Smallmouth bass, or “bronzebacks” as they are affectionately known by some of us, are a favourite target for a lot of Ontario summer fly fishers. There are many good reasons why they are so popular. Being a warm water species, they are readily available and always eager to eat a well tied fly throughout the “dog days” of summer; both in moving and still water environments. Because their food sources are so diversified, smallmouth bass can be taken by fly fishers using top water or sub surface tactics with flies that represent anything from a noisy surface frog imitation to a bottom dwelling crayfish pattern. Any successful presentation style is always exciting when you hook up with one of these