If fish are active and willing to chase, tie on a baitfish pattern. When they’re close to the surface, tie on a popper or gurgler. If you think they’ll be down at the bottom, a slow moving bottom fly like a crayfish pattern is a must.

Conclusion

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass is addictive. They offer the perfect combination of accessibility, fight, and reward for well-presented flies. 

Catching smallies is more about matching their mood, not necessarily matching their prey sources. In order to catch these fish at a consistent clip, we need to know their seasonal patterns, which in turn gives us a good indication of where in a river smallies will be holding up. Once we know that their in a certain type of water, we can tie on our favorite baitfish, crayfish, or popper pattern and on a good day, could hook into dozens of hard fighting footballs.

Using this guide, you will armed with all the tools and tactics you will need to fly fish for smallmouth bass. Grab your six weight, a variety of flies, and get hooked.

What are your favorite smallmouth tactics?