As Carolinians continue to enjoy the water this summer, Ryley McKnight joins the show to discuss smallmouth fishing – the cousin of the largemouth bass. Learn about how the fish differ, where to find smallmouth bass, and how to register for the Jesse Brown’s Smallmouth Fly Fishing School coming up in August.
Segment Highlights:
- Compared to largemouth bass, smallmouths prefer clearer water, can be more aggressive, fight harder, and are visual feeders.
- Smallmouth bass prefer to follow the currents of their river. With rivers constantly changing, the locations in which you can find smallmouth also often change. However, largemouth bass are found in more consistent conditions throughout the year.
- Both are aggressive fish, but smallmouths are more likely to chase down lures in open water, while largemouth are more of an ambush predator.
- Smallmouth also seek out cooler water than largemouth bass. This makes them harder to find in the summertime Carolinas, where temperatures are high. However, they are present in the mountains of North Carolina, along the Virginia border.
- Ryley, fly fishing instructor and guide from Jesse Brown’s, is originally from upstate New York, where smallmouth bass thrive more in the steadier, cooler conditions.
- Ryley will fish smallmouth with conventional fishing and fly fishing. Although the methods differ, with both styles he has the same goals of and tactics for smallmouth fishing.
- In August, Jesse Brown’s is hosting a Smallmouth Fly Fishing School. This class, taught by Ryley, features an evening of learning about rigging, flies, knots, techniques, and theory on August 13th. On August 16th, the class will take a float trip to the mountains of North Carolina to apply what’s been learned in the classroom.
- The Smallmouth Class is designed to teach how to fish for smallmouth so students can learn how to go out without a guide and catch them. Only 2 spots are left available, so sign up soon!
Things You’ll Learn by Listening:
Understand the difference between largemouth and smallmouth bass, and the behaviors and preferences of the smallmouth. Learn where to find smallmouth in the summer in the Carolinas. Register for the Smallmouth Fly Fishing School at Jesse Brown’s in August, where you can go out and catch smallmouth for yourself.
If you Missed This Story:
Register for the Smallmouth Fly Fishing School at Jesse Brown’s on August 13th and 16th. If you can’t make it to this workshop, you can also register for a Guided Float Trip with an expert Jesse Brown’s guide.
Jesse Brown’s is Charlotte’s one-stop shop for all things fly fishing: rods, reels, waders, accessories, or just plain old advice. Stop by in-store or online for your next smallmouth fishing trip!
