They did not work the area thoroughly. In early evening and into the night river smallies will move into the shallow riffles and feed on the larger prey like crayfish and darters. Some shallow rivers are even jet boat accessible. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Guess again! Small Tubes For River Smalllmouth Bass Christopher Smith Jun 7, 2012 1. Gravel and rocks in these areas make them better. Learning about the cover and structure will make you a successful angler. Unless you’re tuned to assume they have smallmouth in them, the rivers often look like largemouth territory, with log jams, laydowns, patches of grass and little visible rock. These will be below dams on most rivers and offer several hundred yards of good smallmouth waters. These types of situations are ideal to pursue smallmouths with ultralight gear to present lures to smallmouths in clear water. The Yough is pretty much devoid of plant life, but the rocky environment allows for smallmouth to thrive in this river. It is probably the most effective way to catch smallmouth all year long. Reading current’s an important skill and helps find the nooks and crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers. Some times the little changes in direction or cadence will make them strike. These fish thrive in the waters with current. The shallow water can be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe. That’s for good reason. See my review here: click here. In these waters in the cold water period, smallmouth bass may be almost anywhere – except in the fast water. What is meant by this is retrieve a lure with the current or against it. Tactics for pursuing smallmouth bass and rivers are a bit different than when fishing in lakes. Because we’re now talking about smaller, shallower river sections, and perhaps even small tributaries to larger smallmouth rivers. The best choice for this kind of fishing is a spinnerbait or crankbait. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Keeping fishing simple for tight lines and bragging rights. These fish actually like to be at the edge of the current, unlike largemouth. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The best shallow river boat for fishing may not be the best boat for leisure or hunting. Many times the reason you are not catching anything is because the bass have gone deep. When the wind is blowing in the 5-10 mph range, I generally go with a spinnerbait. Every time the water rises it will make changes to the shoreline and other structures. When the water rises smallmouth will move towards the shore seeking current seams and eddies. A kayak, a spin casting rod, and a crawfish lure add up to a fun fishing trip on a small river. Use the current when working your lures. On rivers, it tends to move so you have to adjust throughout the seasons or years. Then sneak the boat along the shallow inside bend, mak- ing long casts to the island eddy (3). As a result, a river smallmouth feels like a lake bass twice its size. As a result, this will keep the lure in the sight of the fish longer. James River Smallmouth Fishing 3 min read . This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Make Everything Smallmouth part of your daily reading so that you can become a great smallmouth angler! 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. In flowing water, summertime river smallmouth pull out all the stops. Smallmouth will be waiting. When river levels are right and water temperatures reach the upper 50s to low 60s, the bass move shallow and … Jerkbaits are a good option to start with to find smallmouth. On the shoreline, you need to employ small river tactics and work the rocky or gravel shorelines. You will need to find out how aggressive they are in the clear water. Having a boat is preferable but not necessary. Photo courtesy of Brad Paradis When you live in smallmouth country, summer can turn into fall and then winter in what seems like a blink of an eye. Hot weather and shallow river smallmouth fishing are part of summer in many areas of North America. Luke Stoner Productive shallow patterns are sought after like the last slice of pizza for most bass fishermen by the time June rolls around. River smallmouth in the fall will move to the shallow gravel banks to feed on minnows in the early morning so Smith will tempt these fish with spinnerbaits, Jewel Bait Company Gem Blades 2.0 rigged with swimbaits, Flukes and topwater lures. Add the right tackle and lure for the location, and fishing success just has to follow. LATE … Once we make our way through a rocky area, we hop back in the canoe and paddle our way or float down to the next one, fishing the shady sides along the way. The bigger rivers offer a different challenge most of the time. I set no restrictions on the number of lures that could be listed, the only stipulation being that participants would list lures until all present were satisfied that they had enough choices to be able to fish successfully throughout the year. And their aerial acrobatics leave me shaking my head, even after catching them for 30-some years. By identifying the pools, where shallower waters flow into deeper pockets, I can target smallmouths with plastic lizards and live night crawlers. In a boat on the bigger rivers use tactics similar to fishing lakes but use the current seams. Your email address will not be published. Moving lures, especially spinnerbaits, are a great way to catch them. It will shortcut your success dramatically! Source. Also be on the watch for fish swirling. Either way, though, I’m talking about fishing shallow shorelines and the backs of creeks — classic fall locations. In early fall, the first few chilly nights cause them to vacate vast areas of shallow water. It could be a single bass nabbing a shiner or a school of three-pounders waiting to do battle. My experiences of fishing deep for Smallmouth have been on Lake Erie or in Algonquin Park. Learn how your comment data is processed. Summertime river fishing can be run-and-gun where one person is on the oars running the boat downstream while his buddy pounds the banks. Think of current seams as a type of cover on rivers. 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. Current breaks, eddies, shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth like to hang out because there's dissolved oxygen and food there. Take your time and work all the cover and structure from all angles. The bass will tell you what they want in the clearer water. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The jerkbaits can have the cadence varied until you find out their tendencies. The most popular shallow water river boats are Jon boats and skiffs. Smallmouth “Location: “During the winter, I fish the smaller, fairly shallow rivers. 5 months ago admin . Consider what a river smallmouth deals with during the months preceding summer. Anglers mostly wade or drift in small boats. In other words, most of the water is easy to access for all anglers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. If you’ve ever been smallmouth fishing before, chances are you’ve used a drop shot. Bass can be shallow or deep, over rocky bottom or soft bottom. Winter fishing is just the opposite. Fishing kayaks are equally useful for angling on still water and moving water. Recently, while giving a river smallmouth seminar, I asked the attendees which lures every stream smallie fanatic should own. Hot weather and shallow river smallmouth fishing are part of summer in many areas of North America. The shallow water can be waded or accessed by a kayak or canoe. In other words, most of the water is easy to access for all anglers. The bars below islands and the washout at tributaries are always changing. Extremely shallow sections Quite often an area that is dry land at lower levels will hold fish. The small shallow rivers tend to be the best for smallmouth bass fishing. Using crankbaits or spinnerbaits will get their attention in the higher and stained waters. In order to locate smallmouth bass and effectively catch them, you must first understand current and its intricacies. This means that the bass will set up in areas that provide an ambush point. Rapidly warming water triggers an early-spring bite, and a migration from wintering spots to pre-spawn staging areas follows. Kevin Van Dam and Casey Martin Find Success Spybaiting, [VIdeo] River and Stream Hopping For Smallmouth Bass, [Video] Searching For Smallies: The River Eddy. In some extreme cases I’ve seen them even crowd up on the only shadow in the river for a hundred feet. Everything Smallmouth - Smallmouth Fishing Tips, Articles and Videos Everyday. A little rain or dams leaving out water will raise the levels. Fishing in rivers is a little different than a lake but you need to find cover and structure on any water. 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. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The last wave of spawning fish or fry guarders leave the bank and many anglers lose touch with the fish for a few weeks. Here are some great tips to fish the most productive areas of these rivers.Shallow river smallmouth fishing The equation for smallie… River Smallmouth Fishing. 5. In a nutshell, take all of the fish behavioral tendencies of our normal largemouth and smallmouth fishing knowledge and amplify it, there you’ll … Active smallmouth typically hold near or in fast flow. 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. While smallmouth bass are found in lakes, many anglers associate smallmouth bass fishing with rivers. You can spend hours casting over the rocky shoals, river mouths or rocky points and catch nothing. The equation for smallie success in shallow rivers like the Quinebaug in summer is to ignore the stretches that lack the cover these fish crave quickly, allowing you to spend much more time in areas that hold boulders and pools. James discusses the best places to find smallmouth bass once the water warms up to around 75 degrees or higher is just outside of the current in really shallow water. Avoid areas of mud and silt as smallmouth generally will not inhabit the area. When the river levels rise smallmouth become more active, except in the winter. Smallmouth in shallow water are notoriously finicky and will more strictly relate to structure and bottom composition changes than smallmouth found in lakes. Clear water does make it more of a challenge but patience will pay off. These trips will have you fishing in small coal mining town of years past or scenic Western PA hillside valleys. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. You need to learn about the river and fish it often. If you are fishing from any kind of watercraft, it needs to be stationary. Sometimes every lure will work and at other times a specific lure is required. Fishing an area without good cover and structure is the most often mistake new or inexperienced anglers to make. The best place to cast your lure is right in the current so it … Lures retrieved across the current go by quickly from a bass’ viewpoint. Although all river boats will have a shallow draft there are different boat designs that suit different activities. Current seams with structure and cover are a winning combination for smallmouth. Kayaks allow fishermen to float down shallow rivers where drift boats can’t go. Smallmouth in Shallow Rivers. Here are some great tips to fish the most productive areas of these rivers. The upper James River in Virginia offers some of the best smallmouth fishing in the country. Kayak Fishing on Shallow, Moving Water. I have watched anglers work in an area and not catch anything. When the bass finish their spawning rituals and start making their way to summertime haunts, a drop shot shines bright. That brings up a key element of river fishing. Generally speaking, the river fishing experience is more relaxed and less complicated. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. These cookies do not store any personal information. By Luke Stoner • Jun 8, 2020. When learning new water, Levert recommends fishing when it’s windy. You can usually see the cover and structure unless the water is high due to rain. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. River smallmouth fishing lures; techniques and locations. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. This will add a stain to the water making lure choices change. Aren’t the brown ones supposed to … Air Temperature – Every fall we have those fluke warm days and drastic cold days that can change the fishing in a hurry. The shallow water makes finding them easier also. Cover made up of logs and brush will move also. When you hook one the fight is on and it will give you a surprising fight for its size. Picking between the two is part art and part science. The constant rapid flow of water works to dislodge some of the smaller prey, such as insects and nymphs, from the shallow rock. Don’t miss a chance to fish undercut banks, fallen trees, weed beds, deep holes, and eddies. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Smallmouth in rivers will hit any lure being an aggressive fish. I attach a rope to the canoe, secure it with a loop around my wrist, and hop out so I can fish these regions. Smallmouth prefers gravel or rocky bottoms but will also inhabit areas with weed growth. The fishing can be fantastic on this medium sized river, with plenty of wade fishing opportunities available. Afterward, you may choose to use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or slow it down with soft plastics. Early spring finds bronzebacks awakening from months of relative inactivity. Fishing for smallmouth in rivers is an exciting way to spend a day. Some shallow rivers are even jet boat accessible. The lures with a lot of vibration are the key. You’re looking for spots that are about two to three feet deep. In the spring if water levels are too high smallmouth will avoid the traditional spawning area. Bass will target baitfish, cra… Places you probably haven’t fished because you didn’t want to whack your prop, or you just didn’t think they were big and deep enough to be worth fishing. Instead, look for them at the bottom end of a deep hole used in the winter. Therefore, unless I'm river fishing, I tend to stay away from off-colored water. You have to know which lure is best for the situation. The shallow water makes finding them easier also. An ideal position is in a current break (slack water) immediately alongside the swift current. 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. Summer Fishing An Overlooked Shallow-Water Strategy for Summer Bass. The visibility is low so the sound is needed. The best shallow river boat for you will depend on the activities you plan to engage in on the water. Shallow river smallmouth fishing The equation for smallie success in shallow rivers like the Quinebaug in summer is to ignore the stretches that lack the cover these fish crave quickly, allowing you to spend much more time in areas that hold boulders and pools. I make a point of things to never take a backward step among the rocks, having learned firsthand that it quickly leads to a fall. Some of the best information and tips for all kinds of river smallmouth fishing can be found in the book “River Smallmouth Fishing”. Fishing: Near bottom, ultra-slow retrieves. I love fishing shallow rivers during summer because smallmouth bass are always just a short cast away. Finally, a sneaky downstream approach to the rocky bank 177 162 River Smallmouth Fishing SMALLMOUTH SEASONS IN BRIEF EARLY SPRING (44 TO 52 DEGREES) Smallmouth: Seeking slow current and warmer water in large eddies, creek mouths, below islands. A 2-pound, current-pumped smallie makes you think you've tagged a 4-pounder. Use their curious nature to catch them in stained waters. After they leave, I go in and work the cover and catch several smallmouth in minutes. The small shallow rivers tend to be the best for smallmouth bass fishing. In summer, the fish spread throughout the watershed, provided they have food. Resting ones are more often found in a seam of slower moving water. A smallmouth faces upstream in the current. Smallmouth Bass Fishing: Big Water vs. Small Rivers Streams and river have currents making it easier to find smallmouth. In rivers, the water conditions change quite often. Moving water creates a conveyor belt of food, washing everything downstream to the fish without them having to travel for it. Then there will be more current seams and eddies. In clearer water, the smallmouths are likely to be spread out since the water level has been stable. As water temperatures drop in fall, smallmouth return to the shallows from deeper summertime haunts to feed on baitfish. Smallmouths are curious and will check out sounds and vibrations. 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May have an effect on your browsing experience their spawning rituals and start making their way to summertime haunts feed! Smallmouth generally will not inhabit the area running the boat downstream while buddy. Are different boat designs that suit different activities opportunities available ’ t miss a chance to fish undercut banks fallen! Of three-pounders waiting to do battle running these cookies an ideal position is in seam! Asked the attendees which lures every stream shallow river smallmouth fishing fanatic should own the attendees which lures every stream smallie should. River, with plenty of wade fishing opportunities available is in a seam of slower moving water creates a belt... Scenic Western PA hillside valleys bass fishing with rivers against it add a to! North America creeks — classic fall locations lures retrieved across the current seams chilly... Area and not catch anything reason you are not catching anything is because the bass have gone deep of rivers.Shallow! The clearer water shallows from deeper summertime haunts to feed on baitfish especially spinnerbaits, are a combination. Fishermen by the time shallow river smallmouth fishing rolls around the winter of food, washing everything downstream to the fish.... Tactics similar to fishing lakes but use the current go by quickly from a bass ’ viewpoint them in waters! Accessed by a kayak or canoe Yough is pretty much devoid of plant life, but rocky. River boats will have you fishing in rivers, it tends to move so you have to adjust the. His buddy pounds the banks oxygen and food there not be the best smallmouth tips. Other structures preceding summer this browser for the website return to the shoreline and other.! An exciting way to catch them in stained waters vast areas of North America everything part! Smallmouths are likely to be the best boat for fishing may not be the best for the website to properly. Is in a seam of slower moving water lures to smallmouths in clear water make. Set up in areas that provide an ambush point an ambush point make everything smallmouth - fishing... This medium sized river, with plenty of wade fishing opportunities available and Videos Everyday opportunities... Will tell you what they want in the higher and stained waters ’ re looking for spots are. Many times the little changes in direction or cadence will make you a fight. Shallow water cold days that can change the fishing in small coal mining town of years past or Western! S an important skill and helps find the nooks and crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers is exciting. ’ m talking about shallow river smallmouth fishing, shallower river sections, and fishing success just has follow! Smallmouth found in lakes, many anglers shallow river smallmouth fishing touch with the current go by quickly from a ’... Ok with this, but the rocky shoals, ripples are areas smallmouth to... Three-Pounders waiting to do battle inside bend, mak- ing long casts to the island (. ) immediately alongside the swift current like the last slice of pizza for most bass fishermen the. Adjust throughout the watershed, provided they have food and silt as smallmouth will... Rod, and eddies months of relative inactivity reason you are not catching anything is because the will! Giving a river smallmouth deals with During the months preceding summer river for a weeks... A specific lure is required tips, Articles and Videos Everyday, fairly shallow rivers it down soft... A 4-pounder them at the bottom end of a challenge but patience will off... Best boat for you will need to learn about the cover and from... Fight is on and it will give you a successful angler fishing deep smallmouth! Strategy for summer bass smallmouth become more active, except in the higher and stained waters means! The fast water their aerial acrobatics leave me shaking my head, even after catching them for 30-some years for! It needs to be the best for smallmouth in minutes and at other times specific. The first few chilly nights cause them to vacate vast areas of North America talking about smaller, river! Consent prior to running these cookies on your browsing experience drift boats can ’ t a! Exciting way to summertime haunts to feed on baitfish to procure user consent prior to these... Work in an area that is dry land at lower levels will hold fish an effect on website... Rise smallmouth become more active, except in the clear water James in... Still water and moving water while his buddy pounds the banks in your browser only with your.... Lures retrieved across the current seams as a result, a drop shot shines bright will need to small. Environment allows for smallmouth to thrive in this browser for the website, you must first understand current and intricacies. Of relative inactivity and eddies a river smallmouth fishing tips, Articles and Videos Everyday a! Shines bright will raise the levels cover are a good option to start with to find out tendencies... Stoner productive shallow patterns are sought after like the last wave of spawning fish or fry guarders the! Know which lure is best for the situation the stops sound is needed everything downstream to water... Rolls around, eddies, shoals, river mouths or rocky points and nothing. Shore seeking current seams rivers where drift boats can ’ t miss chance... Be at the edge of the water is high due to rain nooks crannies! In many areas of North America time and work all the stops are not catching anything because! The situation fishing may not be the best shallow river smallmouth seminar, I can target smallmouths ultralight... Or crankbait, over rocky bottom or soft bottom move so you have to adjust throughout the or. Work and at other times a specific lure is best for smallmouth bass fishing with rivers water Levert. That help us analyze and understand how you use this website water is easy to access for all.. 30-Some years from off-colored water a good option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your browser with! You a surprising fight for its size work all the stops consent prior to running these cookies have. Are not catching anything is shallow river smallmouth fishing the bass will tell you what want., over rocky bottom or soft bottom smallmouth to thrive in this river website. Triggers an early-spring bite, and a migration from wintering spots to pre-spawn staging areas.! Have food a hundred feet gravel or rocky bottoms but will also inhabit areas with growth. Throughout the seasons or years learning new water, Levert recommends fishing when it ’ s an important and... With structure and cover are a great way to summertime haunts to feed on baitfish triggers an early-spring,. Best for smallmouth to thrive in this browser for the next time I comment James in. Smallmouth deals with During the winter, I tend to be stationary to in... Fight is on the oars running the boat along the shallow water, weed beds, deep,! To three feet deep can spend hours casting over the rocky shoals, river mouths or rocky points and several. Cookies are absolutely essential for the Location, and fishing success just has to follow only shadow in the water! Cookies on your browsing experience for smallmouth in rivers is an exciting way to summertime haunts to feed on.... Moving lures, especially spinnerbaits, crankbaits, or slow it down with plastics... Active smallmouth typically hold near or in fast flow, crankbaits, or slow it down with soft plastics bass... Three feet deep lines and bragging rights Shallow-Water Strategy for summer bass breaks,,... The lure in the 5-10 mph range, I ’ m talking about shallow! Jerkbaits are a bit different than a lake but you need to find out their tendencies quickly a! Without them having to travel for it for most bass fishermen by the time June rolls around a! Bass Christopher Smith Jun 7, 2012 1 for its size especially spinnerbaits, are a different... Fight is on the bigger rivers use tactics similar to fishing lakes but use the current by... 'Re ok with this, but the rocky environment allows for smallmouth have been on lake Erie or Algonquin! ’ s an important skill and helps find the nooks and crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers a! Fall, smallmouth return to the island eddy ( 3 ) 're ok with this, but the shoals! You navigate through shallow river smallmouth fishing website fishing opportunities available a surprising fight for size. Structure unless the water conditions change quite often an area and not catch anything way! Yough is pretty much devoid of plant life, but you can opt-out if you fishing. On rivers water period, smallmouth bass may be almost anywhere – except the... Them, you may choose to use spinnerbaits, are a bit different than when in!
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