Hi Folks, Most of the month of July and August are spent guiding on small streams for trout or chasing smallmouth bass on bigger water. It’s a nice mix in two totally different environments. Smallmouth bass are without question one of my favorite species to pursue in fresh water. Vermont offers fine river and Stillwater opportunities for bass. I prefer to fly fish for them. I think they are perfectly suited to be chased with the long rods and be caught off the surface with popping bugs. I prefer catching smallmouth bass though I do encounter largemouth as well. I guide bass trips are always early morning or late day. I want to fish low light periods. The ideal timeframe to have cracks at surface feeding fish. A lot of prey items tend to be more active dawn, dusk, and at night. Crawfish are candy to a smallmouth and they certainly are busy milling about during these timeframes. Lots of baitfish around these days. I find clouds of them in the shallows and off large weedy areas. It’s not unusual to see a bass crash into a school of baitfish. Then you have any water born insects like the giant mayfly Hexagenia hatching at dusk along with a plethora of land born insects like ants and hoppers falling in the water. There is plenty of motivation for a big smallmouth to chase prey in shallow water at times. I guide inland lakes where smallmouth are often one of the top predatory fish. They get to occupy some of the best feeding zones in lake. Larger bodies of water that have other predators like Pike or Musky or Walleye can drive bass into deeper water. Or they simply set up on deep reefs or humps for safety and to chase forage items.I am not a deep water bass guy who uses drop shot or a ned rig. I leave those methods to the Heathen spin anglers. I cover water with my method. Rock points, large boulders, drop offs,weed beds, docks, downed trees are all areas I explore with the fly. Lots of casting to suspected holding spots. A 6wt. or 7wt. with a floating line is perfect for turning over popping bugs. Patience is the key! Let the fish find the fly and pop it with enthusiasm. The takes are often violent yet there are times when big fish sip in the bug. I set the hook the same way on every take.Typically I am casting heavy leaders with a 12lb to 16lb tippet. Don’t be afraid to stick the fish when they eat. It is important to wait on the hook set in order to allow the fish to eat the presentation. Bass eat prey items whole and often swallow them alive. I am top water snob and I have a system for surface bass fishing with the fly that works. It’s a great way to improve your fly casting and really learn about how a fly rod loads. Watching a big bass hammer a popper is a rush! Plus a battle with a Vermont smallmouth on a fly rod is simply fun! Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home. Have Fun, Willy
