From the Vise - Smallmouth

Thinking about smallmouth more and more this winter. The crew and I are headed out this Sunday, to try to dredge some up with the 63 degree weather. It seems the more I think about trout fishing in the winter the more I miss flip flops and board shorts fishing for smallies. So below are a few flies I have been messing around with this winter, as well as a few standbys that needed some replenishing. Many of these flies have been in my box for a long while now, but some are newer and very noteworthy. One is Pat Cohen's Jiggy Craw, this fly is awesome for early season jigging and slow crawling on the bottom, lots of movement, and a a great profile. The Roamer, which is an awesome baitfish pattern to toss at some pre spawn fish. The Freeze Dried Sculpin (New) which is going to be an awesome all season bug to crawl low and slow in the deeper water. Lastly, the Orange Belly River Crawler, this one took a hiatus from the box last year, but has always been a staple in my warm water boxes.

First Days of September

Bass fishing is still awesome despite the low water. We are really hoping for more rain soon. The topwater bite has been amazing yet again, but the sight fishing crayfish is unreal. We are still booking trips into October, with this heat we should have great water temps until at least mid October. Photos below:

Smallmouth Food - Hellgrammites

Hellgrammites, a nasty bug that smallmouth love. These little guys can draw blood if you get too close, but for some reason smallmouth love them. They are in most warm water rivers, and some cold water creeks. Trout even like them, a high protein diet.

A fly tied by a State College regular and amazing bass fisherman Ron. This fly has taken more smallmouth bass and anyone could count.

Pat Cohen designed the bodies that can be purchased online or at any tco location. This is a dynamite hellgrammite fly patter.

Crittermite Tails are amazing. This little bass fly has been a go to fly since last season for me.

Made with Cohen's hellgrammite bodies, this realistic hellgrammite pattern in deadly under an indicator.

My most rcent experiment. I can not take full credit, I found a fly on instagram that had the same concept, and I combined theirs with my crittermite pattern. A great fly for fast water.

Smallmouth Food - Sculpin

One of the most common forms of fish food that swims. These are some of my favorites for smallmouth bass.

The Over Easy Sculpin is my favorite sculpin pattern. It looks like it will just swim out of your hand.

The Roaming Sculpin, is a quick tie that I came up with a while ago. It is a bottom crawling bass fly that drops fast and stays on the bottom.

The Tube Sculpin is a fly that can cross over from steelhead to smallmouth.

A smaller sculpin tied by Eric Snyder. It works great when the water is low and clear.

Mike Schultz's S3 Sculpin has become a staple in the bass wold. A great fly for any time, and any water conditions.

The Mohawk Sculpin, a design by the boys at Fly Fish Food, but this one was tied by Dean Myers. A great fly with a lot of movement and a great profile.

Not to sure the name of this one, but its a great sculpin, and holds its profile well in the water.

The Combo, its the Mohawk and the Over Easy.