Summer · Updated April 2026
Best Smallmouth Bass Flies
Smallmouth eat almost anything that looks alive. The best smallmouth fly box covers four bases: topwater (poppers, gurglers), baitfish imitators (clousers, deceivers), crayfish patterns, and articulated streamers. Tie or buy in #2 to #6 sizes. Olive, black, white, and chartreuse are the workhorse colors. These are the flies that crush bass on Great Lakes water.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability may change.
Our Top Pick
122 premium hand-tied flies for steelhead and trout with dry flies, nymphs, streamers, and terrestrials in two included boxes.
Top Picks at a Glance
Buyer's Guide
Topwater is summer
Poppers and gurglers are first-light and last-light gold. Mid-day topwater works on overcast days and after thunderstorms. Buy them in #4 and #6, in chartreuse, white, and frog patterns.
Clousers cover everything
A weighted clouser minnow in olive/white or chartreuse/white catches bass at every depth. Throw it on a sink-tip or floating line, strip-pause-strip. The single most reliable smallmouth fly.
Don't skip crayfish
When the topwater bite shuts down, fish a weighted crayfish pattern dead-drifted along the bottom or slowly stripped through deeper structure. Smallmouth gorge on crawfish in summer.
More Top Summer
Maxcatch Fly Fishing Flies Kit 120pcs Handmade Assortment Dr...
Fly Fishing Flies Kit 64, 152 & 268 Piece - Hand-Tied Dry We...
Outdoor Planet 24/48/66/72 Premium Hand Tied Fly Fishing Fli...
Ventures Fly Co. | 200 Premium Hand Tied Fly Fishing Flies A...
Outdoor Planet Premium Fly Fishing Flies Assortment | Waterp...
Wooly Bugger Flies Streamer Fly Fishing Flys Assortment Kit...
BASSDASH Fly Fishing Wet Flies for Trout Salmon Fishing Nymp...
Outdoor Planet 24/48/66/72 Premium Hand Tied Fly Fishing Fli...
Extra Large Double Sided Water Proof Boat Fly Box with Handl...
24/36/50/66 Premium Hand Tied Fly Fishing Flies Assortment |...
Hand-Tied Fly Fishing Flies Kit, Dry Wet Flies Nymphs Stream...
Goture Fly Fishing Flies Kit, 30pcs Dry Wet Flies Streamers...
RiverBum Bass Fly Fishing Flies Assortment Kit with Fly Box,...
BASSDASH Fly Fishing Flies Kit Fly Assortment Trout Bass Fis...
BASSDASH Fly Fishing Flies Kit Fly Assortment Trout Bass Fis...
Goture Fly Fishing Flies Kit,25pcs/30pcs/100pcs Fly Fishing...
WellieSTR 1 Meter (Barred White Color) Half Skin Fly Tying R...
Fly Fishing Flies Kit, 50/114Pcs Handmade Fly Fishing Gear w...
Outdoor Planet Premium Fly Fishing Flies Assortment, 12/24 /...
Popper-Flies-for-Fly-Fishing-Topwater-Panfish-Bluegill-Bass-...
