John Day River Bass Flies?

[High School Fisherman]

Im headin to the John Day for some early smallmouth fishing, hopefully going to hook into some good size ones before the spawn begins. I was wondering what flies are effective for smallies on the John Day, any info would be much appreciated.

[Grits]

Don't know much about fly selection for bass but from my southern days I remeber that they make flies that rezemble poppers. I have never fished with flies for bass but have fished with poppers and know that poppers always caught fish so would imagine that a fly made to look like one would work. When all else fails a brown rooster tail with a gold spinner has always been my choice on the John Day. Good luck.

[Jellyhead]

One Word,

WOOLYBUGGERS! Any fly that has marabou as a tail and a buggy body like that will, and does, catch smallmouth. It might be a bit early for poppers over there. Try out any fly with flash, movement (marabout) and bulk. Possibly try a muddler minnow. Good luck, let us know how you do.

Aaron

[Tanner]

Go to Kauffmans in Tigard and get some Wood Bodied Poppers. My most succesful one on the John Day has been one of the larger white ones with a grey back. Jellyhead is right about buggers, they work good too. Fishermans Marine sells a large headed yellow deer hair muddler that I have done real well on there also. Experiment. Fish the surface in the morning and evening unless it is overcast, then you can fish it all day.