Fly fishing for bass can occur in waters throughout the United States. From Maine to California it is very likely bass swim somewhere near you for fishing. Because bass are predatory in nature, how you retrieve the fly is crucial to success. Conditions can also play a big role in the feeding activity of bass. Cloudy skies and cool water temps might slow down the aggressive nature of bass...or that might entice more strikes. Sunny skies and heat can often reduce the feeding activity or slow down the movement of baitfish. But when conditions at the time create for feeding bass, getting the right retrieve is crucial.

Here are some valuable tips to dial in the retrieve to help you catch more bass when fly fishing near you.

The Hand Twist Figure Eight is probably the most common retrieve used by anglers today. It is a busy retrieve that uses your hand and wrist with little arm movement. Start with your rod tip at the water's surface, then use your thumb and forefinger to pull and open your palm to catch the line with your pinky. You can vary the length of the retrieve by using different fingers. For added effect, you can end the twist with a quick snap of your wrist to make the fly dart and drop.

The Inch Pause Retrieve is exactly as it is named. A lot of experience anglers put a pause in the retrieve. The Inch Pause Retrieve Pull a few short strips of line, then pause. The pause can trigger a strike because it mimics prey that wants to get away but can't.

Using Short and Fast Strips is perhaps the best way to imitate fleeing baitfish by retrieving with short, fast strips. You can use a sinking line and start stripping right away because bass are often close to the fly in 1–13 feet of water.‍

A new technique is the Slide-and-glide. This technique works well for long casts across a stream. Strip the fly 1–2 feet with a staccato action, then let some line slip through your fingers so the fly drifts downstream.

Going fly fishing for bass is a great way to get on the water as often times there are plenty of places to fly fish near you. And as the heat of summer kicks into high gear on many trout waters, discovering new species means more fishing action on waters close to home.

Be sure to read onWater fishing blog posts to plan better and fish smarter and get more out of your fishing.‍

How to Find Rivers Near You for Fishing

Five Keys to Planning Your Next Do It Yourself Fishing Trip and How to Make it Your Best One Yet

Three Reasons to Love Your Local Fly Shop

‍

‍