Montana Small Mouth Bass like chasing big streamers near the surface in the spring and early summer. They hold a bit deeper in mid to late summer, but the fishing remains good throughout.  You will generally see them long before they eat: watching them pursue your fly and making just the right strips and twitches.  Then the fight is on, with frequent arial jumps and head shakes.  Many fishermen claim Small Mouth are, pound for pound, the hardest fighting freshwater fish, and we are inclined to agree.

We fish for Small Mouth primarily at Fort Peck and the Bighorn Reservoir, and recommend using a six or seven weight or ultra light spinning rod.

CLASSIC MONTANA SMALL MOUTH BASS FISHERIES: Bighorn Reservoir, Fort Peck, Yellowstone River.

MORE INFORMATION ON SMALL MOUTH BASS:

Montana Field Guide: Small Mouth Bass