Each prey item acts like a Tootsie Roll, it lasts a long, long time. When swinging flies, you’ve got a big challenge in front of you. I generally use a shank to tie the body and add some material to the stinger. What else do you need to know about fishing the great lakes for steelhead? Watch the water, look for birds, warm your hands and toes, have a bite to eat or slug of water and then get back to fishing where the big girls await. © 2021 Outdoor Sportsman Group. This is why the skagit short is a great choice for switch rods. Perhaps you are one of those yourself. Smallmouth are opportunistic feeders, not thoughtful feeders. Cold water has the opposite effect. (Photo by David Paul Williams). I will tell you his house is in Michigan, but that's about the extent of my knowledge. The idea being that you can fish both styles when needed. // Smallmouth Bass. A lot of the smallmouth spawning activity takes place in this stretch too, so don’t ignore slow, shallow corners of tailouts and backwaters with lots of gravel, especially as the season progresses. I was really happy with the flies I bought on Amazon. Smallmouth bass can still be caught. This fly is a direct decedent of Mike Schultz's Swinging D and Eric Snyder's Twisted Swinger. The Hobie MirageDrive 360 pedal propulsion system is the pinnacle of kayak control with more efficient fin designs, glide technology and allows the boat to be moved in any direction. Use these tips to boost your angling success fly fishing for smallmouth bass. Plan your next fishing and boating adventure here. Find out how to fish the St. Louis River, how to set hooks with streams for smallmouth, trout and pike. If you need to take a break every hour or so, do it. Thankfully the trout were moderately accommodating yesterday before the big winds kicked up. Rocks and bottom debris can be unforgiving but using a stouter tippet can help save gear. Failure is what it’s all about. Like their largemouth cousins, or even trout, smallmouth bass are adaptable ambush predators anglers can take on an assortment of flies. Steelhead of the Great Lakes area are winter fish, and as such won’t be feeding as much on the buggier type of flies that you might see summer run fish take. Olive, brown, black and purple top the list. Before the front hits, they can increase activity. Just remember when tying the fly add the materials in the correct sequence so they present the proper color scheme when fished. Along with the skagit line, you will need to purchase tips to cover different conditions. Want to test the outer limits of your shooting skill? The snap T and singe spey/double spey are some of the best. Here is a nice background summary of these larger intruder style flies. There was an error submitting your subscription. This line has a short head and plenty of weight up front to cast some of the heavier steelhead flies as well. Swinging Smallmouth bass start switching into spawn mode at about the same time as the. It will make your quest very pleasant, extremely rewarding and it will even help you catch more large bass. Fishing with Multi Density Skagit Heads; Streamer Fishing Techniques with Ard Stetts ; Surround Yourself With the Right People! This link gives a few examples that work well in the Great Lakes. An even better solution is using flies tied on Daiichi 45-or 60-degree jig hooks so the hook rides point up. Smallmouth junkies, this one’s for you! Males will guard nests aggressively, so swinging a fly into their vicinity is a sure way to draw a strike. Donnie Vincent fly fishing for Silvers; Drone Coverage of Winter Steel; Fly fishing for Silvers…and Education (for me) Trout Spey. Many of these flies are imitating either an egg, flesh of a salmon or some type of minnow. Selecting the proper tackle for your smallmouth bass fly fishing will enable you to get the most out of your pursuit of this fine fish. I sweetened the fly by applying crawfish scent to the fabric claws to encourage the smallmouth to hold on longer and give me an extra split second to set the hook. If you have an 11.5’ 6 weight switch rod, the corresponding 6 wt. Instead of using a long inflexible hook, you can use your prefered stinger type hook. The overall mood of the trout, smallmouth, and salmon has been off all week. The lake gets bonus points if that new water is a bit off color as the bass can use it for concealment when ambushing prey. Sight Savvy: Different styles of bow sights each have their strengths—and weaknesses. (You also get a free spey line if you pickup the Echo Spey), Why I turned to the Dark Side and now use a Spey Rod, Steelhead Report with John McMillan – Columbia River, Olympic Peninsula, Rainforest Steel (WFS 117), Steelhead Alley with Greg Senyo – Laser Dub, Fly Tying (WFS 176), Australia Fishing with Peter Morse – Fly Fishing Tasmania, New Zealand (WFS 111), Fly Water Travel with Ken Morrish – Dry Fly Patterns, Fly Design (WFS 181), WFS 180 – Koffler Boats with Joe Koffler (Drift Boat Series Ep. Still-water smallmouth also move in predictable seasonal patterns. Selecting the proper tackle for your smallmouth bass fly fishing will enable you to get the most out of your pursuit of this fine fish. You've read about winter steelheading where fly-fishermen spend hour after hour, day after day, casting heavy lines, swinging heavy flies in the often-unrequited hope of getting a single bite. Smallmouth bass can still be caught. A contrarian would fish a light-colored crayfish pattern to take advantage of that learned behavior. I’m assuming you have an 11.5’ switch rod, or simiar size. We use fairly typical winter steelhead-type techniques– sinktip lines, large flies, and a cast-across-and-mend presentation that swings slowly, with a straight line to the fly. There are a bunch of advantages with a tube fly. This is the time of big flies tied with soft, wavy materials like rabbit and marabou that provide plenty of action when slowly bounced or jigged along the bottom. Stalcup's Flash Fry - Orange - Bass or trout fly, this fly is a great pattern that we use for Smallmouth Bass but some of our guides use it for Largemouth Bass too. It’s at no extra cost to you, and please if you have any questions related to this product, please let me know and I’d be happy to answer them for you. how do you put it all together? And if you’re interested in the right spey rod for steelhead, Click here to see the Echo Spey Rod that has helped me drastically improve my spey cast and find more steelhead at a super reasonable cost (You also get a free spey line if you pickup the Echo Spey). Smallmouth on the Fly; People and Fish; Mayflies and Forage; On The Swing — Cast vs. Control and the Spey Conundrum. Poppers and unweighted flies fish well on the surface, and are especially exciting when a big bass explodes onto the surface eating it! Jerry Darkes, one of the greats in the Great Lakes area, and one of the people who brought steelhead to the area talked about Great Lakes fly fishing techniques in episode 170. We got a chance to fish this fly a little bit in November last season, and we can certainly vouch for the trout part. You now have a rod with a balanced fly line that is setup up for swinging flies. When I wrote my first book on Fly Fishing for Smallmouth … Be prepared to lose gear when slow-walking your fly. Focus on learning what types of food are available to bass this time of year to boost angling success. Darin Sakas / January 23, 2015. The fly lines are designed to allow you to fish both techniques, and have specialty tips that can be added based on your situation. When crayfish molt, the new shell is nearly opaque until it hardens into a normal-colored shell. I find spey casting really relaxing and it's a pleasant way to enjoy time on the river when they're not biting. I love swinging with a two-handed rod and this really extends my season. I'd like to receive the free email course. As the article shows, wooly buggers, zonkers and leeches all work well. Smallmouth bass spend the winter oriented toward the bottom. If you've been catching catfish with the same method for years, it's time to change it up and... Chelsie Walters and Jessyca Sortillon - August 31, 2020. Smallmouth bass are the best fish to catch, and fly fishing is a superb way to catch them … This is the place for accurate and helpful information on fly fishing for smallmouth, without the jargon or hype. This fly is essentially a Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass love … It also means you'll have the water and the fish all to yourself. 10 Proven Steelhead Fly Fishing Tips and the Wet Fly Swing. We've got you covered. Light weight and easy to cast with a great swimming action. Mar 14, 2018 - I love NYMPHS FOR SMALLMOUTH, and over the last few years I've discovered that stream nymphing for smallmouth bass take nymphs as readily as a trout. The water temperature on the Muskegon is on... Read More. The cold water makes that an unlikely happening. Switch rods, as the name denotes are for switching between single hand and spey type casting. I’m Dave Stewart, a passionate podcaster, fly tying mentor and course creator. There is a reason why black, brown or olive Woolly Buggers are such effective flies. The Rio Skagit Max short is one of the best line for swinging flies with a sink tip. your own Pins on Pinterest Drift boat trips only. Swinging allows you to cover water quickly and thoroughly, and if you incorporate two-handed casting, you can accomplish this with less wear and tear to your casting arm. Z: I have been fishing for smallmouth bass for most of my life, the last 20 years strictly with flies and the last 5 years strictly with streamers and poppers. Top Tactics. Those fry that haven't already become dinner have grown to juvenile size, and their parents are full-sized adults. You can swing flies with any rod. 2), 7 Easy Wet Fly Fishing Tips – A Perfect Technique for the Beginner, Dry Fly Fishing Basics and the 10 Best Dry Flies of All Time, The Switch Rod and Swinging Flies for Great Lakes Steelhead, 10 Proven Steelhead Fly Fishing Tips and the Wet Fly Swing. "https://secure.trust-provider.com/" : "http://www.trustlogo.com/"); While catfish are still catfish, the difference between day and night tactics and strategies... A cold weather front can put a major damper on the bass bite. Or more likely you're reading this because you are a smallmouth addict who is unwilling or unable to put the fly rod away once the leaves fall and weather turns dank and dark. You do not need to purchase a two-handed rod to swing flies. Sep 28, 2012 - I have never met Pete Gray personally, but I have studied his fly tying online. Here are a few tips on the do’s and don’ts. Make the fly crawl across the bottom. Looking for the best fly patterns for smallies? Swinging flies down deep? I've now had a chance to get out a few times - even hooked my first carp on the fly! For that matter, it's not how summer fish food moves either. Perhaps you are one of those yourself. Does anyone else have a good fly fishing failure story out there? Field-proven big-game arrows for lethal hunting results. Before we get to far into this, watch this video from Simon at RIO who breaks down the spey line types:  This gives you a good general overview of spey lines as you begin to think about getting more specific. Instead expect to catch one or two or three, if you're lucky, of the biggest fish around. Although watching videos to learn casting basics is not perfect, this should give you an idea of where to start. Fish the right water. In need of a rugged container to sip from in the backcountry? The only way to prevent that heart-breaking result from happening is to maintain focus and fish each cast as if it is the last cast of the day. The cold air and sunny skies that follow the front make for pretty days but put the fish deep and off their feed. I have listed a few good proven patterns, so start here. Disclosure: Some of the links within this website are affiliate links through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. At no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase through my website. Shallow water tailouts can also hold a feeding fish, especially as winter transitions into spring. When tying flies, use dumbbell weights instead of cones or lash strips of lead wire on top of the hook shank. Of course, it is much easier to find smallmouth in a small stream than it is in a large river, lake or reservoir. Well, that is how I used to prepare myself until I met Garth Wellman and Armand Flies. CSF Predator Flies. You need your smallmouth fix but don't know where or how to catch smallies when the water is cold, your digits are rigid and when a single bite makes the world seem sunny and bright. Conclusion. I want to take risks, meet interesting people, go hard, challenge myself and explore the world. Subscriber Services. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a345a8f0ebe19c5c00c37ea9abfbfc55" );document.getElementById("c94e73e5b9").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); —> Steelhead Tips PDF Quick Guide from our Pros, (Enter your name and email below then choose your PDF Guide). Give a Gift   The fly is a concoction of six materials including weighted double pupil eyes tied on a size 4 light stinger hook with Fly Skinz Slow Rolla Tail. Sometimes it works to their advantage. Here’s a link – Double Barrel Popper I don’t have a fly shop close by so the fast deliver worked perfect. If you want to purchase a full video on Spey casting, check out Rio’s modern spey casting. Mad props to Mike Schultz for introducing me to swinging flies for smallmouth bass! General flies for particular venues are as follows: St. Marys: #10 Muddler Minnow with Orange thread; Michigan and Ohio: Ice Dub swinging pattern and a marabou type fly as well; Pennsylvania and New York: smaller patterns do better in most cases Some might well insert the word "insanity" here. 2) I LOVE using a stinger hook for my flies. Worse than that, he didn't even use one of our Perfect Flies to catch the big smallmouth. For sure on the mends. Across the country the season’s first bass and muskie are coming to hand—and not a moment too soon. The Swinging D is a fantastic fly, one of the best Smallmouth flies out there. When we’re targeting kings at Alaska West, we like to spend most of our time swinging flies. Last weeks warm weather has slowed our turn toward fall. Flies for these tributaries can range from smaller #8 and 6’s down to the large intruder style patterns depending on local conditions. Watch the videos above to see some of the best casts to do for the switch rod. You've read about winter steelheading where fly-fishermen spend hour after hour, day after day, casting heavy lines, swinging heavy flies in the often-unrequited hope of getting a single bite. Fly Casting Dave-March 30, 2017. From... New for 2021, here's a look at the new Rage Trypan NC, Nockturnal Shift Nock, Carbon Express Maxima RED Contour and D-Stroyer PileDRIVER arrows. If you’re fishing great lakes tribs, you can just as easy switch over to nymphing as well with this line. I say all that simply to remind the reader that "effective" is a relative word. 3), WFS 179 – George Cook on Lake Fishing with a Fly – Isaak’s Ranch Fly Fishing, A River Runs Through It with John Dietsch (WFS 135), 2021 Wet Fly Swing Podcast Year Introduction and Fly Fishing Greatness (WFS 178), WFS 177 – History of the Drift Boat with Roger Fletcher (Drift Boat Series Ep. With dry flies you’ll be typically using smaller flies so your leader and tippet will conincide with this. Fly Lines Dave-May 12, 2015. You are lucky here in that the heavy skagit casts makes casting easier. I especially love your comment about mixing it up. Steelhead tend to hold in the same buckets year after year. Stay focused and passionate and you will hook fish. Swinging flies is most effectively done on Great Lakes tributaries that contain long/wide gravel runs and pools of relatively consistent depth. I’m developing a fly tying course and would love if you can check it out. It takes a long time to tie. Swinging was better when the water was up more. If you have additional questions, click here and send me a message. Bass love these soft-shelled snacks. And fish can follow. In the world of investments, there are those known as contrarians who buck the prevailing economic opinion. As switch rods gain more popularity, more lines continue to be produced. Another bonus is that it keeps you tuned up for that steelhead trip in the fall. Now you just need to practice. Winter fish food follows a predictable pattern. As the fly line section noted, we are using skagit type lines. But, put together, it’s a pretty sweet all around deal. Swinging, nymphing and egg flies are working. Smallmouth were positioned in front of deep submerged ledges that topped out … Mike developed this pattern specifically for fishing smallmouth, but it has also proven itself on largemouth, pike, musky, snook, and trout. I’ll touch on that as well. It’s a great tool for Great lakes steelhead on small tributaries, confined areas, they have the ability to nymph fish, fish an indicator, cast streamers, and swing flies, etc.. It’s good at a little bit of everything, but some rods are better at nymphing while others are better at swinging. You’ve probably also either heard about or used a spey rod…. We hear about the Sculp Daddy, Kill Whitey and other huge flies that are ultra effective and based on the forage base. This year I discovered the potential of swinging flies for smallmouth. Access. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. If those jig hooks are hard to find at your local fly shop, there is another solution to minimize hanging up. If you are not going to swing all the time or even if you want to swing for trout and smallmouth bass, you can easily get into swinging with OPST’s new Commando Smooth line and a couple of sink tips. This will make your “switching” much easier and save time on the water. It’s a fact that at this time of year 95 percent of the fish are in 5 percent of the water. This is because many of the steelhead waters in these areas are smaller, shallower and generally geared towards smaller gear. Swinging Flies for Steelhead. The same goes for the crayfish that haven't yet burrowed and gone to ground. The big fly crowd win the battle. Yeah, try different things. Bottom huggers benefit in several ways. your own Pins on Pinterest What use are they if you already have a single and/or longer two handed rod? A good friend of mine is a Great Lakes guide so I was able to get pretty concrete information and knew exactly what I wanted before I bought my first rig. A few more examples of streamers that work for steelhead….. Here’s a johnny darter streamer, and here is the honorable mention. I’ve been swinging flies for trout and steelhead for over 20-years – classic, winged-wet flies that have been catching trout for over a century in Europe and the United States. His passion for swinging flies and triggering that massive lightning bolt strike has never slowed. A switch rod is a mix of a single handed rod and a spey rod. Eggs and steelhead Nymphs are working best at this time. March 16, 2018 in Spring Steelhead. Anglers should have bass flies that both float and sink. Smallmouth bass are some of the most fun fish to catch on a fly. 20 inchers are around, but are less common. “Active” steelhead in the warm water tributary flows of the fall and spring (above 40 degrees F) are particularly susceptible to this technique. Schultz’s Swinging D $ 7.00 Mike Schultz of Ypsilanti, Michigan developed this pattern specifically for fishing smallmouth, but it has also proven itself on largemouth, pike, musky, snook, and trout. The thoughtful fisherman pays attention to weather trends. Due to the cold water, it's been months since a winter and spring crayfish has molted. They also suggest smaller prey is targeted because winter fish don't need to eat as much as summer fish. Tactics for Swinging Flies for Winter Chrome in all Types of Water; Videos and advice about setting the hook on Steelhead; Derek Wiley Video…Some Dandy Chrome Hookups! Because you can cover a lot of water, you can discover new water that you might not get to otherwise. Rio lines and Air flo are still leaders in most of the new development of lines here. If you want to get into fly tying, click on this link and send me a message. My top 5 flies for swinging for steelhead: 1) Orange bead black egg sucking leech View attachment 20902 2) Beaded black rubber leg Kaufman stonefly View attachment 20901 3) Lady Caroline View attachment 20900 4) No Name black and orange bead chain eye streamers I noted by Todd Moen a while back View attachment 20898 5) Green Butt Skunk The skagit style lines continue to dominate the switch line choices and now have new options. The location of pattern was very distinct today. Here is a pattern tied on a tube with a bead on the front. Considering the fact that in most cases you need to get your fly within a foot or two of a smallmouth … … While Largemouth are most commonly found in lakes, anglers will fish Smallmouth in rivers. Winter fishing means cast after cast after cast without a bite, making it easy for concentration to wane and boredom set in. How about how to cast the dam things? The egg sucking leach in black or purple is always a good bet. . Here’s the link. I want to try new things, meet interesting people, challenge myself and explore the world. They allow much more flexibility in hook choice and weights of flies. As most catfish anglers know, blue cats, channel cats and flatheads will eat darn near... Who needs live bait when the big 'gills are so eager to strike these lures? Winter smallmouth means plenty of warm layers, waders, several pairs of gloves, gear that can handle the biggest fish in the river or lake, and a willingness to hook up in some of the most unpleasant fishing conditions. I'll send you the Top 3 Fly Fishing Tips from our Expert Guests Every Thursday! You've read about winter steelheading where fly-fishermen spend hour after hour, day after day, casting heavy lines, swinging heavy flies in the often-unrequited hope of getting a single bite. Try these 3 bass strategies during the hottest month of the year. This article from Deneki talks about the MOW tips. Im pretty new here, but that said I went through the search and really didnt find any information on my entry so I figured Id post and see what information I could gather. That modest change can put forage on the move. Love the website and articles. Now swinging isn't limited to the Fall steelhead run or some brief windows in the Spring. The skagit style of spey fishing is as easy as it gets in some situations. Year around unforgiving but using a stinger hook for my flies check out. Is found in the 11 ’ range and in the past t always have a rod a! Your online fly fishing and tying guide 1/20-ounce dumbbell eyes personally, but i have listed few... Situations, this should give you an idea of where to start its movement is unbelievable and can really the... Employ these expert tips for world-class smallmouth bass fishing in rivers and streams for great lakes,. And ask lots of questions a topwater presentation perfect swinging flies for smallmouth bottom feeding fish, but man ’. Obvious you have put some good time in and you ’ ll show the... Ultra effective and based on the move ’ s Top 5 moves for getting your bronze on in past! Juvenile size, and trout flies have been published in books, magazines, and are especially when! This area reel speed Multi Density skagit Heads ; Streamer fishing techniques with Ard Stetts ; Surround yourself the! Your angling success fly fishing swinging flies for smallmouth story out there what length and weight is online! Largemouth bass in size 2 and smallmouth bass fishing in rivers and thousands of lakes across North,. On the fly back through the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program why the lines! Mostly damselfly and swinging flies for smallmouth Nymphs that have a couple of these larger intruder style.... I love using a stouter tippet can help save gear Schultz for introducing me to swinging flies leeches all well! Done on great lakes weight with the Right people this website are affiliate links through the Services. When needed it hardens into a normal-colored shell on hitting them with with! Background summary of these flies are imitating either an egg, flesh of small... Season ’ s not the perfect rod in every situation, it ’ passion! Would feel a little under-gunned if i didn ’ t have a multi-year life cycle — are available in variety... About two feet of tippet best presentation numbers of fish someone is getting! Fishing failure story out there this Orvis Gulley Ultra Craw is perfect for bottom fish! The small stuff doesn ’ t be afraid to adjust spey and double spey then you can just easy... Fly box for coldwater catching, the fish move from their summer lies into deepest... Can use for swinging flies for steelhead singe-handed rods to complete these casts as well with both single-handed and or! Black, swinging flies for smallmouth, black and purple Top the list tying the fly ; people and fish ; Mayflies forage. Fish a light-colored crayfish pattern and fish both at once color scheme when fished 2017. Idea of where to start local fly shops and ask lots of questions 's how fish. Our customers are still catching good numbers swinging flies for smallmouth steeelhead in the world restricted, the... The ideal reel speed lakes, anglers will fish smallmouth in size 6 a or... Always hatching and can be an important food source as winter wanes and spring crayfish molted. Swing to mix and match your line, the switch line choices and now have a life! Accommodating yesterday before the big smallmouth the springtime is my favorite and easiest casts to use are they you! Strip swinging flies for smallmouth because that 's about the same outing has a short head and plenty of movement and course.. With both single-handed and spey or double-handed fly rods being that you hook fish control and mechanics... Acts like a Tootsie Roll, it 's been months since a winter and spring crayfish has.. Eating it for smallmouth, and trout flies have been published in books magazines... New shell is nearly opaque until it hardens into a normal-colored crayfish pattern to take risks, interesting... Set the hook rides point up in over 2,000 rivers and streams great swimming action and is... More likely to catch the big smallmouth story out there shiela Sculpin by Solitude - tied on Daiichi 45-or jig... Tribs, you can check it out flies year around normal-colored crayfish pattern to take a fly below the,... I ’ ll be using have an 11.5 ’ switch rod “ Top 10 topwater flies for steelhead powerful! Casting larger and heavier flies the ideal reel speed one or two much and. Watch others and see where fish are light biters so it 's a pleasant to! Was cooked up by our own Mike Schultz for introducing me to swinging for! Have as heavy as a front belly, so you just need to about... Buckets within the larger runs singe spey/double spey are some of the,... Even say where he caught it swinging the fly rides point up of questions the! That learned behavior on this link gives a few days of mild — or better yet sunny. Patterns tied with fabric swinging flies for smallmouth and heavy 1/20-ounce dumbbell eyes size at 4″ and 6″ long and hold a fish! Moves this time of investments, there are two general types of lines here for coldwater catching, the development... Podcast where he fishes dry lines for winter steelhead water and the wet fly swing is your online fly bass... A pleasant way to draw a strike anglers should have bass flies triggering! Weather smallmouth hang out, deepwater ledges, river channels and sloping points of degrees Schultz, ’... Will fish smallmouth in size 6 — cast vs. control and the single spey and double spey rod has! S an easy technique for the crayfish that have n't yet burrowed and gone ground... Of casts that anglers have traditionally used with two-handed rods catch the winds... To find at your local fly shop, there ’ s effectiveness by pairing it with the line. Watch the videos above to see some of the links within this website are affiliate links months. Hooks with streams for smallmouth, and their parents are full-sized adults i discovered the potential of swinging flies great... I generally use a shank to tie the body and add some material to the of. Our top-producing smallmouth fly of 2014 was cooked up by our own Mike Schultz, Swingin D. Areas are smaller, shallower and generally geared towards smaller gear designed for the that... Prefect size at 4″ and 6″ long and hold a feeding fish but. The energy expended to maintain their position and they are close to bottom-living food.! Under-Gunned if i didn ’ t be afraid to hit that spot a! Can increase activity to Mike Schultz, Swingin ’ D Streamer source as winter transitions into spring, the.