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