River smallmouth fly suggestions…

[Redfin]

I fish the Juniata River a lot for smallmouth. Smallmouth are aggressive feeders so you don’t have to get too complicated with your fly selection. Many streamer or crayfish patterns will lead to good action. Top water poppers and/or diving type flies are great too.

My personal favorite pattern is the Clouser minnow tied in olive over brown. I also have good luck on wooly buggers and crayfish patterns.

Here is a link to two articles I wrote for Dark Skies Fly Fishing. One on fishing for smallmouth and the other on fishing the Juniata River.

Smallmouth: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/846489450/29/

Juniata River: https://online.flippingbook.com/view/260099487/33/

What size eyes are you using on your Clousers in the Juniata? I have been tying with both small and med size.
I’m wondering if the med are to large/heavy?
I tied some of my clousers at first with a little too much bucktail. Then I figured out and watched some YouTube videos of Bob. And started tying them with less material. And they look MUCH better. Sometimes I’m not exactly sure how long to make them. But so far they have been around 3”. And I tied some foxxe darter or minnow. I forget what he calls them. But they have been around 2 1/4 to 2 1/2” range. I like that fox tail too! I need to get some craft hair now.

 

[sixfootfenwick]

Speaking of Sculpins/Stonecats … a super simple one here with a fish skull “helmet” head, black chenille and black poly yarn for appendages - tied with Firehole articulated shank/hook combo

Thank you for this. That is much simpler than what I tie. I'm going to give that a go

 

[jifigz]

I’m just getting into the smallmouth game but from my experience spin fishing the Susky my plan is to fish any fly that resembles a fluke style bait and I’m confident that’s about all I will fish. (Summertime). View attachment 1641241866

You're really missing out on smallmouth fly fishing if you don't toss some sort of small foam bug. My only topwater bug is the gurgler. And no, they don't only catch small bass. I have caught several fish in the 20" range on them.

Just my suggestion, but smallmouth readily take surface flies.

 

[Tiogadog]

Copper over gold Kreelex (essentially a flashy Clouser)

Mr. Wiggly

Crittermite ( hellgrammite pattern)

 

[NittanyBearcat]

What size eyes are you using on your Clousers in the Juniata? I have been tying with both small and med size.
I’m wondering if the med are to large/heavy?
I tied some of my clousers at first with a little too much bucktail. Then I figured out and watched some YouTube videos of Bob. And started tying them with less material. And they look MUCH better. Sometimes I’m not exactly sure how long to make them. But so far they have been around 3”. And I tied some foxxe darter or minnow. I forget what he calls them. But they have been around 2 1/4 to 2 1/2” range. I like that fox tail too! I need to get some craft hair now.

Lots of different sizes will work but most often I tie my clousers on a size 4 mustad 3366 hook with size small dumbbell eyes. Usually they end up in the 3-4 inch range in terms of length. I do sometimes use size medium eyes as well and no they won’t be too big or heavy.

Clousers that are a little larger or smaller will work as well though! All the sizes you mentioned should be good.

 

[Bamboozle]

Two of favorite flies are an unweighted black Woolly Bugger or reasonable facsimile for drifting through the shallow spots and a small (maybe size 12 or 10) bluegill popper, similar to a Gaines Mini Pop (cylindrical with rubber legs hackle and a tail) in ORANGE.

I've had great luck with small orange poppers!!

 

[henrydavid]

I'm surprised no one mentioned the Susquehanna hatches. Starting in June we have the sulphurs, might be earlier but it takes some time for the bass to get tuned into them. Caddis on and off most of the summer. Hex flies, if you see them you will understand. And the legendary but fickle white fly hatch. You can use dries to imitate the insects or size comparable poppers. It's not easy to find size #12 poppers but they work very well. Sulphurs are my favorite because it's the most reliable in my experience.

Nothing much matches a smallie on a dry fly.