Smallmouth bass are some of the toughest freshwater fish to land. Once hooked, you can be sure you’ll have an exciting fight on your hands thanks to their acrobatics and powerful runs.  If you plan on fly fishing for smallmouth bass, there are a few things you should know beforehand.  This article will give you a few tips.

Location

Largemouth bass are usually found in weedbeds and brushpiles.  On the other hand, you’ll have more success finding smallmouths if you look in rocky areas.  They prefer rock ledges that provide a sudden change of depth.  You can also find them near rubble.

Current

If you’re used to fishing for largemouths, then you’ll spend most of your time in slack water.  However, when fly fishing for smallmouth bass, you’ll need to find a stronger current.  With their sharply angled fins and pointed noses, they do much better in water with a strong current.

Size

Largemouth bass aren’t very social fish.  However, you should be aware that smallmouths normally school together according to their size.  This means that if you catch a small fish, you will likely only find other smaller fish in that spot.  Conversely, if you land a bigger one, then you’ll probably find larger ones in the same location unless you spooked them away.

Temperature

When fly fishing for smallmouth bass, it’s important to take the water temperature into account.  They are usually most active when the temperature lies between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.  However, larger fish may still remain active when the temperature drops as low as 40 degrees.