| For fly fishing for bass can provide some of the most | | | | areas of the water that have a lot of vegetation and |
| exciting fishing in the country. The largemouth bass is | | | | cover. They spend a lot of time near the water's edge |
| probably the most popular game fish in America. The | | | | among the grasses, reeds, and other plants. |
| popularity of fishing for bass is partly because no other | | | | Many fly fishermen fishing for largemouth bass use |
| freshwater fish has a wider distribution. Largemouth | | | | bass bugs and poppers. Poppers were designed as a |
| bass can be found from southern Canada to South | | | | surface lure to be skipped across the top of the water |
| America. Smallmouth bass are also excellent for fly | | | | in a series of quick retrieves. Other good fly patterns |
| fishing, but they prefer slightly cooler waters and are | | | | for largemouth bass or the Muddler Minnow and the |
| not as ever present as the largemouth variety. | | | | Wooly Worm. There are some fly fishermen that |
| Generally, the warmer the water, the larger the bass | | | | prefer to use streamers and bucktail. |
| will grow. For example, a four or five pound bass may | | | | When fly fishing for bass the fly is worked differently |
| be large for a northern lake, but warmer southern | | | | than it is for trout. Poppers are worked not only for |
| waters regularly produce 10 pounders and better. The | | | | their appearance but also for their sound. Generally, |
| temperature of the water is a key factor not only in fly | | | | when a fly is cast for bass it should be allowed to |
| fishing, but in all fishing. When fishing for bass it is an | | | | remain unmoving for a longer period of time then for |
| especially important factor. | | | | trout. It is estimated that 60% of bass strikes are |
| The best fishing will take place just after the bass | | | | made on a still fly. Bass tend to inspect your fly for |
| have spawned, which is going to vary according to the | | | | some time before making the decision whether to |
| temperatures. For largemouth bass spawning takes | | | | take it or not. It is important to remember while fly |
| place when the water temperatures reached the low | | | | fishing, that the warmer the water, the longer it will take |
| to mid-60s. In Minnesota for example, a female bass | | | | the bass to take a fly. |
| may not deposit her eggs until mid-June, while in Florida | | | | At times fly fishermen like to tease the bass with |
| the female bass may spawn as early as February. | | | | repeated casts over the area where they think he's |
| The behavior of the largemouth bass is also influenced | | | | holding. Teasing can sometimes be a very effective |
| considerably by the top temperature of the water. On | | | | method in bringing a lazy fish up for a strike when |
| hot summer days, they usually feed during the early | | | | nothing else seems to work |
| morning hours and then again during the last few hours | | | | Fly fishing for largemouth bass can be a wonderful, |
| of daylight, when the sun isn't as bright and the water | | | | exciting experience. |
| temperature is cooler. Bass are generally found in | | | | |