Topwaters Stream smallies will eat just about any critter swimming on the surface Ive seen em grab chipmunks, snakes, even small birds. ", "l'd take summer on a smallmouth river over any other type of fishing," confesses Dale Black, President of Gamma Fishing Line. 13/14. 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 good pair of polarized sunglasses will really allow you to see into the water and wade safer. It's an awesome story of one of the finest swimbaits you'll find anywhere. Rocky points, drop-offs and coves here harbor loads of big smallmouths. In most scenarios, you simply wade in the stream, float in a canoe or kayak, or, in areas with good access, walk the shoreline. Storm Subwart is the best shallow cranker that exists for river smallies. Pasted as rich text. Catch-and-release fishing for smallmouth bass is good this week in Deep Creek Lake and the upper Potomac River. Since your feet do most of the work when wading, you need the right boots. Although smallmouths are abundant, Piedmont Lake isn't really known for producing trophies. Take measures to ensure youre not making large splashes and commotion in the water. Privacy Statement. On a bigger scale, a large current seam is the telltale sign of a sizable obstruction, such as a shoreline point, sand bar or wing dam. That drives bass wild." Levert uses current and wind conditions to his advantage, but always stays in control using a bow-mount electric motor. I really think a flat bait shines in a river setting. The warm weather is still here and so is the good fishing in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. Trying to cast as close as possible to shoreline structure will get you hung up now and then, but losing a few lures is a small price for fooling a nice river bass. Bomber Square A, Bagley Rattlin' Kill'r B square bill and Rattlin' Honey B. If thats not working, I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest. Wintering holes are often located near major current-deflecting obstructions. Pure sand is undesirable unless fish can sweep away a top layer, exposing a gravel base below. Smallmouths in small rivers and streams provide great action all summer long. They may spread out across the slack area at low water, then tuck tighter to the bank if water levels rise, forcing them toward and along the downstream shoreline. It comes in a variety of colors and the cost is $4.99 each. Clear editor. The lure should bang off bottom every now and again. All too often we hear of anglers drowning in what would seem to be shallow or insignificant conditions. Also be on the watch for fish swirling. Proper spawning bottom with a thin coating of darker silt reduces visibility. The suspending Rapala X-Rap is a favorite with spring smallie anglers. It may not qualify as "cranking", but a very overlooked shallow river bait is a good old fashioned in- line spinner. Its certainly an angling experience not to be missed. These seams and associated hard structure are high percentage zones and concentrate smallmouth on an otherwise plain stretch of river. I bought a black fury in black and orange and Avila with a gold blade mepps 3 today. On some northern U.S. and Canadian rivers, migrating fish congregate in slow, deep pools. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. I fish streams from ice-out to ice-back-in. Like many smallmouth experts, Stoudenmire makes his own jig . The fish have moved up shallow, and are feeling aggressive. Lure Specifics: Texas rig with a 1/0 wide gap hook and a sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker; color: pumpkin pepper. And a small tackle box stuffed with jigs, plastics, spinners, small floating crankbaits, and a couple of surface lures provide everything you need to catch fish. Fall and spring, current seams between swift water are the best choices; in the summer, slicks below rapids and riffles.. Those are deep, rocky pools protected from the current. In-Fisherman's Rob Neumann profiles the Malone MegaSport kayak trailer and discusses why it's such a great trailer for the dedicated kayak angler. Most bridges offer decent stream access, but understand that any stretch of water close to the most convenient access spots invariably receives the most fishing pressure. These are fabulous lures to use at night for probing deep, slow pools. DT4 or 6. With so rocks, laydowns, and river debris present, your lure will bump into scores of objects. Grow your fishing skills and improve your angling effectiveness. Beautiful and enjoyable days can be had in shallow rivers and streams. Stream smallmouth fishing has more in common with trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and that's because of the waters these bass inhabit. One of the great appeals of stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity. 1. But I keep a light setup out there out there with me for small crankbaits and smaller soft plastics. Alternate: Justin Atkins. Lure Specifics: Skirt and blade colors really dont matter during the day, Trail says, but go with all black buzzers at night. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. "Brownies" are fat, averaging a pound, and you may catch and release dozens, including, if you're lucky, some 3- to 5-pounders. All three river rats prefer stable river conditions. So, fly rod in hand, I put in some serious time on my favorite rivers. For this reason I almost always use fluorocarbon line, or a leader if Im using braid. People do fish a hair jig year-round for trophy smallmouth, but I mostly fish it when the water temperature is under 50 degrees to as low as the upper 30s, when smallmouth are in their winter holes, he says. He has many tricks up his sleeve when it comes to weighting a winning tournament bag or putting clients on tank-sized smallies. Try to land fish as quickly as possible, which helps them avoid exhaustion. Lastly, its imperative that you take a good look at surrounding structure and fish smart. And don't forget the classic Mepps spinners. Lures with small profiles are unobtrusive and quiet. This popular 6-mile float is notable for its excellent smallmouth fishing. Some creek anglers wear a backpack; I find these too bulky and constrictive, and I dont need all that storage space because I travel light. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. See the example magazine labels below. 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. The Big Os wide wobble is key. Spinners and surface baits work well for prompting reaction strikes when searching for active fish or plying large areas of fairly shallow water. 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. I cant stress enough how wary stream smallmouth are. Bump it into rocks, sticks, and drag it on the bottom, then memorize how it feels. The standard lift-pause-flutter to the bottom retrieve remains effective, adds Cundiff. For Levert, the the proverbial icing on the cake is finding good current running over prime hard structure, such as a strip of broken rock or a grass covered sand bar. Theyre subtle in some cases, violent in others. Mine are Simms Flyweights, which are super-light and durable. Jigs designed for swimming are labeled swim jigs, but you do not need a "swim jig" to swim a jig. Finally, Ill slow way down and bump bottom with a jig or Ned bait. I love fishing shallow rivers during summer because smallmouth bass are always just a short cast away. Resting ones are more often found in a seam of slower moving water. 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. My wife and I wonderful day chasing brookies. We will also go over some of the Baits, & Techniques we use. In a receding river, smallies go into transition mode, putting them off their feed and making them harder to locate. Being dynamic, he refers to it as soft structure, compared to hard structures like rocks. Additionally, try to ease through the water. One of my best days of jig swimming was with a pitching jig that had a head design that helped it to swim through cover. . Lately, I've been using the Shimano Macbeth 50 and Shallow 50 with a lot of success. Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 1 prey of many river bass. I fished the 6's last year a lot and did well. These bodies of water can produce great fishing if you take the right measures. I typically fish 3 to 5 feet of water, either working along a rocky bank or over rocky bottom in the center of the river. ", "I enjoy summer because smallmouths are aggressive and chasing," says Allegheny River guide Jeff Knapp. Take a friend along and make some wonderful memories. Be sure youve got the ability to slip off a sweatshirt if you get too warm, or put on a hat if it gets cold. Heres a breakdown of my favorite creek casting targets. Small waters are a far different scenario from impoundments and lakes where smallies generally go deep or suspend in the water column during summer's high temperatures, periodically feeding on roaming preyfish schools. Seriously, draw a rectangle on a piece of paper and that is the bill. Rivers are home to some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet. Proper spawning bottom with a thin coating of darker silt reduces visibility. Water willow and other semi-aquatic plants can hold quality smallmouth, which typically prowl the edges and pockets within the cover versus the thick stuff. Admittedly I over fish them but I catch myself and get a mix of soft plastics, topwater and spinnerbaits in. Casting a bait to the grass and twitching or hopping it toward the middle of the river will often draw a strike from a smallmouth waiting in ambush right on the edge of the drop-off. When youre in the fish zone, dont move around too much. To have success over the course of four days, anglers will likely need to have multiple patterns in place. 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. Getting on the bank will reduce your chance of being spotted by the fish and will give you additional angles from which to cast. Depending on current speed, forage and other attributes, a smallmouth may use a seam as a feeding station or a resting area. Doug Stange talks about how versatile a swimbait hook is for multiple rigging options. Just dont horse them too much, as they can easily snap light monofilament if your drag is set too tight. Some days, the smallmouth want a crankbait with a wide wobble, and sometimes they want one with a tight wobble like the Wiggle Wart. Even though a creek may look too narrow or too shallow, Ive found quality smallmouth are usually there. Small rivers accommodate many kinds of aquatic animals ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to larger frogs, crayfish, and other fish. Some creeks and rivers only hold fish during a portion of the season and in specific spots, as bass can be nomadic, migrating relatively long distances in and out of those sections. But remember, were talking wild creatures here. In June you have a chance at larger than normal smallmouths in a river situation when bass move out of Green Bay and into the lower river. member George Verrusio, the most skilled stream smallmouth fisherman Ive met in my 52 years as a Bassmaster correspondent. 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. In other words, most of the water is easy to access for all anglers. In rivers, smallmouth relate to current edges as much as they do hard structure edges, such as sand-rock transitions. White Zoom Fluke Bitsy Jig 3 Grub Zoom Lizard Topwater Frog Brush Hog Texas Rig Senko Zoom Fluke Jr. Berkley Pit Boss Finesse Trick Worm Don't miss a chance to fish undercut banks, fallen trees, weed beds, deep holes, and eddies. Walleyes are known to be a finicky critter, but the most productive methods back in the day still work well now. Display as a link instead, Jerkbaits are an early-spring staple for serious smallie anglers because of their versatility . All Rights Reserved. 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. These bodies of water can produce great fishing if you take the right measures. I pair these with either a Quantum Smoke S3 30 or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel. It takes about an hour to drive to this fishing spot from the Las Vegas Strip. Fly anglers can fool smallies with streamers, nymphs, or poppers. Ive caught wall-hanger smallmouth from Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon River. Small trout-style nets will help land and then release fish. My river is shallow being 3-5 deep at the most. Lure Specifics: Stoudenmires 1/4-ounce Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs. 2 hooks. The closest version I have found is the Bass Pro Shops XPS Super Shallow Crank. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) annually stocks several species of fish into Chickamauga including striped bass, walleye, and Florida largemouth bass. As riverine fish, these smallies often have relatively slender profiles. Lucky Craft silent 1.5 in Copper Green Shad has been deadly for me in rivers. In a nutshell, take all of the fish behavioral tendencies of our normal largemouth and smallmouth fishing knowledge and amplify it, there you'll have the tendencies of shallow water smallmouth. Shallow water typically moves fast which does not give moss, algae, and debris a chance to form, so youre usually left with rocky bottoms. Got a few river smallies each year. Undercut banks with exposed tree roots have the ideal combination of depth, shade and gnarly cover to hold big smallmouth. "It gets crazy when you hook two bass at the same time on this rig!". Rocks, gravel, and shellbeds will slice braid easily and a good hard-coated fluorocarbon will likely save the day. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. As mentioned, fish grow slowly in such environments. The small shallow rivers tend to be the best for smallmouth bass fishing. If the surface temp is around 55 degrees, Ill start by twitching a Fluke or a jerkbait; if its 60 or above, Ill begin with a surface bait. You'll catch more fish, for sure. Basspro.com. Lure Specifics: Trail prefers a Size 8 X-Rap in olive green. _____LINKS FOR EQUIPMENT BELOW_____Hey guys John here from Sic Fishing, In today's video I went out wading my local river to catch som. I buy my own fishing stuff, put it through the wringer and stay with what works. It flows over 120 miles, starting in Pottsville and ending in Philadelphia. In fast water rushing over rock rubble, Jeff Knapp reaches for a Rapala #8 X-Rap. Under normal low summer flows with fairly clear water, smallmouths can be found almost anywhere. | A current seam, where fast and slow water intersect, is one of Leverts favorite features. During spring, river smallmouths have always posed something of a mystery. Good spots include deep pools, rocky riffless, undercut banks, midstream boulders or logs, and slow, relatively calm runs. Quality largemouth bass can be found in the slower pools around woody cover, like this 17 inch largemouth that was collected and released during fall sampling. Rod: 6 1/2- to 7-foot medium-power casting rod. Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:34 AM EDT. Its one of the oldest crankbaits, and it just might be the best one for river smallmouth, says the Virginia guide. Two keys: Cast beyond the target, and make sure a buzzer is churning the moment it hits the water, he says. Like stream trout, they position themselves in areas shielded from or next to relatively swift current and then ambush prey as it drifts past. Reel it past objects that create a current break or over flowing eelgrass. Smallmouth in shallow water are notoriously finicky and will more strictly relate to structure and bottom composition changes than smallmouth found in lakes. Here's how to get in on the action, By Phillip likes to fish in whatever water is wet and usually likes to catch anything with fins, scales, and eyes, but prefers bass. Freshwater Fishing. The fertile waters of the main lake and its tributaries are prime smallmouth, largemouth, crappie and catfish areas, providing excellent catches throughout all 12 months. In the spring, Ill rig a jerkbait with a weighted 3/0 wide gap hook so that it will sink slowly, with soft twitches, down into current seams or boulder fields, he says. Bass can be active throughout the day, but fishing generally improves as water warms into afternoons and evenings. Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Ott DeFoe cut his angling teeth chasing river smallmouth in the Tennessee River's headwaters. And when you can slip that fish back into the water and watch it slowly swim away to battle again, the memory becomes even sweeter. In the fall, I employ a combination of both methods. Large slack areas may draw huge numbers of prespawn bass. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Ive had big smallmouth swim up to within a foot of me after Ive stood stock-still for several minutes. Boulder Harbor Boat Launch Ramp Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Lake Mead Marina Road, this is a ten-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. Jerkbaits. Youve got to dress right to wade, regardless of the season. In cold water, Ill wear insulated underwear and fleece wading pants under my waders. I fish X-Raps aggressively, employing sharp downward rod snaps while reeling in slack line. You can post now and register later. Shade pockets along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets. I updated my crankbait box some years ago, I had alot of big deep diving crankbaits for lakes; in a river those are often useless and you need to run shallower. I throw it the same as any DT (location). Read This Before Posting! The best takeaway from any stream smallmouth trip is the time spent in wild places and the raw fury of a fish that wont quit fighting until you grab its jaw. Doug Stange talks about the seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well from North to South. For example, it might be tough to maintain contact with the bottom while bouncing a 1/32-ounce jig through a run, and switching to a 1/16-ounce or heavier presentation would allow more control. The farther you cast the lure will increase your odds of hooking a fish. Next, develop your ability to discern the bite of the fish. And it's already in very high demand. 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. 10. A lovely wooden house on the bank of Lone Star Lake, hidden in a remote rural area of Paris county, Texas. I don't have to resort to bottom-bouncing baits, which clients snag frequently. Its just another way of going after these Smallies. Cast and reel it in any current situation, usually perpendicular to the flow. My favorite. Some shallow rivers are even jet boat accessible. What other crankbaits do you guys throw in a shallow river? Wading for stream smallmouth doesnt require a lot of gear, but having the right stuff will allow you to fish these small waters more successfully. One of top three confidence baits for sure on the river. This is reserved for smallies observed chasing baitfish. Where are smallmouth in fall? Your previous content has been restored. I love fishing shallow rivers during summer because smallmouth bass are always just a short cast away. rebel crawfish yes!!!! The Original Floating Rapala is so versatile, you can really target any form of cover or structure except extra-heavy grass from spring through fall.. Migratory patterns are easier to observe in southern waters lacking ice cover, where warmer temperatures and open seasons allow fishermen to follow smallmouths all year. Points and flats with mixed gravel, chunk rock and scattered wood are money; smallies spawn on them in spring. Subscribe to the free Weekly BassResource newsletter. I am exclusively a river smallmouth fisherman, and I am realizing that I don't really own any crankbaits for the river outside of KVD 4" jerkbaits and 1.5 square bills. "I like shallow sections during summer because I can transverse shallow stretches in my jet boat, leaving behind anglers who can't run in inches of water," explains Chris Gorsuch, a former Susquehanna River Guide and now Vice-President at River Pro Boats in Missouri. Riverine bronzebacks, though, seem to feed constantly during warm weather, or at least they're ready to feed any time. He uses soft twitches with extended pauses, allowing the bait to sink slowly. To provide a balanced look at summer tactics, I asked several hardcore brown bass anglers to share their insights. (Tip: Deep water shows up darker in satellite photos.) Give a Gift On my 30th cast, I caught a 21-incher. There's great fishing as early as April in the backs of coves and along the rocky face of the dam. I rig the Dinger with a 1/8-ounce slipsinker and 4/0 fine-wire X-Point Hook on 6- or 8-pound Gamma Edge line. Lure Specifics: Rebel Pop-R Plus in red eye perch. Just avoid stepping on snakes in warm weather! Doug Stange and Bret Alexander demonstrate how to put your eyesight to work. Anglers in southern portions of the smallmouths range might find good stream fishing throughout the season, but the bite really gets going during mid- and late summer in the northern reaches of smallie country. Chequamegon Bay is a shallow inlet off the southwest shore of Lake Superior that encompasses more than 40 square miles. Years. baby bass, and a fat rap in shad. I have the best rates on the river and provide great service. Ive fished a few others like a SR that are good baits also.