Small Flies, Big Bass With summer now in full swing, water temperatures feel near-boiling. Often times when fishing in bath water-like conditions, you will find fish less aggressive than in spring or fall. Sometimes they can be downright lethargic. At times like these, less can be result in more. In terms of fly fishing, less equals flies tied on smaller hooks and/or with less dressing. Switching to small flies is a trick shown to me by a buddy while fishing for late summer bass a number of years ago. Tossing the regular compliment of topwaters, jigs, spinnerbaits, crankbaits and worms netted nothing under the intense August heat. On a whim, we started tossing tiny popping bugs against grassbeds. Much to our delight, bass inhaled these puny offerings with abandon. The shock wasn't just that bass would hit such small morsels, but the size of bass that joined in the feeding activity. This proved to be no fluke. Day after hot day, year after sultry year, August meant casting small poppers, damsels, and hopper patterns against shorelines, stands of lily pads, and hydrilla beds. By following this pattern, we consistently caught more bass during the hottest time of year than our conventional tackle counterparts. Though this may not be the path to a tournament winning stringer, if you're just looking to put more bass in the boat this summer - particularly on smaller bodies of water - try picking up a fly rod and a handful of size 6 flies. You'll be amazed by the reaction you'll get from both the fish and fishermen. texas bass fishing, texas fishing, texas fishing reports, texas catfish, texas lakes, texas rivers, fishing in texas lakes, fishing in texas rivers