| Spring Smallmouths
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| | the same. This makes it tough fishing as
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| Smallmouth bass remain nearly dormant
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| | bass can be found at various depths.
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| until water temperatures approach 50° F.
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| | In rivers, smallmouth feed more as the
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| At this time, bass will start to move to
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| | water cools in the fall.
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| their spawning areas. In streams, bass
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| | Late Fall & Winter
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| may begin migrating to spawn at early
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| | Smallmouth fishing becomes difficult this
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| temperatures.
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| | time of year as they move out of shallows
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| Fishing is difficult after spawning,
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| | into deeper water. Sometimes you can find
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| because bass aren't more concentrated.
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| | densely packed schools, but the bite is
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| The females, after recuperating, move to
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| | likely to be poor.
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| deeper waters. Males move deeper after
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| | Smallmouth in streams may move to deeper
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| abandoning the fry. If there is deep
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| | pools for winter when their mid-fall
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| water near the spawning are, bass will
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| | locations are too shallow. Fishing
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| move there.
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| | remains good as they continue to feed
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| Summer
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| | until water temperatures drop in to the
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| Smallmouth bass areas are the most
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| | low 40's.
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| predictable this time of year. Bass may
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| | Tips to Catching Smallmouth
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| remain in the same place for several
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| | · Fishermen should fish using patterns
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| months once they take up residence in a
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| | that imitate key items in the diet of the
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| certain pool or around a particular
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| | smallmouth bus (crayfish, dragonflies,
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| structure.
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| | minnows, etc.)
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| Smallmouth bass love crayfish and
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| | · Shoreline structures, such as docks,
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| crayfish are linked to specific
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| | drop-offs, rocks, and logs, are worth
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| locations. Crayfish need rocks for
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| | fishing for smallmouth.
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| protection and cannot move very far.
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| | · Fly-fishing is advantageous in areas
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| Smallmouth must move around in waters
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| | where standard gear doesn't work.
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| where baitfish is the primary food.
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| | · Noise often attracts the attention of
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| The depth that smallmouth bass retreat to
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| | bass.
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| depends on surface temperatures and
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| | · Be patient - Let the bug sit still for
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| direct sunlight. The type of water also
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| | a period of as much 30 seconds, give it a
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| determines how deep you'll find them.
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| | twitch. If that isn't working, try
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| Smallmouth may stay as deep as 25 feet in
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| | "popping" it with a sharp jerk or an
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| clear water, shallower than 12 feet in
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| | erratic stop-and-go retrieve. For
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| murky lakes due to oxygen levels, and in
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| | streamers and other sub-surface flies,
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| pools less than four feet in small
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| | you should use the strip and stop, or a
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| streams.
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| | steady retrieve.
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| Early Fall to Mid-Fall Smallmouth Bas
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| | · Catching bass in still waters
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| Smallmouth begin to spend more time to
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| | generally requires watching and waiting
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| shallower waters. The lower angle of the
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| | for surface action, then getting the fly
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| sun and cooler surface temperatures allow
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| | into feeding frenzies in a hurry.
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| them to venture into shallower areas
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| | · Experiment to see what works best.
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| where food is more plentiful.
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| | The greatest success is found by
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| As the lake surface continues to cool, it
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| | following the seasonal behavior of bass,
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| eventually reaches the same temperature
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| | replicating their feeding preference, and
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| as the water below the thermo cline. The
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| | finding good structure.
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| temperature from top to bottom becomes
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