FLY FISHING WITH SNEAKY PETE

By Les Anderhub

When one of our smallmouth fishermen talks of surface fishing, it usually means the Sneaky Pete. There are many others, but ole Sneaky is the favorite. There are many sizes of Sneakys. Smallmouth prefer the largest by far. The smaller ones will get an occasional Smallmouth and a horde of other species, but the no. 2 is their favorite. Chartreuse seems to be the most popular seller, yet I have noticed little difference in the different colors. One rap on the Sneaky is they usually have dull hooks, make sure you sharpen them before you use them (and turn down the barb).

Late afternoon or early evenings are the best times, but I usually have a Sneaky on my spare rod and cast it anytime of day just in case they’re hitting then. It is great to have a smaller surface fly on for those days when the smallmouth are not cooperating and you can catch a pan fish every other cast.

Casting can be very important with a surface fly. An accurate placement of the fly followed by immediate motion is the preferred way to induce strikes. Placement next to the bank is important even if it is shallow since it is the area where most feed enters the water and is more natural to the bass. A perfect cast will give you a tight loop imitating a creature hitting the water and it will leave little or no slack. If you commonly have a lot of slack make sure you strip immediately then maneuver the fly. No slack is important because you can set the hook much easier and you want to move the fly as soon as it lands on the water. Isn’t that what a creature would do? If you are getting strikes and not hooking most of them, you probably have too much slack. How much to move the fly depends on the day and the fish’s mood. My favorite is a gentle strip, which causes the Sneaky’s legs to wiggle. If that doesn’t work then a fast short strip or strips, a pause, etc. making the fly react like an injured minnow. Regardless of the type of fly these tactics usually are universal.

A lake with mirror-calm water in summer can be devastating to the smallmouth; they can’t resist the surface flies. These conditions usually happen in the evening and should be pursued with vigor. If you want to catch more and have more fun, fish from a float tube.

In murky waters noisy flies like a popper or a Dahlberg Diver are preferred and can be equally as effective. To get the smallmouth’s attention, the flies should be as large as you can cast them. Most prefer a seven or eight weight line to make the casting easier. Noise and motion can get their attention, but not necessarily fast motion.

Les Anderhub fly fishing with a Sneaky Pete.

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