For many years bass fishermen have relied on streamers, poppers, and deer hair surface bugs. However in the last several years I have had many ask for more information on bass nymphs. When, where, and how to fish the bass nymphs. Within the last year I did a video on how to fish six different nymphs which are very important for the diet of the bass. Click HERE to watch the video.
Some of these are hellgrammites, stonefly, caddisfly, dragonfly, damselfly and mayfly nymphs. These are heavily distributed in grass beds, riffles, gravel bars, mud-flats and brush piles.
I’ve developed several techniques of fishing these bass nymphs in tow and three fly rigs on the same leader which are very effective. In fact, one of my fishing partners caught a five pound smallmouth on a dragonfly nymph fished as a dropper below a Shenandoah Blue Popper last year. This year I had a friend that caught a smallmouth pushing six pounds on a Bass Caddis Nymph fished below a Shenandoah Blue Popper.
Fish downstream of the riffles where the water flattens out into the main pool. Wade into the river right below the riffle and cast straight across stream. A firm two foot line hand stripping action every five seconds attracts the bass and often brings a solid strike on the nymph. Then wade slowly downstream pausing every 10 feet for the next 100-200 feet.