Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 16
BASS
on the
FLY
by Chris Gorsuch
photos by the author
Smallmouth Bass are well-known for a spirited tenacity and
the ability to fight well beyond its physical size. The age-old
adage, "pound for pound the gamest fish that swims," is
hard to debate. For several decades, I have chased bass
in lakes and rivers using spinning and casting gear, and
while I consider myself a multi-species angler, bass hold a
special place. However, it was not until I hooked my first
Smallmouth Bass on a fly rod that Dr. James A. Henshall's
quote truly hit home. Henshall's passion for catching bass on
the fly is contagious. The full quote from Henshall is, "The
black bass is eminently an American fish; he has the arrowy
rush and vigor of the trout, the untiring strength and bold
leap of the salmon, while he has a system of fighting tactics
peculiarly his own. I consider him, inch for inch and pound
for pound, the gamest fish that swims."
Since fly fishing for bass can encompass enough
techniques, fly patterns and gear selections to fill a
complete book, the focus for this article is primarily
minnow presentations. The information assembled here
can be utilized on any stream or river in Pennsylvania for
Smallmouth Bass.
Small-bodied fishes are a key forage for Smallmouth Bass.
Banded Darters, Bluntnose Minnows, Emerald Shiners,
chubs and dace are just a few of the forage fish that populate
Pennsylvania rivers. Even in rivers and streams where the
primary forage is crayfish and hellgrammites, minnow fly
patterns can still rule the day from April through November.
16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * July/August 2019
Murdich Minnows
Murdich Minnow
One of my favorite minnow patterns for Smallmouth Bass
is the Murdich Minnow. Named after Bill Murdich, this fly
was originally designed for saltwater, targeting striped bass.
It is, however, a versatile fly, and I caught Largemouth Bass,
Smallmouth Bass, Walleyes, pike, trout, and striped bass on
the same fly. Size will vary and depending on the time of
year, most are 3- to 4-inches in length.
www.gonefishingpa.com
http://www.gonefishingpa.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - 8
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - July/August - Cover4
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