Rice lake smallmouth on the Fly

[FlyGuy5]

Went out yesterday morning on Rice Lake. I got on the water by 5:30am and was hoping to get a few fish on my fly rod as well I was gonna do some dropshotting and casts a few cranks. I headed to the North shore and started throwning cranks in hope for some bass and walleye it was maybe 20 minutes before I boated my first walleye of the day. Then after that I grabed my fly rod and start to work a top water mouse patteren. I worked along the shore line for about 10 minutes and laid down a long cast which put my mouse right in front of a dock then stripped it in once making it pop in the water and bamm a smallmouth inhales it and the fight is on. It was by far the best fight I've had this year with a bass. I tell ya you haven't fought a bass till you do it on a fly rod! After that I headed to the South shore to throw cranks in the chop and I was able to get a few more walleye one largemouth and a few bluegills... Here are some pic's enjoy

[FlyGuy5]

a few more pics

[FlyGuy5]

and some more eyes

[BillsTheBassMan]

Awesome report Flyguy! Thanks for sharing and thanks for all the pics!

 

I recently caught my first SMB on my first fly rod as well and despite the fact he was just a little pond bass, he put up an amazing battle. I can't wait to hook into a 2-3lb river SMB, fighting him and the current, should be fun.

 

Do you use traditional bass bugs when you're flying for SMB? How often do you nymph or use dries?

 

I have some mice as well and they do seem to get a lot of interest from both big browns and SMB.

 

Cheers,

Ryan

[FlyGuy5]

I mostly use poppers as well with crayfish patterns and minnow pattrens I don't use nymphs or dries but I should cause I know they would work as well with wolley buggers bass love leaches as well with walleye. here are some pics of flies I use.. The mouse pattren is tied on 2 hooks but the first hook is cut and braided line is attached to both hooks so now it swivels sorta walk the dog action.

[BillsTheBassMan]

I agree, buggers are definitely a good ticket with SMB. Thanks for sharing again, I need to bolster my popper box and this should help.

 

Cheers

[FlyGuy5]

no problem bassman

[Guest Johnny Bass]

Great post. That is a great assortment of flies. Flyfishing is a highly effective technique. Very suttle, very natural looking. Enjoy the feed. I have pickerel in my freezer and can't even fillet them, because of my injured thumb! Thanks for sharing.

[streamerstripper]

...you saw that mouse pattern in a magazine didn't ya?!

[Leecher]

Awesome report and pics Flyguy

Must be quite the challenge to catch bass on a fly rod

Thanks for sharing

Leechman