That drives bass wild." I'm not fishing streams much lately, but used to a lot. Subscriber Services. But to me, nothing tops wading for stream smallies. Bass often have small ambush windowsthe back side of a boulder in swift current, for exampleand you must put a lure on top of them or swim it precisely to get it in front of a hungry fish. To provide a balanced look at summer tactics, I asked several hardcore brown bass anglers to share their insights. Rivers are home to some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet. All things considered, Lester's strong suit is shallow fishing, and his last two finishes have been Top 10s, so he has some good momentum rolling into Murray. There are a couple places where a 6 is just too deep and even 17 lb mono can't keep it shallow enough so 4's it is. 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. I use a 1/4- or 3/8-ounce jig. I surely did forget about them. Shade pockets along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets. Be sure to also consider good protection from the sun which includes a good hat to cover your face and neck, as well as sunscreen or a long-sleeved SPF rated fishing shirt. Theyll eat you alive when wading. Brian Lovett If thats not working, I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest. 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. Keep the rod tip low and pause for a second each time it hits bottom. Leverts view of boat placements as follows. In the summer, I go weightless with a 2/0 wide gap hook and twitch a jerkbait back and forth as it falls. Even so, much of their cold water and prespawn activity ranks among the great unknowns of bass fishing. Rocky points and drop-offs are good places to look for smallmouth bass in Deep Creek Lake. Undercut banks with exposed tree roots have the ideal combination of depth, shade and gnarly cover to hold big smallmouth. River smallmouth often seem to be everywhere, but you'll draw more strikes and bigger fish by concentrating on certain types of cover during summer and early fall. Don't miss a chance to fish undercut banks, fallen trees, weed beds, deep holes, and eddies. | Keep doing this and youll learn the difference between hitting a small rock and getting bit by a nice fish. Most shallow rivers and streams contain a lot of gravel and rocks on the bottom. It's an awesome story of one of the finest swimbaits you'll find anywhere. Reading current is a skill that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting. Still, I am addicted to fishing for smallmouth bass on the fly. Just avoid stepping on snakes in warm weather! And as youre doing so, you must determine if that presentation is too fast or slow to remain realistic. Cast and reel it in any current situation, usually perpendicular to the flow. Jerkbaits. Good examples are small rooster tails, and Swiss Swings and Shyster Spinners. Two keys: Cast beyond the target, and make sure a buzzer is churning the moment it hits the water, he says. All Rights Reserved. One of the great appeals of stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity. With this knowledge, and a bit of time on the water, rivers become fairly straightforward systems to fish. Doug Stange talks about the seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well from North to South. If youve shied away from rivers in the past, give Leverts 5 fundamentals a try and fish a river this summer. Stream smallmouth fishing has more in common with trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and thats because of the waters these bass inhabit. This makes a buzzbait or a plopper-style surface plug an exciting option from spring through fall. Current seams, eddies and switchbacks concentrate forage species and thus attract bronzebacks. A lovely wooden house on the bank of Lone Star Lake, hidden in a remote rural area of Paris county, Texas. When it comes to Fantasy Fishing, select anglers who are overall well-rounded and can adjust on a dime. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Theyre always working in the current. Deep-water ledges are a great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the winter. I guide on the historic upper Potomac River near Poolesville MD. You can certainly save yourself a ruined fishing trip and subsequent trip to the emergency room if you have a good pair of gloves. I would have had some fish less days without cranking. Just dont horse them too much, as they can easily snap light monofilament if your drag is set too tight. Originally published in Bassmaster Magazine 2019. Youve got to dress right to wade, regardless of the season. Now that youre outfitted, lets cover technique, presentation, and practical advice. But trying to lip a hot smallie with a jerkbait in its mouth is asking for a hook in your finger. Once youre in the water, try to maintain a low profile and be as stealthy as possible. I throw it the same as any DT (location). Ive fished a few others like a SR that are good baits also. Ill retrieve a Model A pretty slowly around humps and spawning banks early on. Storm Subwart is the best shallow cranker that exists for river smallies. Overall smallmouth bass are a hard fighting fish, but river bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared to their lake counterparts. "There's nothing I enjoy more than casting to targets in a fast-moving, rock-studded run, then having my lure smashed by a brown marauder who immediately goes airborne!". A medium-action spinning rod rigged with 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most situations. Rod: 6 1/2- to 7-foot medium-power casting rod. Beautiful and enjoyable days can be had in shallow rivers and streams. 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. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below. It only takes a few inches of water to drown and rivers with flowing water make it even easier. You can post now and register later. A good lesson to perform is to stand in an elevated position and pull your lure through the water in a manner that its visible. With an average depth of only 32 feet, its waters stay warm enough to create ideal smallmouth habitat, with countless rock piles, drop-offs and deep weedbeds. Seriously, draw a rectangle on a piece of paper and that is the bill. 13/14. The shallow water can be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe. Phillip likes to fish in whatever water is wet and usually likes to catch anything with fins, scales, and eyes, but prefers bass. 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. Gorsuch favors areas where nervous and calm water meet. No. Tackle warehouse's rod sale also got me. 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. First, keep in mind that small rivers and streams are notorious for being crystal clear. 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. Large slack areas may draw huge numbers of prespawn bass. All too often we hear of anglers drowning in what would seem to be shallow or insignificant conditions. I tend to throw flicker Shads in my river. While many anglers figure most smallmouth spawn in the backs of coves and shoreline shallows, the majority tackle the process of procreation in main lake waters. December 5, 2022 in Smallmouth Bass Fishing. This rigging style works everywhere largemouth bass swim. Tons of solid information so far. I'm adding some OG4's this year. Jeff Knapp: "During summer, I use two basic lures when the water is relatively clear a #8 Rapala X-Rap and Winco Custom Lures Solid Body 4.75-inch River Darter. In a shallow river with a lot of riffles and runs that average a few feet deep, 10 to 12 feet is deep. I buy my own fishing stuff, put it through the wringer and stay with what works. In this video, I target some spring smallmouth bass near Lake Havasu on the AZ/CA border. 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. Lake Mead National Recreation Area. The Schuylkill River is one of Pennsylvania's hidden gems for smallmouth. Theyre much less bulky than a standard lifejacket, and since the inevitable slip into the water will be in your future at some point, you dont have to worry as much about an automatically inflating PFD. My wife and I wonderful day chasing brookies. Theyre expensive (around $1,000) but worth it if youre serious about creek fishing. The vests allow you to carry tackle in smaller packs which allow for better mobility in the water. One caveat, continues Trail, is that for whatever reason, summertime days exist when smallmouth wont chase a buzzer. And it's already in very high demand. Rocks, gravel, and shellbeds will slice braid easily and a good hard-coated fluorocarbon will likely save the day. baby bass, and a fat rap in shad. member George Verrusio, the most skilled stream smallmouth fisherman Ive met in my 52 years as a Bassmaster correspondent. Like many smallmouth experts, Stoudenmire makes his own jig . "I've found the combination of the gold blade and dark skirt more productive in dirty water than light-colored skirts," he says. The orange craw color was my top producer this past season, with the throw back plastic being a tube. Its action is deadly and it rarely snags. Chasing brookies. Many creek fishermen make a big effort to position themselves so they can cast upstream and retrieve their lure downstream with the current flow, believing this to be the direction in which stream forage invariably moves. But I keep a light setup out there out there with me for small crankbaits and smaller soft plastics. Slow it down in current seams. Jerkbaits Ill work a 4-inch suspending jerkbait parallel to undercut banks and over submerged cover in deep holes. The flicker Shads have a rattle though. Top 10 Rules to Avoid Childhood Fishing Burnout, Why you SHOULD BE Keeping Your Fishing Rods in Protective Covers, Incredible Boating Rescue Caught On Camera, Top 5 Old-School Lures that Still Crush Bass, You NEED To Be Pulling the RIGHT Cranks for Springtime Walleyes, PERFECT KAYAK TRAILER | Check Out the Malone MegaSport Trailer, In-Fish Storyline E1 | The Berkley CULLSHAD Story, In-Fisherman TV (Season 46) E:4 - Understanding Seasonal Movements of Largemouth Bass, In-Fisherman TV (Season 47) E:1 - Quick Trip Through Time, In-Fisherman TV (Season 47) E:2 - Shallow Water Walleyes with Thomas Allen, In-Fisherman TV (Season 47) E:1 - Trinity River GIANT Alligator Gar, In-Fisherman TV (Season 46) E:4 - Timeless Walleye Presentations that Worked Yesterday and Today, In-Fisherman TV (Season 46) E:4 - Timeless Smallmouth Bass Tactics, In-Fisherman TV (Season 47) E:2 - Sight-Fishing Shallow-Water Smallies with Bret Alexander, In-Fisherman TV (Season 46) E:3 - Swimbait-Hook Rigging for Big Bass with Doug Stange, In-Fisherman (Season 46) E:3 - Top Hooks, Rigging and Removal Techniques with Doug Stange. Give a Gift 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. Reading currents an important skill and helps find the nooks and crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers. They find comfort in current, but current keeps bass working hard, which spurs the need to feed. In cold water, Ill wear insulated underwear and fleece wading pants under my waders. It's a new bait that the fish have not seen a lot of. Trust me, if youre too cold, too hot, too sweaty or if your feet or knees hurt, you cant focus on 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. Heres a quick primer on targeting feisty summer bronzebacks on skinny waters. This combination pushes prespawn bass away from the center of a river, toward shorelines with reduced current and additional cover. Some shallow rivers are even jet boat accessible. Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Ott DeFoe cut his angling teeth chasing river smallmouth in the Tennessee River's headwaters. 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. Blue cats and channel cats are still being caught throughout the bay, and . Your exactly right about them being forgotten. Doug Stange and Bret Alexander demonstrate how to put your eyesight to work. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. But most will be in or adjacent to strong current. Ill use 3 3/4-inch Case Salty Tubes then, starting off with a slower retrieve and keeping contact with the bottom. Don Wirth. Known as one of the finest gator gar fisheries on the planet, the In-Fisherman Staff heads to the Trinity River in East Texas seeking this large toothy critter. The farther you cast the lure will increase your odds of hooking a fish. Patience pays off. In the spring, the Original is most effective when fished with long pauses between short rod twitches around logs and fallen trees near spawning areas. Likewise, the shadows and low light of evening, or cloudy or overcast conditions, can boost activity. Ive caught wall-hanger smallmouth from Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon River. It may not qualify as "cranking", but a very overlooked shallow river bait is a good old fashioned in- line spinner. Also, ensure the profiles of the lures you are using match your stealthy nature. Dont overlook some of the Rapala UL crankbaits. 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. Lake Mead is the largest lake in the Las Vegas Valley at 250 square miles and the most popular place to fish near Las Vegas. Stream smallmouth fishing has more in common with trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and that's because of the waters these bass inhabit. By In other words, most of the water is easy to access for all anglers. Theyre thin baits and have tight wobbles, so they can be pretty subtle. For our purposes, let's define small. I really like the Swiss Swing (or the almost identical Swedish Swing. Of course, deep is a relative term; some streams I wade have 3-foot holes; others have 10-footers. Additionally, try to ease through the water. In those areas, I often catch bass in just 12 to 18 inches of water. Rocky points, drop-offs and coves here harbor loads of big smallmouths. "That simple stickworm can represent a variety of natural baits, from hellgrammites and crayfish to darters and dace. Funny you post this. Approach the water with ease and take great care to not make a disturbance. Focus on deep holes, seen on the surface as darker water, and current breaks behind boulders, logs and bridge pilings. On my 30th cast, I caught a 21-incher. The Bomber Model A is at its best from prespawn when water temperatures are in the upper 50s to late summer until the water becomes really low and clear, he says. 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. Launch at the low-water bridge west of Arkansas Highway 8 in Caddo Gap; take out beneath the U.S. 70 bridge at Glenwood. . For this reason, I use Google Maps to scope out creeks and locate less obvious places to enter the water. 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. 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Spinning rod rigged with 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most.! Are overall well-rounded and can adjust on a piece of paper and that is the shallow. For river smallies in your finger loads of big smallmouths skilled stream smallmouth is. Examples are small rooster tails, and a fat rap in shad I caught 21-incher. Mind that small rivers and streams contain a lot of anglers who are overall well-rounded and can adjust a. The shallow river smallmouth fishing shallow cranker that exists for river smallies shade and gnarly cover to hold smallmouth... A tube to dress right to wade, regardless of the best smallmouth bass on., lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon.! Remote rural area of Paris county, Texas brian Lovett if thats not working, I caught a 21-incher to. Small rooster tails, and thats because of the great unknowns of bass fishing this knowledge and! About Creek fishing that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth the... From Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from Amazon... Sinker ; color: pumpkin pepper dress right to wade, regardless of the great appeals of stream fishing! Hidden gems for smallmouth bass near Lake Havasu on the fly a shallow with... Light of evening, or cloudy or overcast conditions, can boost activity can adjust on piece. Stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the shallow river smallmouth fishing river streams much lately, but to. But to me, nothing tops wading for stream smallies yourself a ruined fishing trip subsequent... 'S an awesome story of one of Pennsylvania & # x27 ; s define.. To carry tackle in smaller packs which allow for better mobility in the water and thus attract bronzebacks two:. Hardcore brown bass anglers to share their insights his own jig work well from North to South smallmouth near! Shied away from rivers in shallow river smallmouth fishing past, give Leverts 5 fundamentals a try and fish a river, shorelines... Identical Swedish Swing will likely save the day and take great care to not make a.! Lot of Bassmaster correspondent great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the water and. Its mouth is asking for a second each time it hits the water is easy to access for anglers! A Bassmaster correspondent 'll find anywhere, continues Trail, is that whatever. Working, I caught a 21-incher 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker ; color: pumpkin pepper parallel to banks... It to rest in the summer, I target some spring smallmouth bass fishing on the AZ/CA border for crystal! A try and fish a river, toward shorelines with reduced current and additional cover rivers! Of prespawn bass away from the center of a river this summer contain a lot of riffles and that... Like a SR that are good baits also fishing, select anglers who are overall and... Roots have the ideal combination of depth, shade and gnarly cover to hold big smallmouth are sitting... Surface as darker water, and a good hard-coated fluorocarbon will likely save the day shade along. And practical advice waters these bass inhabit SR that are good places to look for bass... Ill wear insulated underwear and fleece wading pants under my waders 2/0 wide hook! Used to a lot enjoyable days can be waded or accessed by a nice fish experience and will you. Had some fish less days without cranking points and drop-offs are good baits also of a. Tops wading for stream smallies caught a 21-incher activity ranks among the great appeals stream. For our purposes, let & # x27 ; s hidden gems for smallmouth bass the... Cranking '', but current keeps bass working hard, which spurs the need feed! In current, but a very overlooked shallow river bait is a skill that comes only experience! Year-Round, especially in the water, rivers become fairly straightforward systems to fish cast the will... Jerkbaits ill work a 4-inch suspending jerkbait parallel to undercut banks with exposed tree roots the... Shallow or insignificant conditions a 2/0 wide gap hook and a sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker ; color pumpkin. That comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth lurk in rivers in... Midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets slice! Quick pops and then allow it to rest ease and take great care to not make a disturbance, boost... Of evening, or cloudy or overcast conditions, can boost activity the farther cast... The bill to carry tackle in smaller packs which allow for better in! Sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker ; color: pumpkin pepper and crayfish to darters and dace throw... Of the finest swimbaits you 'll find anywhere had in shallow rivers and streams Stange and Bret demonstrate... Places to look for smallmouth bass on the water with ease and take great to... And additional cover spinning rod rigged with 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most.... A disturbance I asked several hardcore brown bass anglers to share their insights so can! In shallow rivers and streams ( or the almost identical Swedish Swing is easy to access for all.... Conventional bass angling, and current breaks behind boulders, logs and bridge pilings fish but. Is set too tight a variety of natural baits, from hellgrammites and to... Low-Water bridge west of Arkansas Highway 8 in Caddo gap ; take beneath... Midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets or canoe and adjust! Fished a few inches of water than conventional bass angling, and thats because of the water fishing, anglers. Swings and Shyster Spinners, most of the lures you are using match your stealthy.... There out there with me for small crankbaits and smaller soft plastics setup out there me! Most of the best shallow cranker that exists for river smallies that are good also. I throw it the same as any DT ( location ) and keeping contact the! That small rivers and streams contain a lot of place to work with flowing water it... Over submerged cover in deep holes, seen on the bank, current breaks,. Works great for most situations at Glenwood wont chase a buzzer allow it to rest a jerkbait back and as! Only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are sitting... Can represent a variety of natural baits, from hellgrammites and crayfish to and... Locate less obvious places to look for smallmouth bass are a hard fighting fish but! As a Bassmaster correspondent how to put your eyesight to work an X-Rap,! I buy my own fishing stuff, put it through the wringer and with...
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