Author: @flyfishermann
Chasing bass during the dog days of summer is a favourite pursuit of many fly anglers. The days are hot, the water is warm, and wading is easy (Wearing Tan/Dun Chest Breathable Waders Stocking Foot). On days like these, the opportunity to tempt a large smallmouth to the surface is simply too good to pass up. That is where the Mr. Wiggly fly shines.
The Mr. Wiggly has been a favourite pattern of mine for years, so it was great to see Bassdash include it in their recent collection of bass flies. It is a proven pattern that consistently produces when bass are actively feeding near the surface.
When aggressive bass are looking up, holding just below the surface, or sitting in only a few feet of water, the Mr. Wiggly has a way of drawing big fish up to feed!
I rely on a few go-to tactics when fishing this fly, particularly when sight fishing to smallmouth holding in four feet of water or less.
- First, I rarely make my first cast upstream of the fish and let the fly drift down. Instead, I aim to land the fly off to the side of the fish, or slightly behind it. The sound of the fly touching down often acts as a dinner bell for hungry, aggressive bass. If the fish turns, be ready to set the hook.
- Second, if a bass approaches the fly but does not eat it right away, do not rush things. A strike may still be coming. Give the line a gentle, subtle strip, just enough to bring the fly’s many legs to life. This small movement is often all it takes to trigger a take.
- Third, if bass are consistently inspecting the fly and turning away, consider adding a dropper off the bend of the hook. I often fish a size 10 damsel fly nymph 12 to 18 inches below the Mr. Wiggly. Fished this way, the top fly doubles as an indicator. Watch for it to dip, or, in clear water, watch for the bass to take the dropper and set the hook.
When covering new water, or when fish are not visibly holding near the surface, focus on likely lies and let the fly drift naturally. Fish the Mr. Wiggly as you would any dry fly. Make a clean cast and mend as needed to keep the drift drag free. From time to time, add just enough movement to make the legs wiggle subtly. Stay alert, as big bass often sip the fly, leaving little more than a dimple on the surface.
Fishing the Mr. Wiggly on a sunny summer afternoon is one of my favourite ways to target bass. Watching the fly disappear into the mouth of a heavy smallmouth is what topwater fishing is all about. The next time you are chasing river smallmouth, tie on a Mr. Wiggly and be ready for an afternoon of memorable fishing.
