Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth: in Rivers and Streams

by Bob Clouser, Jay Nichols (Contributor)

Recipes and fishing techniques for 32 of Bob Clouser's favorite smallmouth patternsTen tips to catch a trophy bassLocal expertise for fishing the nation's best bass rivers, including the Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, the Umpqua and John Day in Oregon, Maryland's Potomac, Maine's Penobscot, and the Little TennesseeIn Fly-Fishing for Smallmouth, Bob Clouser shares the extensive knowledge he has developed over a quarter-century of guiding for smallmouth bass on the Susquehanna River. Beyond his native waters, the lessons Bob offers in this book can be directly applied to smallmouth fisheries across the country, from creeks to large rivers. An experienced teacher, Bob anticipates the questions and challenges faced by anglers when they first encounter a smallmouth stream. He explains the natural history of smallmouth--their range, spawning behavior, feeding habits, and seasonal movement patterns--and then introduces the specific flies and techniques he uses when fly-fishing for bass. In sections on casting and presentations, he discusses intermediate to advanced methods of casting with weighted flies and lines as well as various surface and subsurface tactics, with dramatic color photos of the author demonstrating how it's done.Bob has designed a series of flies especially for smallmouth, and he reveals recipes and fishing tips for these flies and the other bass patterns he regularly uses and carries in his fly box. In the book's final chapter, he invites his friends to write about their favorite local bass streams across North America. These well-known anglers, among them Lefty Kreh, John Randolph and Mike O'Brien, offer intimate details on the greatest bass waters from California to Ontario.

Genres: Outdoors

240 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 2006

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the distinct pleasure of meeting Bob Clouser. He's certainly a legendary fly fisher, but more importantly, a first rate human being.

The smallmouth bass is a supreme sport fish, and certainly a very worthy opponent when pursued with the fly rod. Clouser just lays out all his smallmouth chops in this highly readable and magnificently produced volume. The photography is wonderful, much of which Clouser shot himself. Indeed, we are dealing with a multifaceted and multiply talented individual.

Beginner, intermediate, advanced--doesn't matter. This work speaks to everybody regardless of skill level. Read, get inspired, and go catch some beautiful bronze bombers.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pretty amazing book by one of the key figures in the fields. Somehow he manages to make it feel like both an intro guide to the sport and one-volume resource for everything you need. Of course, it's not quite either -- the beginner would have to go elsewhere for knots, casting tips, etc; and the expert would want more details on presentations and the opportunity to consider other flies and techniques (although the last chapter does this somewhat) -- but it's pretty remarkable, running from fly and tackle selection to how to focus on trophy bass.

On top of it all: fantastic photographs.