We have both caught a lot of smallmouth bass using a 5 weight fly rod. If I could have only one, for smallmouth bass it would be s 7 weight, 9’, medium-fast fly rod. This section of river has it all and historically holds the most diverse fish species of all the Tennessee rivers. Smallmouth bass daily limit is two and each must be at least 12 inches long to keep. We will rig it for you. Photo courtesy of Fishes of Wisconsin, John Lyons, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. I was there that day, fishing from a kayak down river, so I missed the show. If I am drifting down a river with a guide, I always take a 6 and 7 weight. I use monofilament leaders for top water fishing because mono does not sink as fast or as deep as fluorocarbon. All of my smallmouth fly rods are 4 piece, and made from graphite. Maybe it is the shape of the fish or the muscle density or maybe it is all attitude. Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OVFishing. Little Tennessee River Smallmouth Bass. Next is the 7 weight. Sevierville’s waters will be teeming with … Fly anglers love fishing in shallow water so knowing what the water temperature is helps define what fly fishing tactics to use. For this reason, fishermen and especially fly fishermen love to fish for smallmouth bass. Little River, Smallmouth Report. I don't normally use expensive reels on a lake. You can cast larger flies with a 7, than you can with a 6 or 5 weight. From Lake Greeson (Narrows) Dam to Ouachita River: If I’m alone in my kayak, fishing for smallmouth bass, I always seem to choose the 6 weight. Little River is now a significantly smaller stream. Smallmouth Bass Diet Smallies in rivers may seek structure on river bottoms and lay dormant, not feeding at all when the water is cold. Smallmouth Bass I prefer the BVK, but to me, they both cast about the same. Being practical, and thoughtful of the fact I may drop an outfit overboard, I assembled the smallmouth outfits I use on the lower end of the price scale for my use. "The Fish Lady", Townsend, Tennessee, MORE SMALLMOUTH BASS FLY FISHING PAGES Jeff Little's third DVD covers all the patterns you need to know to catch river smallmouth during the fall months. When Paula and I are fishing in our motorized fishing boat, we always have a 5 weight rod with us. That design helps when I cast heavy flies. Tackle I Personally Use. Tackle and Outfits, Online Store In narrowing that down a bit, I’ve had some memorable days of catching smallmouth bass. In particular, we sometimes encounter a school of bass, attacking minnows in the middle of the lake. For now, my favorite smallmouth bass line is the Rio Smallmouth Bass line. When I began fly fishing in 1962, every reel I saw was made for right hand retrieve and they were not reversible like they are now. They say fluorocarbon is also less visible to fish. Some anglers prefer fast fly rods, stiff sticks that cast big flies in the wind well. Where I live, in East Tennessee, smallmouth bass may live 15 years and grow to a length of 21 inches or longer. Growth rates are determined by water temperature and the amount of available food. Their research indicates an adult smallmouth bass is about 8” long at 3 years of age and 15.75 inches at 7 years old. Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing The leaders I use are either 2X or 3X in mono, and 8 pound or 12 pound test in fluorocarbon. A smallmouth bass fingerling. Click the "More Info" Button below. You will need a long handled net to land a smallmouth bass, especially when fishing from a boat. If I had one word to describe my vacation to TN. Ever since I caught my first 6 pound smallmouth, I’ve been hooked. If someone were to paint a picture of a smallmouth angler going after his intended species somewhere in Arkansas, it is highly likely that the brush strokes would reveal one of the mountain streams listed previously. The “Little T” as we call it locally offers some great wading opportunities. In reservoirs, a smallmouth will grow to be 14 inches in 4 years. If I need a shorter leader, for a very heavy fly, I may shorten the leader, by cutting some material from each end.
Local little ponds or the Greater Miami River. I’ve made that mistake. Didnt catch alot, but had a white bass surprise. During the months of April, May, and early June, anglers can enjoy some of the best fishing of their lives. Numbers of smallmouth can also be caught on the river during the winter. Their original native range was basically in the Mississippi River and Ohio River basins including Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie … Reproduction Behavior We sell several major brands of fly fishing tackle at Little River Outfitters. Range and Distribution, Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing For That rod in our boat always has a Puglisi Threadfin Shad tied on. Most of the fly rods my wife and I use for smallmouth bass are the lower priced Professional II. On sunny days, plan on fishing very early and late if your idea of good fishing is using top water flies or sight fishing for the bass. SMALLMOUTH LAKES. The bass finally took the fly. We know, at least in the southern states, these suspended bass do eat. The West Prong Little River offers the opportunity to test your mountain stream fishing skills on wild rainbows and native brook trout. If you asked 20 different avid smallmouth bass fly fishermen, which fly rods they prefer, you would probably get 20 different answers. I always use 9’ extruded and tapered leaders. For the money, they can’t be beat. The bass rose to the fly 2 or 3 times as they watched. The water is deep. Dan Munger of Little River Outfitters with a beautiful smallmouth bass, caught on a fly in the Boundary Waters. During the prime months for smallmouth, I … Tackle and Outfits, Online Store Only The Smallmouth Bass River fishing for smallmouth. Smallies live in freestone streams, natural lakes, impoundments and tailwaters where the water is cool and clean. They are all 9 feet long. Most of ours are the Orvis Access mid-arbor reels. We may be fishing in deep lakes or rivers, in boats. I would not go cheap on the fly line, never. This fish is 18" long. I use Orvis leaders and tippet and have for at least 30 years. The bass are more likely to be in shallow water under these conditions and you can get closer to them. The same is true for reels. For instance, all of my saltwater fly lines are the Orvis brand. The waters, when undisturbed by rain, are emerald green to a tannic clear. Smallmouth Bass Diet You can buy Waterworks-Lamson, or Ross Reels in the same price range and they perform just as well. The others cost about $100 less and feature the Temple Fork Professional II fly rods. It was almost 14 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. You may not need a lot of backing for smallmouth bass, but if you do hook a huge carp, you will. Dan Munger of Little River Outfitters with a beautiful smallmouth bass, caught on a fly in the Boundary Waters. Reproduction Behavior Sometimes a 5 weight is a lot of fun to use for smallmouth bass. And, you can cast smaller and lighter flies with the 7 weight too. I also use a floating, weight forward fly line, 90% or more of the time. Details: Smallmouth Bass. During summer months, Duke Power regulates a recreational flow schedule. Make sure your fly shop sets the reel up for your preference. Most fly fishermen reel with their left hand. Some excellent research on smallmouth bass has been done by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR). All rights reserved. Little Tennessee River is one of the most beautiful rivers in North Carolina and is one of the best rivers in the state for smallmouth bass fishing. On cloudy or rainy days, you may find these bass in shallow water all day. Personally, I've had very little success on late fall/winter smallmouth as im on the shore. Notice the thin belly. Smallmouth bass are members of the sunfish family. He was using a white popper. We sell several major brands of fly fishing tackle at Little River Outfitters. You may have noticed, both of the photos above were taken on cloudy days. I use fluorocarbon when fishing below the surface because, this material is denser, and has greater abrasion resistance. Copyright 2015 Little River Outfitters, Inc. Smallmouth Bass Home I was there that day, fishing from a kayak down river, so I missed the show. Best Smallmouth fishing river in Arkansas? And, let’s be practical. They prefer rocky or gravel stream or lake beds. Its most fish-able area starts in the New River State Park near Jefferson and then flows northward for more than 50 miles. They all have a medium-fast to fast action. When I fish Little River, I always grab the 6 weight, my sling pack, waders and go. Trout daily limit is 5. Tackle I Personally Use. We keep all of our smallmouth bass rods lined up and ready to go. Beautiful would be the word! Typically we’ll float the Little River further downstream around Walland and further down for panfish and smallmouth bass. State regulations for smallmouth bass: a daily possession limit of 5 smallmouth bass of at least 7 inches in length; only artificial flies or lures with a single hook may be used. He was using a white popper. Their range extended as far South as Tennessee, North Georgia and North Alabama in the Tennessee River watershed. Copyright Little River Outfitters, Inc. They never give up when hooked. We always try to choose cloudy days to fish, if possible. Water that is often stained with silt does not provide good smallmouth habitat. https://youtu.be/xNmxVqg Their original native range was basically in the Mississippi River and Ohio River basins including Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron. Range and Distribution, Smallmouth Bass A trout permit is required to keep trout. I put together some balanced outfits, just like mine on our online store, just to make it easy for you if you are in the market for a very good new outfit that doesn’t break the bank. Smallmouth Bass painting Copyright 2015, by Mary K Jenkins, I don’t know why. By the way, I am right handed, I cast with my right hand and I reel with my right hand. The rod is a Temple Fork Professional II. Most new moderately priced reels are saltwater safe these days. If you are partial to a particular brand, like Sage, Temple Fork, Orvis, Winston, or others, pick the rod you prefer in the brand you like. Other companies make excellent leaders and tippet. I took a chance and didn't drop it overboard. 1; Details; TennesseeVolfisher. Fiberglass rods are making a remarkable comeback. I use a 7 weight just about every time I fish for smallies. River smallmouth in the fall will move to the shallow gravel banks to feed on minnows in the early morning so Smith will tempt these fish with spinnerbaits, Jewel Bait Company Gem Blades 2.0 rigged with swimbaits, Flukes and topwater lures. I would definitely have a reel with the capacity for plenty of backing. Smallmouth Bass Biology But, the fish on the tailwaters eat them up. Be a part of the area’s first smallmouth-bass-only, catch-photograph-release event. My favorite 6 weight is the BVK. In fact, one day we were fishing and catching nothing. Smallmouth bass are top carnivores and predators. This trail is the access to Fish Camp and Goshen Prongs and crosses Little River just above the junction with Fish Camp Prong. Josh has some smallmouth bass flies that would scare the heck out of a smallmouth bass on the Little Tennessee River. Understanding the effect of temperature on smallmouth bass behavior is essential for the fly fisherman. The smallmouth are abundant, and they are large. My trout lines are either Scientific Anglers or Rio. The bass rose to the fly 2 or 3 times as they watched. by Bob Jensen In thirty five years of fishing all over the Midwest and much of North America, I’ve had the good fortune to get in on some outstanding fishing action for a wide variety of fish. 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