Topwater to Bottom: Cracking the Code on Smallmouth Bass

Jake Villwock

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Smallmouth bass aren’t just aggressive they’re strategic. Jake Villwock breaks down how to consistently catch more fish by targeting all three feeding zones: topwater, mid-column, and bottom. He reveals how modern fly design—from foam bugs to articulated baitfish and lifelike crayfish has transformed the game. Whether you’re chasing explosive surface eats or dialing in subsurface tactics, you’ll learn how to fish smarter, adapt faster, and unlock the full potential of smallmouth on the fly.

Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:

What first drew you to smallmouth bass on the fly, and what keeps you obsessed with them today?
What are good weights of fly lines and leaders for both topwater and wet fly fishing for smallmouth?
What size leader do you use?
What are the biggest mistakes anglers make when fishing surface flies for bass?
For anglers new to bass on the fly, what are the top three surface flies they should always carry?
Your book mentions how modern topwater flies have evolved from bulky deer hair bugs to more refined foam and articulated patterns. What drove that evolution?
What about a dropper off a popper suspended 18”-24”. What depth of water would that be successful
What conditions create the perfect topwater smallmouth bite?
How important is observation when determining what bass are feeding on at the surface—mayflies, frogs, damsels, baitfish, cicadas, and so on?
What are your favorite retrieves for poppers, sliders, and waking flies?
Moving into the mid-column zone, can you explain what a “swim fly” really is and why this style has become so effective?
When fishing mid-column flies, how do you decide between floating, sink-tip, and intermediate lines?
Crayfish patterns are a major focus in your book. What makes crayfish such an essential forage for bass?
Do you use a lot of crayfish patterns, and what about sculpin patterns?
Looking ahead, where do you think smallmouth fly design and tactics are headed over the next decade?