Fishing for smallmouth bass occurs on a variety of waters throughout the country. In fact, smallmouth bass can be found in nearly every state. That means there are places to go fishing near you no matter where you live. As the frost on the pumpkin gets thicker each morning, the next several weeks can serve up some of the best fishing of the year for smallmouth bass. Whether you are looking for places to fish in Michigan, Minnesota, or Maine, you can use these tips to help you find more success when fishing for smallmouth bass.

Target deeper water. As water temperatures drop in the fall, the baitfish activity in the shallow water decreases. There is less forage for smaller fish species so they move to deeper water. Look for drop-offs, holes, buckets, and other places where the depth changes rapidly. Find those areas and you will find hungry smallmouth. Look for water that is 10 to 20 feet deep.

Have a variety of flies...and ones that move some water. The key to fall fishing for smallmouth bass is to be versatile in your fly selection. One thing is for sure, however, you can leave your surface plugs and poppers at home. Choose large streamers or crayfish patterns. Pick flies for smallmouth bass that have large eyes as predators are keyed into eyes. Also choose flies for smallmouth bass that have a good jigging action when retrieved. Lastly, choose flies that have a good action when slowly stripped.

Invest in a sink-tip and full sinking lines. Because fishing for smallmouth bass in the fall means you have to get your fly deep, you will need to use sink-tip or full sinking fly lines. A variety of options exist, but err on the side of caution and choose fly lines with a sink rate of at least 2-3 IPS (inches per second).

Search for cues to find feeding fish. Occasionally on sunny and calm days when the water temperature may be warmer than average, look for signs of baitfish feeding on the surface. This can be nervous water if the baitfish are just below the surface or it can be actual baitfish crashing on the surface. When this occurs it is easy to know where to cast. If the baitfish are not active on the surface, look for submerged structure or use a depth-finder to locate the deeper holes.

Improve your knots because fall smallmouth bass can be big. Because smallmouth bass do a large chunk of their feeding during the summer, the fish in fall can be some of the largest of the year. Be sure to practice tying quality knots so you don't lose the fish of the year or a lifetime.

Choose fluorocarbon leaders and tippet. Be sure to choose fluorocarbon for your leaders and tippet. Fluorocarbon is strong, abrasion resistant, and sinks quickly. These all work in your favor when fly fishing for smallmouth bass in the fall.

Fishing for smallmouth bass can be fast, fun and full of action. You might also be surprised to know that there are lots of places to fish for smallmouth bass close to you. Whether you fish in the Southeast on a Georgia tailwater or in the Northeast on a medium sized river, fly fishing for smallmouth bass is increasing in popularity because there are plenty of places to fish and smallmouth are an exciting gamefish.

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