Why the Smallmouth Bass Should Be “America’s Fish”

Why the Smallmouth Bass Should Be “America’s Fish”

The story that Benjamin Franklin wanted the wild turkey to be the United States’ national bird has been debunked as pure myth. But it’s still a nice thought. After all, the eagle is, well, regal. Which was kind of beside the point at the time, right?

The wild gobbler may not be flashy, mighty, or a speed demon, but as hunters can attest, they can be cunning, resourceful and resilient, and that’s what I’m looking for these days.

I feel exactly the same way about the smallmouth bass: not flashy, overly attractive or even that bright, but they can be resourceful, and they are most definitely resilient. Which is why they should be revered as America’s national fish, or at least appreciated more by people who enjoy fly fishing.

Consider how manipulated the Great Lakes region has been in terms of introduced species, invasive species (“naturalized non-natives”) and so forth. The neighborhood has changed a lot for the native smallie, but they’re still standing.

What are the other national fish options? Striped bass? Strong possibility, but it’s a saltwater fish, native to only one coast. Brook trout? Look at the number of states with a brook trout as the state fish, then realize how few wild brook trout there are in those states. Sad, but true. Brown trout? Kind of like Arnold Schwarzenegger: not native and not eligible to be President. Rainbow trout? Career killed by Anders Halverson. Cutthroat trout? Disqualified by name alone.

Catfish make carp look classy. Northern pike and barracudas should form a freshwater-saltwater pact, and then we’ll consider them. And when it comes to sunfish or bluegills, c’mon, a smallmouth bass could kick a panfish’s ass all day, every day.

Largemouth bass? Don’t we have enough bigmouths hogging the national spotlight these days?

Nah, give me the understated, humble, quietly confident, chartreuse-loving, popper-chomping smallmouth bass, and I’ll give you a “made in America” fish that’s a worthy adversary for the angling proletariat. And perhaps best of all, the smallmouth doesn’t need coddling and constant attention. What could be more apropos for the “land of the free and home of the brave” than that? – Kirk Deeter

Your Smallmouth Bass Checklist

Required reading for aspiring smallmouth anglers: Ten Fly Fishing Smallmouth Bass Tips from Kyle Zempel. Smallmouth: Modern Fly-Fishing Methods, Tactics and Techniques by Dave Karczynski and Tim Landwehr, Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass by Harry Murray, Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth: in Rivers and Streams by Bob Clouser, Fly Fishing for Bass: Smallmouth, Largemouth, Exotics by Lefty Kreh, Smallmouth Bass Flies Top to Bottom by Jake Villwock, Tying Streamers by Charlie Craven. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass from FlyLords: Your Complete Guide. From Hatch Magazine: Four Tips for Topwater Smallmouth Bass Fishing. 

The master of fly fishing for smallmouth, Dave Whitlock, writes about topwater smallmouth bass: “Bass bugs should land just past, on, beside, or over structure. If possible, let the bug sit a few seconds after it hits the water before moving it. It has been my experience that the sound of the fly hitting the water announces to lurking bass that something edible has just come into killing range, and they will come to investigate. Start animating the bug with slow, erratic moves…”

More from Dave Whitlock and his primer on Stream Smallmouth Bass: “Most of the time smallmouth focus on the bigger foods on their menu, unlike most trout. Also, they pre­fer to dine close to bottom, not at the water’s surface, when the water temperature is below 60 degrees. As the water temperature rises above 60 degrees, smallmouth become more and more interested in surface feeding…”

The smallmouth bass media vault: The Ozark’s Smallmouth Alliance is a group of dedicated anglers, working to ensure the preservation of the Ozark’s Premier game fish: Free The Fighter. Our partner, Schultz Outfitters, spends the day fishing for smallmouth on one of the Enchanted Mitten’s lesser known streams. Wild Fly spends the day with Blue Line Co., talking about smallmouth flies and raising some fish in Alabama. For gear heads: the best fly lines for smallie fly fishing, a helpful guide to go-to smallmouth bass streamers and Brian Flechsig, of Mad River Outfitters, breaks down a few more bass flies.

Fly selection: When you’re thinking about smallmouth patterns, the fly choices can be overwhelming. Our partners, Schultz Outfitters (10% off Blane Chocklett flies with a Flylab membership), Musky Fool (10% off flies with a Flylab membership) and Blue Line Co. (20% off BLC flies with a Flylab membership), carry wide-ranging selections for the beginner and advanced angler. Some great patterns to consider: Gurglers, articulated Conjurors, Dedeaux Poppers, Surface Seducers, Dalhberg Divers, Chocklett’s Bugger Game Changer and Galloup’s Bangtails. You also can spend a lifetime tweaking colors, sizes and materials…  

We pulled this tip from the previous “Stonefly Hooksets” newsletter, and the same applies to smallmouth streamers: slap big flies on the water. Fish can often be triggered by the sound, or vibrations, from big streamers hitting the water. Try to intentionally power your forward cast, so your fly slaps the water with a little more sound and commotion. As long as you don’t get into the bad habit of tailing your loops, you might be surprised by the results… 

Loop your tippet knots to smallie streamers. Fishing to smallmouth means using larger flies and heavier tippets, which can impede fly movement. A great hack is using a tippet-to-fly loop knot, like the non-slip mono loop, to add some more life and “twitch” to your presentations.

Product Buzz

We review the Fishpond Nomad Mid-Length Net, Sage Click Fly Reel and the Vapur Insulated Chill Water Bottle. Some new fly-fishing gear from Hatch Magazine for September 2024 (the Winston PURE 2 and Hardy 1921 Wide Spool Perfect fly reel are worth checking out). GearJunkie rolls out their Best Hunting Boots for Men in 2024: The Xtratuf Legacy 15-inch Waterproof Slip Resistant Work Boots stand out. Field & Stream takes a crack at the Best Tenkara Rods of 2024. The Best Sun Shirts of 2024 and Float Fishing Essentials from Flylords (we love the YETI Rambler Half-Gallon Water Jug). Korkers Stealth Sneaker & Wet Wading Accessories from The Fiberglass Manifesto. Alvin Dedeaux’s Favorite Bass Leaders (you can tie yourself).

Fly-fishing News

Check out the BONEDALE FISHING REPORTS nine and ten, featuring legendary guide, Kea Hause, from Colorado’s Roaring Fork valley. Five respected fly fishers, Craig Mathews, Tom Rosenbauer, Hilary Hutcheson, Kirk Deeter and Todd Tanner, share their views on climate change: 50 Million Anglers. Snow Peak acquires a majority stake in the Swift Fly Fishing Company (Epic Fly Rods). Joe Cermele takes a Great Lakes road trip for Rust-Belt Steel. From The Flyfish Journal, Jazz & Fly Fishing Does America: “We drove far into the mountains on a rough gravel road through a gorgeous landscape. Vast and desolate, yet somehow welcoming, it reminded me of the Finnmark Plateau in northern Norway…” Flylab Pro and captain, Conway Bowman, chats with the Mill House Podcast.

Recent Press

“Love the articles and stuff you guys have been putting out. You’ve got a great little community brewing!” – David, Flylab Fan

“I’ve been loving your long-form email newsletters. Masterful.” – Jessie, Flylab Fan

Flylab: “We’re doing a musky-centric newsletter in the coming weeks–got any fun stories you’d want to share?” Kyle: “Muskies are assholes. The end.”

We’re always looking for Flylab feedback–send any comments, thoughts, suggestions, and we’d love to hear from you.

Scouting Report

We’re hard at work hunting down the coolest new products, brands and partners you’ve never heard of. 

RareWaters

RareWaters is a simple and affordable way for anglers to book private ranches, experience fly-fishing adventures and get away from the crowds. RareWaters connects landowners and anglers together in one place, enabling premium do-it-yourself fly-fishing experiences. No upfront fees or long-term memberships required. Pay as you book, or purchase a Season Pass for unlimited access.

Flylab discount: 20% off “Season Pass” and “4-Rod Pass” access plans.

Partner Spotlight

Schultz Outfitters

Schultz Outfitters is one of the most respected catch-and-release guide services operating in southern Michigan. With over 150+ years of fishing experience, they have pioneered smallmouth angling on the fly, while also targeting walleye, white bass and muskie (seasonally). They provide proven and unique angling programs on some of the Midwest’s lowest-pressured waters. Their fly shop is located in Ypsilanti’s historic district on the Huron River.

Flylab discount:10% off guided fishing trips, 10% off Blane Chocklett flies. 

If you’re a fly shop, outfitter, fishing lodge or outdoor brand and interested in becoming a new Flylab partner, learn more about our program here. Join the best partner network in fly fishing.