Smallmouth Bass Fishing in the Rain: A Fly Angler’s Guide
When it comes to smallmouth fishing, rain can either ignite the bite or give fish a case of lockjaw. Some anglers might call it quits at the first drop, but if you know how rain impacts smallmouth behavior, you can actually turn those wet conditions into some of your best fishing days.
Whether it’s a light sprinkle or a heavy downpour, the amount of rain can really influence which flies and tactics will get the most bites. In this article, we’ll dive into how different rain scenarios affect smallmouth bass and give you some tips on which flies to throw and what to target when the weather turns wet.
Key Points for Smallmouth Fishing in the Rain
When fishing for smallmouth bass in the rain, the severity of the rain plays a big role in fly selection.
Light Rain: Smallies become more active and may feed on insects that get knocked into the water. Use poppers, terrestrials, and small streamers to mimic this easy prey and begin targeting the shallows.
Moderate Rain: As the rain picks up, water clarity decreases, and bass might move right on the edges of the river. Streamers, poppers and crayfish patterns are key. Targeting the shorelines can be very effective. Darker flies provided added contrast in stained water.
Heavy Rain: In heavy downpours, water becomes murky, and bass seek deeper, protected spots. Use large, dark or flashy streamers and weighted flies to get their attention and reach them where they’re hiding.
After the rain, as the water clears, you can transition back to more natural fly patterns. Understanding these adjustments can help turn rainy days into productive fishing trips.
Is it Worth Fly Fishing in the Rain?
Absolutely! Especially because if you don’t go fishing, there’s a 0% chance you will catch any fish.
While many anglers might shy away from wet weather, fly fishing in the rain can actually be very productive. Rain can stir up a river or lake, creating an environment where smallmouth bass become more active and aggressive in their feeding. The cloud cover that typically accompanies rain reduces light penetration, making fish feel more secure as they venture out to hunt.
Some anglers swear that some of their best days of fly fishing have come during a rainstorm. You can even tell by photos of large fish are often paired with the smiling angler wearing a wet rain jacket. Personally, some of the larger smallmouth I’ve caught have come while it’s been raining.
Of course, safety comes first. Certainly don’t be out there fishing if there is lightning or if the conditions are simply too harsh. Windy, rainy environments can also make it nearly impossible to cast. But if it’s safe and you can cast your flies effectively, fly fishing in the rain for smallmouth bass is generally worth it.
How Do Smallmouth Bass React to Rain?
Smallmouth bass tend to become more active during rain, particularly if the rain is light to moderate. The rain cools the water, especially during hot summer months, which can bring bass out from deeper, cooler areas into the shallows where prey is more accessible.
Rain also oxygenates the water, which can stimulate feeding. The disturbance on the water’s surface also makes bass less wary, as the noise and motion can mask your presence and the movement of your fly line.
However, if the rain is heavy it can send fish scrambling. A heavy downpour surges the water volume, which causes strong currents. This makes it difficult for smallies to hold their positions in their usual spots and usually sends them to deep, protected areas while the conditions calm down. It can also muddy the water, making it harder to fish to see their prey.
While a light to moderate rain can concentrate baitfish into shallow areas, heavy storms can wash them out and disperse them all over. This makes it difficult for bass to find food, which may make their feeding habits less aggressive.
Rainstorms also lower barometric pressure, which makes fish more active. The lower pressure puts less stress on their swim bladders, making them more comfortable and willing to hunt.
Where Do Smallmouth Bass Go When It’s Raining?
During light to moderate rain, smallmouth bass often move into shallower water, especially near structures like rocks, fallen trees, and ledges. These areas provide cover and opportunities to ambush prey that has been dislodged by the rain. The rain can also cause currents to increase, pushing baitfish and other food sources into predictable areas, making them prime spots for smallmouth to hunt.
However, if the rain is heavy and prolonged, bass may seek shelter in deeper water or behind large structures where they can escape the strongest currents. They don’t feel as safe in these conditions and sometimes will get a case of lockjaw while the conditions stabilize.
Imagine you’re out for a walk and it begins to lightly rain. Feels good doesn’t it? Probably won’t affect you all that much, maybe even energize you a little bit. Now imagine it’s a heavy downpour. Probably not so nice right? Fish react the same way!
When I fish in the rain, I often try to match my mood to the mood of the fish. If it’s tolerable, the fish probably feel similarly and I will continue to fish. If the rain becomes heavy enough and I get annoyed and/or frustrated with it, the fish likely are too.
What Flies to Use After Rain?
The severity of rain can greatly impact the behavior of smallmouth bass and the effectiveness of different fly patterns. As the rain intensifies, water conditions change, and so should your approach to fly selection. Here’s how to choose the right flies based on the intensity of the rain.
Light Rain Fly Selection
Light rain typically has a minimal impact on water clarity and temperature. It can create a slight ripple on the water’s surface, which makes smallmouth bass feel more secure as they hunt. The rain may also dislodge insects from vegetation, providing an easy meal for bass.
A little bit of rain triggers surface feeding, as smallmouth bass take advantage of insects falling onto the water and baitfish swimming in the shallows. Topwater patterns like poppers, hoppers and large dry flies can be effective in these conditions.
If the bass aren’t hitting the surface, small streamers like a Wooly Buggers, smaller Clouser Minnows, or any of your favorite baitfish patterns can work well just below the surface, imitating small baitfish or crayfish that bass are likely to pursue in the slightly disturbed water.
Essentially, I don’t let the light rain affect my fly selection all too much. I continue to fish as normal until the conditions change.
Moderate Rain Fly Selection
Moderate rain begins to impact water clarity and increases the flow in rivers and streams. The rain can wash more insects, baitfish, and other prey throughout the water, triggering more aggressive feeding behavior from smallmouth bass. However, visibility may decrease slightly.
This level of rain is when it starts to impact fish behavior and in turn, fly selection. I love fishing moderate rains as it seems to really trigger the fish and get them into a feeding frenzy.
In moderate rain, smallmouth bass initially like to move into the shallower areas where they have access to previously unavailable food. The rain is powerful enough to dislodge baitfish, crayfish, and terrestrials, but not so strong that it sends fish hiding.
As the rain continues, it will likely stain the water through the washing down of sediment and debris. This is when I like to size up my patterns and fish darker, bigger flies that fish can easily see. If the water isn’t stained too much, flashier patterns that grab the fish’s attention are also killer.
Larger streamers like Clouser Minnows, Gamechangers, Kreelex patterns, and more disruptive poppers are good choices. These flies mimic the larger prey that bass are likely to chase when they’re feeding more actively.
Crayfish are often dislodged during moderate rain, making them vulnerable. Any of your favorite crayfish patterns can be deadly when fished along the bottom near rocks and other structures.
Heavy Rain Fly Selection
Heavy rain significantly alters the water environment. The water often becomes muddy or stained, visibility drops, and currents can become strong. Oftentimes, a heavy rain will turn a river into what looks like a gigantic funnel of chocolate milk.
Smallmouth bass may become less active and move to deeper, more protected areas to avoid the stronger currents after a heavy rain. They tend to hunker down and wait until the environment calms down. But… they still gotta eat, right?
In murky water, visibility is low, so you’ll want to use larger, darker flies that create more movement and are easier for bass to detect. It’s time to size up and use big, bulky streamers that push a lot of water. Dark colored Dungeons, Gamechangers, and big Wooly Buggers are my personal favorites when the water is up after a heavy rain.
Because bass may be holding deeper in heavy rain, weighted flies or sink-tip lines are useful to get your flies down to where the fish are. Weighted Bunny Leeches, heavy Wooly Buggers and bushy crayfish patterns are good choices. They’ll get down deep and be detectable to the fish.
From experience, heavy rains often makes fishing much more difficult. The fish are in a bad mood and getting their attention with flies is simply harder to do. That’s not to say that you can’t catch fish, just know that you might have your work cut out for you.
How Long Does It Take for a River to Clear Up After Rain?
The time it takes for a river to clear up after rain can vary widely depending on the size of the river, the intensity and duration of the rain, and the surrounding terrain. Small streams might clear up within a few hours to a day, while larger rivers can take several days to return to normal clarity.
In some cases, especially after heavy rain, it might take a week or more for the water to settle completely. Monitoring the weather and water conditions will give you a better idea of when to head back out. In the meantime, focusing on areas of the river that clear up faster, like tributaries or sections with less runoff, can still yield good fishing.
Keeping track of water levels after a rain storm is crucial. It does take some experience and knowledge of your river to know if it’s fishable. However, avoiding huge spikes is often in your interest. When the water levels are unfishably high after a heavy rain, it might be worth taking a few days to tie some flies or find another body of water to fish.
But hey, you can’t catch fish from the couch though!
Conclusion
Understanding how smallmouth bass react to rain, where they go, and what flies to use can greatly increase your success. So next time the clouds gather and the rain begins to fall, don’t pack up your gear—grab your rod, and get ready for some of the best smallmouth bass fishing you’ve ever experienced.
