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