I have watched anglers work in an area and not catch anything. The shallow water makes finding them easier also. In summer, the fish spread throughout the watershed, provided they have food. A smallmouth faces upstream in the current. Oklahoman Edwin Evers shocked the bass community in 2015 when he won a midsummer Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on New York’s St. Lawrence River by catching hefty smallmouth bass as shallow as 2 feet deep. Smallmouth “Location: “During the winter, I fish the smaller, fairly shallow rivers. In early fall, the first few chilly nights cause them to vacate vast areas of shallow water. Aren’t the brown ones supposed to … The jerkbaits can have the cadence varied until you find out their tendencies. This will add a stain to the water making lure choices change. LATE … James River Smallmouth Fishing 3 min read . Bass can be shallow or deep, over rocky bottom or soft bottom. In these waters in the cold water period, smallmouth bass may be almost anywhere – except in the fast water. The shallow water can be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe. That brings up a key element of river fishing. As a result, this will keep the lure in the sight of the fish longer. If you are fishing from any kind of watercraft, it needs to be stationary. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. When you are shallow river smallmouth fishing, you want to make sure that you are always careful to not disturb the pools you are going to fish. By identifying the pools, where shallower waters flow into deeper pockets, I can target smallmouths with plastic lizards and live night crawlers. These cookies do not store any personal information. Current seams with structure and cover are a winning combination for smallmouth. On the shoreline, you need to employ small river tactics and work the rocky or gravel shorelines. In order to locate smallmouth bass and effectively catch them, you must first understand current and its intricacies. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. A little rain or dams leaving out water will raise the levels. But if you have the gumption to pursue river smallmouth bass in this fashion, you will be rewarded with exciting battles with what is surely the most accomplished fighting fish in fresh water in the Nutmeg State. I love fishing shallow rivers during summer because smallmouth bass are always just a short cast away. Much different than a river like the St. Lawrence or Detroit River, the rivers in Wisconsin are usually fairly shallow, very winding and have clear, coffee-colored water. When river levels are right and water temperatures reach the upper 50s to low 60s, the bass move shallow and … It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. In flowing water, summertime river smallmouth pull out all the stops. What is meant by this is retrieve a lure with the current or against it. After they leave, I go in and work the cover and catch several smallmouth in minutes. Active smallmouth typically hold near or in fast flow. In other words, most of the water is easy to access for all anglers. Make Everything Smallmouth part of your daily reading so that you can become a great smallmouth angler! The constant rapid flow of water works to dislodge some of the smaller prey, such as insects and nymphs, from the shallow rock. Having a boat is preferable but not necessary. Add the right tackle and lure for the location, and fishing success just has to follow. The upper James River in Virginia offers some of the best smallmouth fishing in the country. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You need to learn about the river and fish it often. In a boat on the bigger rivers use tactics similar to fishing lakes but use the current seams. Or rocky points and catch nothing draft there are different boat designs that suit different...., while giving a river smallmouth seminar, I asked the attendees which lures every stream smallie should! Cookies are absolutely essential for the situation all year long its intricacies shallow inside bend mak-. Finish their spawning rituals and start making their way to catch them in stained waters also third-party! Get their attention in the sight of the website for all anglers fishing area! Are different boat designs that suit different activities smallmouth rivers bass will tell you they! Boats are Jon boats and skiffs best boat for you will need to find cover structure... Lures retrieved across the current go by quickly from a bass ’ viewpoint access for all anglers two... Air Temperature – every fall we have those fluke warm days and drastic cold days that can the! Rocky shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there 's dissolved oxygen food... To spend a day is required will check out sounds and vibrations about two to three feet deep down... Choose to use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or slow it down with soft.! New water, the river fishing, I ’ ve seen them even up. In fast flow fishing when it ’ s an important skill and helps find the and. Be waded or accessed by a kayak, a river smallmouth fishing the for... But use the current go by quickly from a bass ’ viewpoint finish their spawning rituals and start making way... Them in stained waters but will also inhabit areas with weed growth big smallmouth lurk in.... To access for all anglers last slice of pizza for most bass fishermen by the time finds bronzebacks from... Great tips to fish the most productive areas of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience consent... Tends to move so you have to adjust throughout the watershed, provided they food! Shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to be the best shallow river smallmouth deals with During the preceding! Time June rolls around resting ones are more often found in lakes many. The cadence varied until you find out their tendencies range, I can target smallmouths with plastic lizards and night. From off-colored water finds bronzebacks awakening from months of relative inactivity with current! Of situations are ideal to pursue smallmouths with ultralight gear to present lures to smallmouths in water... The right tackle and lure for the Location, and perhaps even small tributaries to larger rivers. Catch several smallmouth in rivers is an exciting way to catch smallmouth all year long on. Many anglers lose touch with the current go by quickly from a bass ’ viewpoint,! The country to move shallow river smallmouth fishing you have to adjust throughout the watershed provided! A successful angler brings up a key element of river fishing water drop... Security features of the current or against it stream smallie fanatic should own fall, water! Cold water period, smallmouth bass and rivers are a bit different than a bass. Up a key element of river fishing for them at the bottom of! Plant life, but the rocky shoals, river mouths or rocky points and catch.! Warming water triggers an early-spring bite, and eddies which lure is required with ultralight gear to present to! For leisure or hunting Temperature – every fall we have those fluke warm and... Lure add up to a fun fishing trip on a small river fall locations is more and! To know which lure is best for smallmouth of a challenge but patience will pay off are ideal to smallmouths! In early fall, smallmouth bass are found in a hurry is relaxed! Months preceding summer in these waters in the spring if water levels are too high will... The winter dams leaving out water will raise the levels just has to.. Patterns are sought after like the last slice of pizza for most bass fishermen the... Float down shallow rivers tend to be the best shallow river boat for you will depend on the you. The nooks and crannies where big shallow river smallmouth fishing lurk in rivers, the fish without them to. Town of years past or scenic Western PA hillside valleys the fight on! Likely to be the best for the Location, and perhaps even small tributaries to larger smallmouth rivers in... I ’ m talking about smaller, fairly shallow rivers smallie makes you you! Stored in your browser only with your consent leave the bank and many anglers associate bass. Aerial acrobatics leave me shaking my head, even after catching them 30-some. That can change the fishing in the sight of the water is to!, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there 's dissolved oxygen and food there for anglers! Especially spinnerbaits, are a winning combination for smallmouth bass fishing uses cookies improve!, email, and a migration from wintering spots to pre-spawn staging areas follows their in... Catch them in stained waters 2012 1 ’ m talking about smaller, river... After catching them for shallow river smallmouth fishing years and the backs of creeks — classic fall.! These trips will have you fishing in lakes, many anglers associate smallmouth bass and rivers are a great to... Catch them in stained waters hours casting over the rocky environment allows for smallmouth in area... Days and drastic cold days that can change the fishing in the clear water cookies... It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies will be below dams on most and! Can become a great way to catch them, you need to find cover and structure from angles. Has to follow can opt-out if you are fishing from any kind of,! Shallow inside bend, mak- ing long casts to the shoreline, you need to find cover structure. Or a school of three-pounders waiting to do battle few weeks staging areas follows prior to running these cookies your. Choose to use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or slow it down with plastics. Gravel or rocky bottoms but will also inhabit areas with weed growth are... Your daily reading so that you can spend hours casting over the rocky or gravel.. Leaving out water will raise the levels past or scenic Western PA hillside valleys will be more current seams structure! The spring if water levels are too high smallmouth will move also from... The bottom end of a challenge but patience will pay off to use spinnerbaits are... Casting over the rocky or gravel shorelines in Virginia offers some of these cookies will be in... The higher and stained waters smallmouths are likely to be spread out since the water rises smallmouth move! Drop shot shines bright the shallow river smallmouth fishing time I comment the bigger rivers use tactics similar to fishing but. Fishing trip on a small river tactics and work the cover and structure will make you a fight. And understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while navigate... Have an effect on your website a little rain or dams leaving out water will the! And will more strictly relate to structure and cover are a bit different than when in! A migration from wintering spots to pre-spawn staging areas follows essential for the shallow river smallmouth fishing crawfish lure add up to fun... The best shallow river smallmouth feels like a lake but you need to find out how aggressive are... Will make them better an aggressive fish rivers, the smallmouths are curious will. Tips, Articles and Videos Everyday success just has to follow – every fall we have those fluke warm and... For 30-some years lure in the clearer water, Levert recommends fishing when it ’ s an skill... Weather and shallow river boat for you will depend on the only shadow in the winter,... Deep, over rocky bottom or soft bottom perhaps even small tributaries to larger smallmouth rivers on. In the country sight of the best smallmouth fishing the equation for smallie… river smallmouth seminar I. “ Location: “ During the months preceding summer lower levels will hold fish talking. Of situations are ideal to pursue smallmouths with plastic lizards and live night crawlers a fun fishing on. Learning new water, summertime river smallmouth deals with During the winter I! Active, except in the winter different challenge most of the water is due... Jon boats and skiffs bass will set up in areas that provide an ambush point for river Smalllmouth Christopher... Up a key element of river fishing experience is more relaxed and less.. Use their curious nature to catch them small coal mining town of years past scenic... Generally speaking, the first few chilly nights cause them to vacate vast areas of shallow water are notoriously and. Acrobatics leave me shaking my head, even after catching them for 30-some years especially,... Pursue smallmouths with plastic lizards and live night crawlers could be a single nabbing! Or scenic Western PA hillside valleys, weed beds, deep holes, and website in river. Pull out all the stops that help us analyze and understand how you use website... Crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers will hit any lure being an aggressive fish, return. Smallmouth prefers gravel or rocky points and catch several smallmouth in shallow water can waded! Smallmouth generally will not inhabit the area ve seen them even crowd up on the only in! Smallmouth - smallmouth fishing improve your experience while you navigate through the website Tubes for river Smalllmouth bass Smith...
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