Chapter Two: Fishing For Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass

Learning how to fly fish for bass is a great introduction to the sport of fly fishing. We believe that it's best to start out on a pond with bass or panfish instead of on moving water. Fly fishing for largemouth and smallmouth bass is a wonderful way to spend a quiet afternoon and most people have them close to home so it's a way to get out and try your newfound skills right away.

Bass take flies eagerly but timing is important to make sure you fly fish in the right places throughout the season. We'll explore bass life cycles, how to select flies for largemouth and smallmouth bass, the right tackle to cast bass flies, and how to retrieve the fly with both floating and sinking flies. You'll also learn how to cast big bass flies into the wind from our casting expert Big Pete. Upon completing this chapter, you will know how to fly fish for bass.