Archive | May, 2009
Fall Transition Largemouth Bass
When Mother Nature takes her brush and paints the leaves on our trees orange, yellow and brown. When Friday night and Saturday afternoons are spent cheering on your favorite high school or college football team. When the air temp gets a little cooler at night and not nearly as high at mid-day. When the water [...]
Continue reading...A December to Remember: Blade Baits and Reservoir Smallmouth
26. May 2009
Looking back at the past year, I realize that I have learned more since last March than in the previous five years combined. The switch from river to reservoir smallmouth fishing brought an entirely new set of rules, patterns, and techniques. The technique that I learned late in the year, vertical jigging a blade bait, [...]
Continue reading...Smallmouth Bass Lures
26. May 2009
Lures used for Smallmouth bass fishing should be downsized versions of those used for Largemouth Bass, to accomodate their smaller mouths. A variety of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, topwaters, soft baits and jigs can be effective. Sizes ranging from 1/8 oz. - 1/2 oz. are most commonly used. Top Water Baits Tiny Torpedo: 1-7/8″ length, 1/4 oz, [...]
Continue reading...Smallmouth Bass Flies
26. May 2009
Below are some of the best Smallmouth Flies for topwater and sub-surface action. Stonefly Bugger - size 6 Franke Hellgrammite - size 4 Clouser Minnow - size 6 Clouser Deep Minnow - Size 6 Gaines’ Sneaky Pete - size 4 Crayfish - size 8 Popper size 4 - 6 Zonkers size 4 - 6 Bead Head Woolly Bugger size 4-6 Dragonfly size 4-6 Foam Slider [...]
Continue reading...Knots for Fly Fishing
26. May 2009
There is no substitute for learning to tie good knots. If you build your own leaders you have the added flexibility of customizing leaders for different presentations and fishing situations. Nail knot - Used to attach the leader butt to the fly line. If you lightly coat this knot with epoxy, it will last all [...]
Continue reading...Fly Fishing Leaders and Tippet
26. May 2009
The goal for most fly fishers is to provide the fish with a drag-free drift. This means the fly must look like it is not attached to anything (the leader) as it drifts in the current. A leader designed to fall on the water with built in slack will help accomplish this. The George Harvey leader [...]
Continue reading...Fly Casting
26. May 2009
Understanding the mechanics and physics of the cast will help you to optimize your casting skills and develop your own casting style. Line speed and timing, not power, will gain you more distance and control. You cannot make a cast until you get the end of the line moving. On the back cast, the end [...]
Continue reading...Crankbaits for Smallmouths - A Beginner’s Guide
26. May 2009
I hope some of the following thoughts will help young and beginning fishermen have a better understanding of fishing a crankbait. I guess every Bass fisherman has a “Go To” lure that they have more confidence in than any other. To some it’s a jig, to others its spinner bait or a worm. I have a [...]
Continue reading...Wading for Smallmouth Bass Primer
26. May 2009
One of the simplest forms of fishing without a boat is to walk into the water and cast. It is a no-frills way of approaching fish and searching shallow stretches that may or may not be canoe, boat or kayak accessible. There are a few things to keep in mind when wading that may help [...]
Continue reading...Choosing a Flyrod for Smallmouth Bass
26. May 2009
As an instructor for fly casting, working with students in my classroom set up in my basement and also working with and guiding them on the water, I have no gain in what equipment they buy. So when I recommend a rod to a student or angler it is for one reason… it is the [...]
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Smallmouth Angler Gallery
26. May 2009
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