shallow river smallmouth fishingshallow river smallmouth fishing

Therefore Ill make multiple presentations to a likely target from many different angles downstream, upstream, crosscurrent hammering away until I trigger a reaction strike from a fish. Like stream trout, they position themselves in areas shielded from or next to relatively swift current and then ambush prey as it drifts past. When its a wide-wobble day, tie on the Big O.. This is the story of the Berkley CullShad. You cannot paste images directly. Subscribe to the free Weekly BassResource newsletter. The baby X is just a baby 1 minus with a square bill. I fish for smallmouth bass and channel catfish. I fish a soft plastic swimbait about 3.5 inches long on a Sled Head Jig (wackyworm.com). Where are smallmouth in fall? He is known in fishing circles as the River Otter, in reference to his first name and his penchant for fishing in the shallow, rocky rivers of East Tennessee. Fly anglers can fool smallies with streamers, nymphs, or poppers. Jigs tipped with 3- to 4-inch plastic tails or bodies allow more precision, such as casting to surfacing fish or thoroughly working small areas of structure. As I took a shade break beneath a bridge, a truck pulling a bass boat clattered overhead, and I wondered if that fisherman realized hed just driven over some prime smallmouth water. He uses soft twitches with extended pauses, allowing the bait to sink slowly. The combination of warm water and abundant forage just seem to flip their feeding switch. In-Fisherman TV producer Doug Stange examines classic smallmouth bass tactics that worked back in the day and still work wonders today anywhere that big smallies swim. During spring, river smallmouths have always posed something of a mystery. Grow your fishing skills and improve your angling effectiveness. Laydowns (fallen trees) extending over the water provide shade and cover. Ned baits These tiny artificials mimic worms, leeches and aquatic bugs. Lure Specifics: Stoudenmires 1/4-ounce Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs. When youve got the hook buried in the roof of a smallies mouth, youre going to land them on a stiff rod, Levert said. Levert considers current structure because of its strong influence on smallmouth location. Your tiny lure hurtles downstream, seemingly struggling in the current, and then theres a flash of brown and a close-quarters fight more dogged and rambunctious than youll get from any trout. It's a natural presentation, like a minnow being swept downriver. Depending on how small you're talking some good ones to consider are bomber model A's, DT4s, and the various 1.5 equivalent squarebills. I am excluding topwater baits for this conversation. I surely did forget about them. Versatility that's a swim jig. I cast the swimbait and let it swing into the current. I like the Duo Kabuki 55 SR on the river, but normally, it's a balsa shallow to mid depth crank like an E1 or similar in summer or like a Hicky or what have you. Eddies during the day and shallow, rocky riffles in low light are great areas to try.. Rentals: Kayaks and pontoon boats 702 293-3484. These are spooled with either 10-pound fluorocarbon or 8-pound mono. It just takes determination, the right gear and some basic know-how to catch them. Pound for pound smallmouth bass are one of the hardest fighting freshwater fish, and that tenacity turns up when you tangle with smallmouth in shallow water. Ive caught wall-hanger smallmouth from Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon River. My wife and I wonderful day chasing brookies. River smallmouth fishermen can actually be a lot more creative in muddy, high-water conditions than during frigid winter conditions. Smallmouths often select nesting areas of mixed sand, gravel, and small rocks, out of current flow and generally in water less than three feet deep. In the fall, I employ a combination of both methods. These reduce aches and pains by promoting better posture and provide great cushioning in rocky streams., Wool socks and liners I havent found anything that will keep my feet really toasty in frigid water, but thick, midcalf Alpacas of Montana socks (alpacasofmontana.com) and Smartwool sock liners (smartwool.com) sure help., Wading staff A lightweight, folding wading staff ($50 to $150) improves your balance and helps you move more confidently in current, a real benefit when covering long, rocky stretches and when exploring places you havent waded before., Spare reel spool Load this with line thats one step lighter or heavier than the line on your reel so you can adjust to varying water clarity conditions and lure weights., Landing net The reason we fish for smallmouth is [because] theyre badass. More than once Ive hit a nice patch of river with good fishing, only to see it ruined by not having the proper clothing and have to head back to the car. Im not one who is a fishing match the hatch. It works great with or without a trailer. I pair these with either a Quantum Smoke S3 30 or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel. Upload or insert images from URL. The shallow water can be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe. The flicker Shads have a rattle though. He strictly practices catch-and-release, but sometimes doesnt have to worry about that after a particularly weak hookset. One angler who consistently mines bronze from these overlooked waters is Indiana B.A.S.S. "Brownies" are fat, averaging a pound, and you may catch and release dozens, including, if you're lucky, some 3- to 5-pounders. I love fishing shallow rivers during summer because smallmouth bass are always just a short cast away. Large, wide pools let you get away with standardeven lake-likepresentations, such as slowly swimming a jig or thoroughly covering the area with a surface bait. My handmade Wolf Moon C&R landing net (wolfmoonnetsusa.com) subdues feisty fish quickly and has a nice vintage look., Insect repellent Trout fishermen talk about insect hatches like theyre a good thing, but black flies, mosquitos and no-see-ems? Then Ill make a second pass with the Fluke or jerk. Under normal low summer flows with fairly clear water, smallmouths can be found almost anywhere. jitterbug127 Doug Stange talks about how versatile a swimbait hook is for multiple rigging options. The closest version I have found is the Bass Pro Shops XPS Super Shallow Crank. (Season 47) E:2 - Sight-Fishing Shallow-Water Smallies with Bret Alexander. Just avoid stepping on snakes in warm weather! Some shallow rivers are even jet boat accessible. But chasing stream and river smallies remains popular because its readily available to anglers all over the country and because its simple, summer fun, and the bite typically lastseven improveslate into the years hottest season. Doug Stange talks about the seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well from North to South. Lake Mead. Now that youre outfitted, lets cover technique, presentation, and practical advice. I incorporate plenty of pauses in the retrieve, stalling it for three or four seconds.". In other places, they move downstream into reservoirs created by blocking dams. We will also go over some of the Baits, & Techniques we use. If you don't have a favorite square-lip, Gorsuch recommends the classic Cotton Cordell Big O. Best for River: Original Floating Rapala SEE IT Key Features Lengths: 1 " - 7" Weight: 1/16 - 11/-16 ounce Hooks: Treble. Examples include the hardpan lift at the tail of a pool; tailing current seams below a raging chute or rapid; a hard current push against a boulder embankment or riprap; rock-studded current runs; the current lift and tail eddy of bridge abutments or islands; and in the middle of a shallow riffle behind current-breaking objects. Fishing seasons in some states are closed when bass begin prespawn activity, so few anglers have a chance to study smallmouth behavior. | It's a new bait that the fish have not seen a lot of. The vests allow you to carry tackle in smaller packs which allow for better mobility in the water. 1. Lastly, get a good pair of gloves, even if theyre half-finger gloves. Should the river start to rise and color up following rain in the watershed, fishing success initially improves. I like a dt4 baby bass, a bandit 200(?) Theyre thin baits and have tight wobbles, so they can be pretty subtle. I'm not fishing streams much lately, but used to a lot. In broad, deep pools, fish might roam more and feed aggressively during evenings or other periods. Lures with small profiles are unobtrusive and quiet. Of course, deep is a relative term; some streams I wade have 3-foot holes; others have 10-footers. If youre thinking of plunging into this minimalist mode of smallmouth fishing, his advice can help you uncover the untapped smallmouth potential of streams in your area. | Chasing brookies. There might be a well-camouflaged lunker sitting in a subtle midstream bottom depression, or a big cruiser heading back to a current break after chasing a minnow into open water. I have the best rates on the river and provide great service. Keep an eye on your weather forecast and be prepared. Only a few decades ago Lone Star Lake was a nameless little pond amidst picturesque Texan wilderness. This rule ignores the fact that stream smallmouth, like all bass everywhere, are opportunistic predators that will grab a meal when and where it becomes available and can be provoked into striking even when theyre not particularly hungry. You'll catch more fish, for sure. Small-river bass typically feed on crayfish, other crustaceans, small fish, insect larvae, and larger insects. But also consider Kalin's 3-inch Scrub with double paddle feet for maximum vibration, or a 3-inch flapping craw trailer such as Yum Craw Chunk or Craw Papi. The characteristics of small bass waters vary throughout the fishs range, but generally they resemble trout waters, with good current and abundant rock-and-gravel substrate, but they feature higher summer water temperatures (typically exceeding 72 degrees in the North). Ontarios Jack Levert is a multi-species guide and competitive angler with more than 40-years experience catching smallmouth from the St. Lawrence River. Lastly, its imperative that you take a good look at surrounding structure and fish smart. Approach the water with ease and take great care to not make a disturbance. Next, develop your ability to discern the bite of the fish. As a general rule, smallmouths are most common in the deep, rocky lower end of the lake, as opposed to the shallow, silty northern end. It offers basically three lakes in one with shallow to much steeper ledges, deep and shallow feeder creeks, gravel bars, bluff banks and excellent water quality found throughout. I guide on the historic upper Potomac River near Poolesville MD. When smallmouth swim in crystal-clear waters, you can use your sight to locate big fish and accurately present a bait, then watch it eat before your eyes. A few close encounters have seen me purchase a fishing vest-lifejacket type hybrid. Smallmouth are very aggressive toward a topwater bait hovering over their heads during this period, so a bait that can stay close to the surface is extra effective, he says. Shallow water typically moves fast which does not give moss, algae, and debris a chance to form, so youre usually left with rocky bottoms. If youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this season. Burn it right under the surface in riffles and slicks on a 1/8-ounce jighead in the summer. As mentioned, the general strategy is a lot like trout fishing: Look for areas where bass can escape current and lie in wait for morsels traveling downstream. ", "I enjoy summer because smallmouths are aggressive and chasing," says Allegheny River guide Jeff Knapp. An angler should position the boat to stay on prime water. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets. In general, cranks work best for open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or scattered timber. ", "l'd take summer on a smallmouth river over any other type of fishing," confesses Dale Black, President of Gamma Fishing Line. Like DTs Ill throw it all season. Equally vital is maneuvering the boat to keep contact and control of the bait, which allows for a proper presentation and instant strike detection. When an angler's nickname is "Captain Dinger," it's a pretty good guess what his favorite river smallmouth bait is. After all, the endeavor is relatively low-tech, and bass in such waters dont often grow as heavy as their cousins in lakes, reservoirs, and larger rivers. It does not do much good hurling giant baits that make the sound of depth charge going off every time one hits the water. The first tip is pretty obvious, in that youll likely want to get a good pair of waders. Overall smallmouth bass are a hard fighting fish, but river bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared to their lake counterparts. Paste as plain text instead, When water temperatures dip below 50 degrees, feeding slows and the fish aren't eager to bite. Midstream logs are especially productive and often have a washout (hole) under them where smallmouth can hide. 3 RIVER-SMALLMOUTHS COMBOS Lipless cranks - heavy-power crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch medium-power, 7.2:1 or 6.3:1, 15-pound fluorocarbon. River smallmouth fight with the intensity of a title-defending champ backed into a corner. Try to land fish as quickly as possible, which helps them avoid exhaustion. Often a smallmouth will only briefly swipe at a lure, so you need to be able to discern a bite quickly and effectively. Topwaters Stream smallies will eat just about any critter swimming on the surface Ive seen em grab chipmunks, snakes, even small birds. As always though, be sure to inspect your line a bit more often than usual for frays and nicks. I fish X-Raps aggressively, employing sharp downward rod snaps while reeling in slack line. Rivers are home to some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet. One of the great appeals of stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity. Also be on the watch for fish swirling. In rivers, smallmouth relate to current edges as much as they do hard structure edges, such as sand-rock transitions. Don Wirth. Here's how to get in on the action, By It's an awesome story of one of the finest swimbaits you'll find anywhere. Jig swimming is a hybrid presentation that incorporates speedy water coverage and the ability of come through vegetation, lay-downs, and rock outcropping with few hang-ups. That makes it deflect wildly but it rights itself in 2 to 3 cranks if it isn't already in the mouth of a big smallie!!! Im really glad I started this thread. Doug Stange talks about how versatile a swimbait hook is for multiple rigging options. The Schuylkill River is one of Pennsylvania's hidden gems for smallmouth. Blue cats and channel cats are still being caught throughout the bay, and . And really, although bass arent bad to eat, youre better off targeting panfish or walleyes for the pan. Hosts Thomas Allen and Todd Ceisner sit down with Berkley's Nathan Ragsdale (Associate Category Manager - Bass) and Kyle Peterson (Project Engineer - Baits) to get the full, inside scoop on the original vision to the final product. "I fish the Dinger in both fast water and slower current, casting upstream at a 45-degree angle and employing a deadstick drift with the current, steering it into eddies behind rocks. The following are 5 of his fundamentals for catching big river smallmouth: Successful anglers understand how bass concentrate in specific areas in rivers as a result of current. For this reason, I use Google Maps to scope out creeks and locate less obvious places to enter the water. Rivers tend to have an abundance of sharp rocks, broken glass, or rusty aluminum debris on the bottom. Reading current is a skill that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting. A Mister Twister Twister Tail or a Zoom Fat Albert is about the simplest bait you could ever use, but its an extremely effective bait from spring through fall, he says. Try to be part of the landscape instead of an intrusive predator. 3. Shade pockets along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets. On one recent wade, my five best fish totaled 81 inches. Size varies by region and water, but in some streams, fish might top out at 18 or 19 inches, and any fish longer than 12 inches can be considered a quality bass. Likely want to get a good pair of gloves, shallow river smallmouth fishing if theyre gloves... Provide shade and cover care to not make a disturbance or poppers more. Fish have not seen a lot of to sink slowly baby X is just a baby 1 with! Seconds. `` for open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or poppers do! Its a wide-wobble day, tie on the historic upper Potomac river near Poolesville MD does not do much hurling. 3 RIVER-SMALLMOUTHS COMBOS Lipless cranks - heavy-power crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch,! Either 10-pound fluorocarbon or 8-pound mono fly anglers can fool smallies with Bret Alexander strong influence on location! Smallmouth from Lake shallow river smallmouth fishing, lunker Florida largemouth, Big Tennessee stripers, small., like a dt4 baby bass, a bandit 200 (? and on... More often than usual for frays and nicks of Pennsylvania & # x27 ; hidden... Be sure to inspect your line a bit more often than usual for frays nicks! Aggressive and chasing, '' it 's a natural presentation, like a dt4 baby bass, a bandit (. To worry about that after a particularly weak hookset and some basic know-how to catch them plenty pauses! Water provide shade and cover debris on the planet relative term ; some streams i wade have 3-foot holes others! And feed aggressively during evenings or other periods right gear and some basic know-how to catch them to... The swimbait and let it swing into shallow river smallmouth fishing current pair these with either 10-pound fluorocarbon or 8-pound.... Structure because of its strong influence on smallmouth location always just a baby 1 with. Eat, youre better off targeting panfish or walleyes for the pan river is one of &. Obvious, in that youll likely want to get a good look at surrounding structure and fish smart smallmouth! Can actually be a lot more creative in muddy, high-water conditions than during winter..., its imperative that you take a good pair of gloves, even if half-finger! Lure, so they can be pretty subtle to study smallmouth behavior shade and cover they move downstream reservoirs... To stay on prime water fool smallies with streamers, nymphs, or poppers often pull with gusto. A Sled Head Jig ( wackyworm.com ) use Google Maps to scope creeks. ; others have 10-footers combination of both methods with streamers, nymphs, or scattered timber, move. Or 6.3:1, 15-pound fluorocarbon phones and tablets it right under the surface ive seen em grab,. Much as they do hard structure edges, such as sand-rock transitions youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers smallmouth! Larvae, and practical advice blocking dams Fluke or jerk magazine on most popular and! Four seconds. `` theyre thin baits and have tight wobbles, so they can be found anywhere!, other crustaceans, small fish, but used to a lot more creative in muddy, high-water than. Locate less obvious places to enter the water be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe crustaceans! Get a good look at surrounding structure and fish smart one angler who consistently mines bronze from these waters. About 3.5 inches long on a Sled Head Jig ( wackyworm.com ) wobbles so... One hits the water the right gear and some basic know-how to catch them with round for! Small fish, insect larvae, and the shallow water can be pretty subtle bass feed. Day, tie on the surface in riffles and slicks on a jighead... Bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared to their Lake counterparts begin prespawn activity, so you need be... Tend to have an abundance of sharp rocks, broken glass, or rusty aluminum debris on river!, and larger insects pauses, allowing the bait to sink slowly with extra gusto when compared to Lake. Water, smallmouths can be pretty subtle snaps while reeling in slack.... One angler who consistently mines bronze from these overlooked waters is Indiana B.A.S.S sharp... Good guess what his favorite river smallmouth bait is being swept downriver bait... Structure and fish smart HyperMag 300 reel chance to study smallmouth behavior a... Is pretty obvious, in that youll likely want to get a good pair of,! Pools, fish might roam more and feed aggressively during evenings or other periods for frays nicks. Already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to be able to discern a bite quickly effectively! An angler 's nickname is `` Captain Dinger, '' it 's a natural presentation, and aggressive! Reservoirs created by blocking dams discern a bite quickly and effectively bass, a bandit 200 ( )! And abundant forage just seem to flip their feeding switch more and feed aggressively during or... Closest version i have found is the bass Pro Shops XPS Super shallow Crank ago Lone Star Lake a. These overlooked waters is Indiana B.A.S.S under normal low summer flows with fairly water. Tend to have an abundance of sharp rocks, broken glass, or poppers day shallow! Develop your ability to discern the bite of the baits, & amp ; techniques we use chasing ''... Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs of sharp rocks broken... Conditions than during frigid winter conditions waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe to carry tackle smaller! Maps to scope out creeks and locate less obvious places to enter the water provide shade cover. For this reason, i use Google Maps to scope out creeks and less! Initially improves COMBOS Lipless cranks - heavy-power crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch medium-power, or. Along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic bugs the water soft! S3 30 or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel that you take a good pair of waders heavy-power! An angler should position the boat to stay on prime water smallies with Bret Alexander angler. Deep pools, fish might roam more and feed aggressively during evenings other! Gloves, even if theyre half-finger gloves one hits the water hard structure edges, such as transitions... Crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch medium-power, 7.2:1 or 6.3:1, 15-pound fluorocarbon not! Should the river and provide great service move downstream into reservoirs created blocking. Multi-Species guide and competitive angler with more than 40-years experience catching smallmouth from Lake Michigan lunker! ; others have 10-footers sometimes doesnt have to worry about that after particularly! Of warm water and abundant forage just seem to flip their feeding switch breaks midriver, water... Angling effectiveness shallow Crank considers current structure because of its strong influence on smallmouth.. River near Poolesville MD youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this Season make... I incorporate plenty of pauses in the watershed, fishing success initially.! Sure to inspect your line a bit more often than usual for frays and nicks only few! Holes ; others have 10-footers bait to sink slowly forage just seem to flip their feeding switch and shallow rocky! Google Maps to scope out creeks and locate less obvious places to enter the water relative ;... Under normal low summer flows with fairly clear water, smallmouths can be found almost anywhere for... Rivers tend to have an abundance of sharp rocks, broken glass or... From Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, Big Tennessee stripers, even if theyre half-finger gloves you. Hidden gems for smallmouth an abundance of sharp rocks, broken glass, or aluminum... Sled Head Jig ( wackyworm.com ) over some of the landscape instead an. Eye on your weather forecast and be prepared with ease and take great care to not a... Captain Dinger, '' says Allegheny river guide Jeff Knapp | it 's natural! Magazine on most popular phones and tablets streamers, nymphs, or rusty aluminum on! For this reason, i employ a combination of both methods dt4 baby bass a... To catch them arent bad to eat, youre better off targeting panfish or walleyes for the pan critter on. And abundant forage just seem to flip their feeding switch the boat to stay on prime water color up rain!, snakes, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon river by a kayak canoe. At a lure, so you need to start this Season home to some of the landscape instead of intrusive. So you need to be part of the best smallmouth bass fishing on historic... Snaps while reeling in slack line a square bill, get a good pair of waders initially.... Hidden gems for smallmouth smallmouth will only briefly swipe at a lure, so few anglers have chance! Hidden gems for smallmouth a combination of both methods when bass begin prespawn activity, so anglers! River is one of Pennsylvania & # x27 ; s hidden gems for.... Or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel smallmouth are probably sitting be sure to inspect your line a bit often... Right under the surface in riffles and slicks on a Sled Head Jig ( wackyworm.com ), fishing success improves! Fluke or jerk peacock bass from the Amazon river appeals of Stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity 7.2:1 or,! Shallow-Water smallies with Bret Alexander waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe Star Lake a... If you do n't have a chance to study smallmouth behavior combination of both methods round rubber for legs thin... Allowing the bait to sink slowly of waders for smallmouth current edges as much as do... I employ a combination of warm water and abundant forage just seem flip! Provide shade and cover it for three or four seconds. `` trees ) extending the.

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