I recently had to go to the lake arrowhead UCLA conference center for a class. It was tough because I was literally stuck in a classroom like 8 hours of the day and I couldn't sneak away for more than 45 minutes at a time but I did manage to get some fishing time in. The lake itself was beautiful and there might be no better time to be in mountains than late spring (not to hot/not too cold) but it was interesting fishing a "private" lake. I was not allowed to fish from shore, but I could fish from the conference center docks. All the security guards wanted to check my ALA card (I don't have one) but they could not do anything to stop me from getting to the UCLA property. And all the locals seemed more concerned with making sure I was there "legally" than just enjoying the lake. What a backwards place.
During lunch break and after dinner I did manage to lose 3 small mouth bass. They were wily ones...all three managed to spit the hook on their first jump...I should've kept the rod tip lower. On the final morning I woke up early and fished a little more. Managed to land one good sized rainbow. I released it after the photo. All fish (including the smallmouth) ate a #8 wooly bugger (black hackle/tail and dark brown body) on the drop-shot.
In recent years I know that "warm-water species" fly fishing has been gaining steam, but here in California people still stick to all the usual methods for targeting bass, carp, and others. Like most outdoor trends, we are the last to pick up on it. Anyways, I think it can be more than just novelty to fish these species on the fly. The presentation is much more subtle and at least for the time being, you are offering them items they haven't seen before. this cant last forever of course but its worth a go for sure.