water conditions. The floating line and long leader will also be used for swinging and waking a surface offering. On many rivers smallmouth are very surface oriented which provides another very enjoyable aspect of bass fishing.
Rotating through the pool provides the same advantage of water coverage as when fishing for migratory fish. The actual approach is uncomplicated. A mend can be used to control depth but smallmouth readily move up to feed. A uniform swing across the current will be very effective. For a variation, add a short strip or pulse to allow the fly to dart and move in the water. Make sure that the fly covers obvious areas of high percentage structure. Allow the fly to sit for an extended period on the hang down, especially when fishing a dry. Smallmouth often follow a fly and attack when it stops moving.
I have caught smallmouth in the spring on just about any of my favorite steelhead flies. So in other words it is not necessary to be too particular with pattern selection. But when specifically targeting smallmouth it makes sense to utilize flies that represent a common food source for that river. Streamers that represent bait common to that river or various crayfish imitations are always a good choice. Bunny buggers and over-dressed wooly buggers in black, brown, or olive are universally effective smallie patterns. For surface flies I prefer patterns that push some water and make a disturbance such as deer hair poppers and foam gurglers.
When specifically targeting bass, matching the right two-hander or switch for the job will add to the enjoyment. Lighter rods will increase the ability to cover specific structure and enhance the connection to a smallmouth when one is hooked. The added sensitivity of a lighter rod will also help detect subtle takes.
A smallmouth bass was the first game fish that I ever caught. And growing up on a smallmouth river lead to the development of a special affinity. Targeting bass with the swung fly requires a slight shift in mind set from pursuing migratory trout and salmon. The fish aren’t as big nor as sexy, but represent the opportunity for some relaxing time on the water with the chance of multiple hookups. And just about any angler will learn to appreciate the smallmouth’s aggressive spirit. If you live near a smallmouth river, try to swing a few up this summer - you won’t be disappointed.