Hi everyone -

Sorry if this topic has been covered recently, but with spring approaching I'm seeking advice on a truly great smallmouth bass rod. My 6 wt. Legend Ultra doesn't handle big deerhair frogs and crayfish patterns too well, but my 8 wt., 9 1/2 foot Scott ARC steelhead rod is just overkill.

So I'm thinking 7 wt., but didn't know whether a slatwater-style rod would be best. Trout rods just have tips that are too sensitive to control these huge flies and the heavier bass lines, IMO.

Any advice on specific models would be great. I'd buy the Scott/Murray Bass Rod, but it's only in a 2-piece; I'd prefer a 4-piece.

Many thanks!

Hi McG,
An idea instead of a new rod may be a new line. I lean toward a line that the majority of the head or taper is right in the front of the line with a sharp dropoff of taper right in the front. It makes the line "push" the bigger flies better and seems to give more "kick" on casting. Some examples might be bass tapers, pike or musky tapers and the clouser lines available out there. These lines are designed to throw bigger flies and more wind resistant bugs out there. The normal trout line or nymph line isn't designed for the bigger stuff and ends up feeling overwhelmed when you stick a big bug out there.
Another thought is to throw in a double haul to generate a bit more line speed with the big bugs.
A caution with the bass tapers and such. If you use regular flies (not deer hair poppers and big stuff) they tend to slap down on the water less delicately than the trout lines.
One more thing would be the leader setup. You probably want a leader with a fairly stout butt section on it to generate and keep inertia with the bigger bass bugs. Try some Maxima Chameleon or even Mason Hard Mono as a butt section (or even an entire leader of hard mono!)
IMO, the Legend Ultra in a 6 wt is plenty of rod for what you want when lined and set up correctly.(no criticism or personal slight intended here at all!) I fish a bamboo 6 wt for smallies all the time and it works great.
Now if this is a case of justifying a new rod or a "need new gear" type of thing, then I apologize for all the ideas! Lusting after new fly stuff is perfectly normal and IMO, necessary. LOL.
Dewey

Hey Mc-I use a Scott s3 6 wt. 2pc. with a SA 7WF Bass Bug. The rod doesn't mind being lined up and it really slices through the wind,which is absolutely necessary down here in TX in the springtime. I don't know if the s3 casts differently in the 4 pc. configuration or not.

If memory serves, that SC ultra should handle a 7 wt line OK. However, if you want to throw 1/0-2/0 water soaked hairbugs, your going to want the momentum of a 8 wt line. Find a fast action 7 wt or a med fast 7/8 or 8 wt rod. (8.6-9' prefferably) and load it up with a std taper WF8F line and have at it.

FWIW, I use a overlined 8.6" 7 wt or a 9' 8wt for most of my bug throwing for largemouth but opt for a 5-6 wt rod (overlined as well) for most on my smallie fishing. Of course, if I was fishing heavy current, I might step up a notch.



FWIW, don't find that you need to spend allot of $ to get a decient and versitile bass bugging rod. Power and accuracy are the key "wants" vs line speed and finess.
In fact, some of my "favorites" have turned out to be cortland "entry level" rods in the $75-$150 range.

Lasty, WELCOME!

Hi Mc53...

Having used an SCLU 6-wgt. for Smallies in N. Carolina and for many Largemouths here in Florida I will throw in with Dewey on trying a line change (or two) before you spring for a new stick. That rod will go as high as a 7-wgt. Bass line and you can toss some healthy bugs with that. If you're going to toss tennis balls you'll need an 8-wgt. and that's really out of that particular rod's league.
Also will support Wee Hooker's comments, especially about the rod not needing to be expensive. The Hook & Hackle IM6 rod (or) blank in 6-wgt., 3-pc is a very capable stick and CAN handle an 8-wgt. Bass line - for sure. Assuming you are talking really large bugs, I would take the H&H over the SCLU. But I would NOT take it in a higher line-weight because that rascal would need more energy to flex than my lazy self is willing to part with.

HTH
5/0

Thinking a bit more about your quest, Mc53 and will add a thought or two to my response.
Smallie fishing can entail the use of bugs that aren't as cumbersome as the hallowed "big, wind-resistant deer-hair bug". In fact, Ersatz Craws, Clousers and Gotchas and similar fare are popular and pretty productive in Smallie haunts, and they are a different toss than the bulky hair bugs. The SCLU can handle these if one doesn't go over the edge on size and Smallies will gobble them. Another factor with them is that a lot of Smallie fishing can be done without any real strict requirement for pinpoint casting. And with 5-6 lbs. being a bragging Smallie, the SCLU 6-wgt. will keep the fun in bringing the fish to hand. I guess I'm just echoing the point that you probably don't really need to rush out after another stick.

Best,
5/0

The line that you use for smallmouth fishing makes a big difference. A bass bug taper or the RIO Clouser line make it much easier to toss heavy bulky flies. The heavier weight line that you use, the easier it is to toss large flies. The issue with smallmouth rods is balancing the size of flies that you want to use against the average sized fish that you can catch. An eight weight rod with an eight or nine weight bass bug taper line is great for tossing flies, but is kind of heavy for catching smallies that might average 12 or 14 inches. A six weight rod with a six weight RIO Clouser line or overlined with a seven weight line won't toss flies that are quite as big, but is much more fun if the average bass aren't too big. Your rod should handle being overlined.

A seven weight rod that can handle being overlined with a bass bug taper line is ideal for anything but small stream smallmouth. You can still use your six weight in small streams. I would check out the Sage FLI, the Winston Vapor, and the Scott A2. You really need to test cast whatever you plan on buying to make sure that you like the way that the rod feels with an overweigthed bass bug taper.

Thanks to all for the tips. Overlining is something I've thought about but never tried, so for now I'll move up from the SA 6wt. Bass taper line I've used for a couple of years (it's pretty worn anyway) and go the to Rio in a 7wt. And the Vapor in a 7 wt. or the Scott sounds like a good choice, too since it fills the niche between my 6 and 8 wts.

Appreciate everyone taking the time to answer!

Smallmouth bass fishing is by far one of my favorite forms of fly fishing. You talk about an agressive fish that fights like a tank, and can be down right difficult to fish. I fish for smallmouth any chance I get. Lets face it my area smallmouth bass are like wild trout except slightly meaner. In the ozarks there are smallmouth creeks and streams all over the place. With that being said smallmouth fishing in other states it slightly different than it is in Arkansas and Oklahoma. There are smallmouth creeks in my area that I would not dare fish a 7wt on. I use 7 and 8wts for lmb and lake fishing. Since I due to concentrate on this kind of fishing I have my tackle selected as such.

I see the 6wt as a good all purpose freshwater rod, and the the most important smallmouth bass rod. The st croix is an excellent rod for smallmouth fishing. It can throw streamers, crawdads, and poppers all day. It can handle sinking lines for when the water is high, and throw a bass bug line just perfect. I have also fished the Scott A2 and think very highly of that rod as well. The A2 is slightly lighter and a little more medium-fast actioned rod.

Another rod I really enjoy fishing for smallmouth with is an 8' 5wt. I use this rod for creek bass and small streams. I fish a Scott E2, but have cast the new st croix Avid in the 8' 5wt and its a great rod for this stuff as well. It throws small bugs, hoppers, and streamers very well. At any rate, sorry for the ramble. Happy rod shopping.

Mike

Take a look at the St.croix 10' 7 wt. or the Winston 10' 7wt BIIx. I am torn between the 2 rods for a smallmouth / flaot tube rod. They both cast GREAT I tied some 2/0 deer hair poppers and the do great. I use a 7" gamma deep blue leader that I make and it turns the fly over great. Go test cast these rods. Tie up a deer hair fly or take a old one, and cut the hook off at the bend , glue the back of the fly. Then test cast with that fly on it. Good luck Mike

I like Mike The Fly Guy's idea, but if you ar ehauling them out of weeds and other cover, I go up from my long 7wt to a Sage 8wt for the additional ability to to haul them out of cover, if necessary, as well as handling the larger flies in windy conditions. IT also depends on where you're fishing and the size fish you realistically expect to be getting into.

Peter