Summer and fly fishing for smallmouth bass go hand in hand. Despite the hot temperatures, smallmouth remain active and ready to take a fly. Other species (like trout) tend to slow down as the water temperatures rise, but smallies are still active and on the prowl. As long as you know where and how to find them, smallies are gonna be biting.

In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about summertime smallmouth bass fly fishing- from their behavior and the best gear to use, to the perfect flies and where to cast your line.

Summertime Water Temperatures for Smallmouth Bass

Once the water hits 75 degrees, smallmouth bass begin their summer patterning. 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 hot 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. The hottest parts of the day make smallmouth a little bit sluggish, so avoiding the warmest, sunniest part of the day can be helpful. Don’t get me wrong, they’ll still hit a fly, but it’s like convincing someone to eat a hot bowl of soup while the sun is beating down on them.

Smallmouth will take advantage of low-light conditions (sun up, sun 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.

Fly Fishing Gear for Summer Smallmouth Bass

Fly fishing gear for smallmouth bass in the summer time is similar to targeting them during other parts of the year but with a couple nuances that will help maximize your time on the water.

Rods

Fly rods for summertime smallies are a little bit lighter, in the 5-7 weight range, as we are more focused on finesse.

As we’ll mention below, top water is prime during the summer months and using a rod that can deliver poppers and other topwater patterns is key. Depending on what size and wind resistance of the topwaters you like to throw, use the appropriate rod.

So for instance, small gurglers may only need a 5 weight while bushy deer hair poppers may require you bump it up to a 7 weight. Make sure you keep this in mind before heading out to the water. I once tried throwing a larger Boogle Bug on a 5 weight and it was not pretty!

Reels

Reels for summer 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.

Don’t overthink your reel selection. In general, any quality reel, including one you might already have, will get you reeling in smallies.

Lines

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 summer 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 in the summer when you need an intermediate or full sinking fly line, especially if you fish larger bodies of water. If it’s the hottest part of the day and you’re targeting the deepest water, some sort of sinking line will help you get down there

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.

Leaders and Tippet

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 for Summer Smallmouth Bass

Now we get to the nuance of summertime smallmouth fishing- fly selection.

Typical flies for smallmouth- Wooly Buggers, Clousers, crayfish patterns are effective, though summertime provides a special opportunity. Fly fishing for summertime smallies is a prime opportunity to target them with topwater flies. During low-light conditions, smallies are more than willing to either hunt the shallows or come up from deeper water to inhale topwater flies. During the summer, there’s more bug and terrestrial activity, so there’s generally more food on the surface naturally. Topwater flies can mimic this and drive smallmouth crazy!

Since topwater is so effective (and fun) in the summer, carry a variety of sizes, colors, and types of topwater patterns in your box. Different styles of topwaters have different mechanisms, ranging from subtle to disruptive.

Topwaters for Summer Smallmouth

Disruptive topwaters like Boogle Bugs and deer hair poppers cause a big commotion at the surface, meant to draw in the attention of the fish. This can be highly effective for enticing eats from aggressive fish. They’re also beneficial in the sense that you’ll be making your presence aware- there’s no doubt that a disruptive topwater “pop” will announce to every fish in the area that there’s a meal waiting for them at the surface.

When smallmouth are in a more subdued mood, less aggressive topwater flies can be effective. Flies like gurglers and wedge-heads still create noise, but do so in a more muted manner. This can be effective for when you need to announce the presence of the fly, but don’t want to be overly aggressive.

When fishing subtle topwaters, let the water to the work. Cast your flies into the current, and let the natural movement of the water and fly take care of the action. Small strips here and there can add some liveliness to your presentation, but in general, keep it to a minimum and let the bass come up and sip!

Targeting Summer Smallmouth Bass

So we got our gear and our flies, but where do we target smallmouth in the summertime? The most important thing to focus on in this time of the year is understanding sunlight, depth, and water temperature. Fly fishing for smallmouth in the summer can be electric when you dial in their behavior!

Shade

As the heat rises, smallies will seek out shade as they try to stay cool. Any sort of structure- trees, boulders, bridges, etc. that provides some sort of relief from the sun can hold bass and we should target them as much as we can during the summer.

Transitional Areas

Transitional zones are areas where different types of habitat meet, such as where a riffle transitions into a pool or where a rocky shoreline meets a sandy bottom. Anywhere where the structure or water depth changes can be a great place for targeting smallies.

Unlike your stubborn grandpa, smallmouth like change. A variety of structure and depths gives smallies access to whatever suits their mood. They’ll hang in a deeper drop off, then crash to the shallows to eat a meal, or vice versa. Target transitional areas and you’ll soon key in on what the bass like that day, whether it be deeper or shallower water, or a certain piece of structure they may be relating to.

Schultz Outfitters has a short video of live-action summer topwater fishing around logs, submerged structure, and transitional areas. Check it out:

Riffles and Runs

Riffles and runs are areas where the water is moving quickly over a rocky or gravelly bottom. These spots provide lots of oxygen and are a conveyor belt of food. Smallies will position themselves behind larger rocks that create slower pockets where they can ambush prey.

These can be great areas to target all year round, but especially in the summer time. The moving water is generally cooler than stagnant water, which can be more comfortable for the fish to hang in.

Look for deeper pockets within these riffles and runs where the bass can hide. Cast your flies upstream and drift them down naturally to give the smallie a chance to see and attack your fly. Bass have to act quickly in these situations, so be ready for an aggressive strike!

Conclusion

Fly fishing for smallmouth bass in the summer is one of the peak times of the year for anyone with a fly rod.

When the weather gets hot, grab your 5-7 weight rod paired with a floating line and tie on a streamer or topwater pattern. Target areas where fish can stay cool- shaded areas, deeper water, weed lines, riffles, and runs. Prioritize transitional areas where depth and structure changes and you’ll be sure to find fish.

With this guide, you’ll be sure to be hooked up to smallies all summer long.

Stay cool and stay tight!