Most trout anglers have been enlightened by the joy that comes from tangling with a big smallmouth on a fly rod. Aside from the aggressive, powerful fight, the entire process is refreshingly different than the usual 5X tippet and tiny nymph scenario. Tossing a popper while wet wading in sandals is more casual Friday than normal fly fishing may be.
But you may have also noticed that there are some limitations that come with just picking the biggest trout rod and biggest trout flies for the job. They’ll work – don’t get me wrong. But there are limitations. So you’re thinking it might be time to pick up something specifically for bass. That might be the right call. It might be unnecessary, but it is at least worth considering if it is something that will be worthwhile.
So what to do?
Go to your local fly shop. Talk to people who know and fish for bass. Cast anything and everything you can get your hands on. But keep these three things in mind as you begin your shopping journey for your next fly rod for bass:
Your heaviest trout rod will probably do enough.
If you dabble in bass fishing, don’t feel like another $500 of gear is necessary. An occasional night out on the pond or a dedicated trip a year to the river might not justify a 9-weight. Your 6-weight trout rod will do most of what you need good enough for you to catch fish. You’ll have to make some compromises with your fly selection and some adjustments with your casting stroke, but you’ll do just fine. That said, if you want a rod dedicated to fly fishing for bass…
Think about flies, not fish.
Even if the biggest smallmouth you’ll be catching are around 14 inches, think about the flies you’ll be using. If you’re only chasing farm pond bass, and not world records in California reservoirs, think about the flies you might want to throw. An 8-weight might feel like overkill for two-pound fish, but it is exactly what you need to throw a size 2 popper or a 1/0 diver. This is, in my humble opinion, the biggest determining factor when it comes to picking a fly rod in the vast majority of situations. You can probably play a big bass well on a 4-weight if you have experience, but even the best casters are going to hate throwing a big Clouser Minnow on that rod. Go big and open your fly box.
Where will you be when you’re fishing?
Many of us like to fish for bass out of canoes or from the bank of a pond. Both of these locations benefit from a rod with a little more backbone. If you’re low on the water, having that power will assist in lifting line and getting a cast up in the air. If you’re close to bushes, trees, and cattails, that will help you control your back cast and limit the number of false casts you make. Making these casts easier is worth jumping up to a 7-weight. Making these casts easier will also reduce fatigue, which lets you fish more accurately and fish longer.
Check out the most recent Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast where I discuss Your Next Bass Fly Rod.