The other day I was fishing and I hooked into a 12" smallmouth bass, and man what a fighter. After having caught him I’m wanting to get more into smallmouth fishing, so I’m just curious if y’all have any favorite patterns for them? Or anything you think I should try out?
Thanks in advance.
Joe
Clousers, crayfish (Coyote Clouser is a good imitation), Gurglers, Dahlberg Divers, Murray’s Strymphs all have worked well. Another one I like is Oatman’s Silver Outcast - Harry Murray showed this to me and it’s been a good one
Regards,
Scott
Scott…I absolutely love and respect fish. But I’m still thinking that fly is TOO PRETTY for a bass! ;o)
LilJoe, on our local rivers during the hot Summer months, I’ve done best using topwater flies for Smallmouth Bass if the water is reasonably clear. This particular popper I actually bought, rather than tied myself:
At other times, a #8 chartreuse Woolly Bugger often works well (with or without beadhead, depending on water depth/current).
I am certainly no expert on smallies. The last 2 years i have been on two kayak trips for them( 1 before spawn and one after) We did real well with crayfish flies hopped slowly down stream in the counter flow edges of deep holes on the first trip when it was cold and rainy. On the second trip tan or light medium brown over white clousers driftedwith an occational twitch were the ticket.
Both of this trips were in the earlier part of season and the fish were not looking up or chasing aggressively.
Clousers / maribou muddlers (white with natural deer hair head)/woolly buggers (black, olive, brown) / poppers, gurglers / crayfish patterns…nothing new here just confirming the lists already given 
I caught my biggest smallmouth ever on a yellow size two marabou muddler. I’ve also had good luck with lead eyed woolly buggers with rubber legs added.
I really appreciate y’all posting these patterns! I’ve already started tying some up! Can’t wait to try them out!
Sub-surface: Any crawfish pattern with lots of wiggle, Clousers, Marabou Muddlers, olive Conehead Combos, black Conehead Combos, and Murray’s Hellgrammite.
Top water: I love fishing deer hair bass bugs. Another favorite is the Bobbing Baitfish. Here is a photo of one of the fly boxes I bring smallie fishing:
Regards,
Alberto
Both Harry Murray and Tim Holshlag have good books on the subject.
90% of the smallmouth I’ve caught in the past 3-4 years have come on #1/0-2 gray/white Murdich Minnows and #2-4 copper over gold Kreelexes.
My favorite smallie fly is a chartreuse wooley bugger tied on a 1/0 mustad 3366. I also like poppers, sliders, and clouser minnows.
