Smallmouth Bass are aggressive, hard-fighting fish that can grow to several pounds in these waters. It’s no surprise that Prineville Reservoir held the Oregon state record from 1977 to 1989. Depending on the season and conditions, we use a variety of tactics—from fast-stripped streamers to finesse-style jigs—but our favorite by far is topwater action. Fishing surface poppers can trigger explosive strikes, making it one of the most thrilling ways to hook a bass on the fly. We fish with 6 and 7 wt. rods paired with floating and sinking lines to match the conditions and keep the action going all day long.