summer smallmouth

well summer is in full swing and so is smallmouth fishing! This is my favorite time of year to be out chasing hard pulling smallmouth bass. As the water drops and warms smallmouth will start to heavily migrate towards banks seeking shade for cover and comfort from warming water. This is top water heaven and really start to focus on fishing patterns like boogle bugs chuck Kraft style cork bugs and top water baitfish flies.

Big smallmouth are smart and will tuck tight under shade and wait for bugs to fall off and offer a high protein diet that they don’t have to work hard for. Having this situation is perfect for fly fishing . A well placed bug in a shade line will produce some great fish from July through September. The real trick to catching these fish is to let the flies do the work meaning letting the bug sit with only slight wiggles to get the legs to move. People love to pop a popping bug and while some river systems do like a little pop on the bug I find that its the splat of the fly on the water will get a fishes attention and the slight wiggle just for those that missed the splat of the bug. You are not looking for big splashy eat its more of a toilet bowl flush that you will see. I have seen big fish come up and gently grab the hook and pull it under with little to no wake on the top. If fly fishing is not your thing I do offer spin fishing trips as well. I have several different approaches to mimic the same presentation as the fly to entice smallmouth into eating.

Booking early is always the key to getting prime dates but always leave a few dates open for those last minute trips. if your looking to get out and learn more about smallmouth and one of Virginias best game fish shoot me a email or call to get on the books!