Smallmouth Flies Advice Request

[Robert Engleheart]

I will be spending a week after Memorial Day on a Northern California lake that has a healthy population of SMB as well as a good trout fishery. Haven’t fished for them previously and looking forward to targeting them. I plan on using leech patterns, crawfish and maybe some clouser patterns if I can confirm presence of baitfish and type. I’ve seen posts on here about Ned type lures, seems like I could fish them on a sink line or even a floater with a long leader if fish are shallow. I realize they, Ned rigs, may be best fished on spinning tackle but not really wanting to carry an extra rod as I’ll likely have four fly rods rigged for trout as well as bass. Looking
for suggestions as to patterns and sizes for SMB as well as thoughts on fishing Ned rigs on fly rods.

 

[Rob Allen]

Y

I will be spending a week after Memorial Day on a Northern California lake that has a healthy population of SMB as well as a good trout fishery. Haven’t fished for them previously and looking forward to targeting them. I plan on using leech patterns, crawfish and maybe some clouser patterns if I can confirm presence of baitfish and type. I’ve seen posts on here about Ned type lures, seems like I could fish them on a sink line or even a floater with a long leader if fish are shallow. I realize they, Ned rigs, may be best fished on spinning tackle but not really wanting to carry an extra rod as I’ll likely have four fly rods rigged for trout as well as bass. Looking
for suggestions as to patterns and sizes for SMB as well as thoughts on fishing Ned rigs on fly rodrod

You need to talk to Corey Williams. Fishing manager at the Redding Sportsman’s Warehouse store..

 

[Zak]

I will be spending a week after Memorial Day on a Northern California lake that has a healthy population of SMB as well as a good trout fishery. Haven’t fished for them previously and looking forward to targeting them. I plan on using leech patterns, crawfish and maybe some clouser patterns if I can confirm presence of baitfish and type. I’ve seen posts on here about Ned type lures, seems like I could fish them on a sink line or even a floater with a long leader if fish are shallow. I realize they, Ned rigs, may be best fished on spinning tackle but not really wanting to carry an extra rod as I’ll likely have four fly rods rigged for trout as well as bass. Looking
for suggestions as to patterns and sizes for SMB as well as thoughts on fishing Ned rigs on fly rods.

They look up, sometimes. I used to fish a Hex hatch on a smallmouth pond in Vermont, after dark with big dry flies. It was magical.

 

[Driftless Dan]

I am no smallmouth fisherman, but a smallmouth guide did speak at my fly club's meeting many years ago. Basically, he wasn't too concerned by specific colors, but of course did like crawfish patterns. Most important was that every fly he had, had a small rattler tied into it.

 

[clarkman]

Local knowledge will give you the best local advice...


Once you figure out the local forage....that'll be your answer.

I love fishing big baitfish patterns for our smallies in the Columbia but there are a lot of forage items that ARE baitfish there.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Y

You need to talk to Corey Williams. Fishing manager at the Redding Sportsman’s Warehouse store..

Thanks Rob, I’ll do that.

 

[Robert Engleheart]

They look up, sometimes. I used to fish a Hex hatch on a smallmouth pond in Vermont, after dark with big dry flies. It was magical.

Unfortunately this lake’s hex hatch occurs in July, a month or more after my trip. I might get lucky and catch them on the spawn, depends on snowpack melt timing.

 

[Draketake]

Hey Robert,

Have fun on your adventure.

Check out some you tube videos on NED Flies. I just got done tying a bunch. I think they are gonna work just fine and can be very fly rod friendly and very fly rod efficient.

I tied up some Raineys Rich's Ultimate Worm Flies and some Snake River Fly Company "Propoganda Worms" to name a few. Red's Fly Shop has a great video out on how to fish the Ultimate Worms.

Let us know how you do.

Bob

 

[Robert Engleheart]

Local knowledge will give you the best local advice...
View attachment 104389

Once you figure out the local forage....that'll be your answer.

I love fishing big baitfish patterns for our smallies in the Columbia but there are a lot of forage items that ARE baitfish there.

There are several other NorCal lakes that are well known for quality SMB, this one seems to be off the radar and those in the know are not very open about it, not a bad thing. I have some ideas about what’s there, with a week to figure it out I’m cautiously optimistic.

 

[clarkman]

Can't wait for a report! That's so fun figuring this stuff out.

 

[NukeLDO]

They look up, sometimes. I used to fish a Hex hatch on a smallmouth pond in Vermont, after dark with big dry flies. It was magical.

I did the same on a small lake in southern Maine with a hex hatch....never knew what was going to be on the other end of the line.....sometimes smallmouth....some quite large....sometimes trout....also surprisingly large. My buddy and I would have coordinate casting, as we quickly figured out two of us casting in the dark out of a 12 ft flatbottom boat didn't work so well! Loved that fishing.

 

[Divad]

I fish for them at the lake a fair bit in summer. Leeches and heavily weighted little crawdads work awesome.

One observation I noticed is that they would strike my sink 3 or sink 6 line at the loop connection. These were 1-2lb smb. I think a clear intermediate would be very useful.

 

[Brute]

When I fished the upper Sac going into Lake Shasta my buddy did pretty well with smb on sculpzillas...I would imagine crawdads would work well too.

 

[NWFFO]

Our crew at NWFFO is leading the way and guiding in Portland for warm water species including smallies, yes we still fish and love trout/steelhead, but smallies are a ton of fun.

Our go to flies are Leggy Boi’s, Fleein’ Cray, Feather Changers, Finesse Changers, and then an assortment of poppers. We love casting big flies for the big fish and do very well. If you want more details please feel free to call.

(503) 252-1529

 

[Zak]

Steve Culton's Countermeasure fly was designed for smallmouth.

What's in your vise?

Anyone ever fished anything like this before? Supposed to be like a dun crawling out of its nymphal shuck. Hoping the butt end hangs low in the water and the parachute part sits flush. Hook: Firehole 317 sz. 18 Thread: Veevus 14/0 Dun Rear Body: Polish Quill Natural Soft Hackle: Whiting...

pnwflyfishing.com

 

[western waters]

I’ve done well for shallows in CA with slumpbusters and meat whistle flies. Finding the right retrieve is important, depending on their mood and water temp.

 

[Bakerite]

If you're lucky they may take poppers. I fished a lot for them in Eastern Oregon and have done well on divers and poppers when they are in the mood. Hanging a bugger or clouser off the popper works well too. If the fish are deep no popper and sinking line. It seems that getting the fly in front of the fish is the main thing