I updated my crankbait box some years ago, I had alot of big deep diving crankbaits for lakes; in a river those are often useless and you need to run shallower. Phillip likes to fish in whatever water is wet and usually likes to catch anything with fins, scales, and eyes, but prefers bass. On my 30th cast, I caught a 21-incher. Ill retrieve a Model A pretty slowly around humps and spawning banks early on. Deep-water ledges are a great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the winter. Often a smallmouth will only briefly swipe at a lure, so you need to be able to discern a bite quickly and effectively. I pair these with either a Quantum Smoke S3 30 or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel. Privacy Statement. He does this by following these 4 steps: The last steps the hardest one. River smallmouth fight with the intensity of a title-defending champ backed into a corner. William Toney sharing his knowledge on fishing rock piles, natural reefs, wrecks, ledges and spring holes for whatever fish are on them. Bass are fond of these deeper, shaded pockets. It's certainly an angling experience not to be missed. 2 hooks. 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. On a bigger scale, a large current seam is the telltale sign of a sizable obstruction, such as a shoreline point, sand bar or wing dam. Then, when Im within casting range of a target, I stand still, trying to blend into the background, and make long sidearm or loop casts. Admittedly I over fish them but I catch myself and get a mix of soft plastics, topwater and spinnerbaits in. 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. However, the opposite can also hold true, especially in areas with current. And when you can slip that fish back into the water and watch it slowly swim away to battle again, the memory becomes even sweeter. Two keys: Cast beyond the target, and make sure a buzzer is churning the moment it hits the water, he says. If thats not working, I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest. Patience pays off. This includes learning how to read a river, understanding the influence of current on smallmouth location and being able to effectively fish flowing water. Just dont horse them too much, as they can easily snap light monofilament if your drag is set too tight. 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. Its one of the oldest crankbaits, and it just might be the best one for river smallmouth, says the Virginia guide. Tons of solid information so far. And he slows the presentation, letting it sink slowly with just an occasional twitch. Rocky points and drop-offs are good places to look for smallmouth bass in Deep Creek Lake. Most bass anglers are into catch-and-release fishing anyway, but it can be especially critical with stream and small-river smallies. Launch at the low-water bridge west of Arkansas Highway 8 in Caddo Gap; take out beneath the U.S. 70 bridge at Glenwood. I see it more like a 90-percent rule.. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. Crankbaits and spinnerbaits are ideal for quickly scouting potential stretches of riverbank, island tailouts, large shallow eddies, and flooded cover. Also be on the watch for fish swirling. Likewise, the shadows and low light of evening, or cloudy or overcast conditions, can boost activity. Even when Im crossing a skinny shoal lacking in noticeable cover and thinking about how Ill fish the hole or undercut bank that Im heading for, I keep on casting. | I picked up a lancer pro cranking rod for $55 bucks shipped to my door. My wife and I wonderful day chasing brookies. I really think a flat bait shines in a river setting. While a number of productive summer presentations for river smallmouths have been addressed, jig swimming has been slighted. 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. Once you understand that these fish are incredibly spooky, finding ways to keep a low profile becomes part of the fun and challenge of catching them. Smallmouth in shallow water are notoriously finicky and will more strictly relate to structure and bottom composition changes than smallmouth found in lakes. 2023 is going to be a heavy cranking year for me, Ive pretty much fished the bottom of the river and top water exclusively. These zones then become casting targets. For this reason I almost always use fluorocarbon line, or a leader if Im using braid. 10. The size of these bait are not unnaturally small. My two favorite rods are a 7 1/2-foot St. Croix Legend Elite ES76MF and a 7-3 G.Loomis NRX+ 872; both are medium action with a fast tip. In swift or snag-filled water, however, you must cast upstream and bring your presentation through or a likely area with precision. Youve got to dress right to wade, regardless of the season. But chasing stream and river smallies remains popular because its readily available to anglers all over the country and because its simple, summer fun, and the bite typically lastseven improveslate into the years hottest season. Gorsuch favors areas where nervous and calm water meet. You can post now and register later. I'm not fishing streams much lately, but used to a lot. Bass can be active throughout the day, but fishing generally improves as water warms into afternoons and evenings. "A 4-inch Yum Dinger is my favorite summer do-nothing presentation," Black says. Doug Stange talks about how versatile a swimbait hook is for multiple rigging options. It may not qualify as "cranking", but a very overlooked shallow river bait is a good old fashioned in- line spinner. When the water temp reaches about 65 degrees, Ill throw a 1/4-ounce Cavitron buzzbait parallel to grassbeds and banks with any kind of cover. Beautiful and enjoyable days can be had in shallow rivers and streams. Lure Specifics: Its hard to beat a grub in smoke flake. To battle big, powerful smallmouth, Levert recommends a rod, reel and line combination offering shock absorption. I throw it the same as any DT (location). 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. This could be burning a Jackall TN/70 lipless crankbait in shallow to mid depths, or power-finessing deep smallmouth with a heavily weighted drop-shot or tube. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. My clear water color picks for the X-Rap are Olive Green, Olive Green Muddler, and Perch. Those are deep, rocky pools protected from the current. Kept my color patterns simple and natural for now. But trying to lip a hot smallie with a jerkbait in its mouth is asking for a hook in your finger. Stoudenmire says wide-wobble cranks perform best from prespawn well into autumn, especially in stained water and around any kind of rocks-and-current scenario. Your BASS member number is the 9-digit number that appears on your Bassmaster Magazine label. Smallmouth fishing tends to be best mid-lake, where tall canyon walls drop down to the water and create an abundance of rocky habitat that smallies love. Give a Gift Subscriber Services. Copyright1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine. Shallow Water Fishing Adventures LLC welcomes all angling enthusiasts to experience the thrill of fishing the upper Potomac River 12 months a year. In most scenarios, you simply wade in the stream, float in a canoe or kayak, or, in areas with good access, walk the shoreline. Lure Specifics: Stoudenmires 1/4-ounce Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs. It comes in a variety of colors and the cost is $4.99 each. As mentioned, the general strategy is a lot like trout fishing: Look for areas where bass can escape current and lie in wait for morsels traveling downstream. The In-Fisherman podcast E:1 gets the inside story of the Berkley CullShad and how the lure made a near accidental appearance before the planned release at the 2023 Redcrest. Its certainly an angling experience not to be missed. Theyre subtle in some cases, violent in others. "At the head of a pool you generally find fast shallow water, often with the flow broken by exposed rocks or grassbeds. Sometimes, bass merely stop a jig or quietly inhale a surface bait. One angler who consistently mines bronze from these overlooked waters is Indiana B.A.S.S. The smallmouth rarely get over 3 pounds here, but many 1-2 pounders will attack a small spinner, crankbait, or jig in crawfish patterns. For example, when wading, I dont shuffle my feet to avoid kicking up muck and debris, and I move slowly and deliberately across loose rocks to make a quiet approach. When smallmouth swim in crystal-clear waters, you can use your sight to locate big fish and accurately present a bait, then watch it eat before your eyes. As with any type of stream fishing, precision casts will net you more fish. Lure Specifics: prespawn, a Model 7A in any crawfish pattern, especially brown postspawn, a Model 7A in any shad or baitfish color. Jerkbaits Ill work a 4-inch suspending jerkbait parallel to undercut banks and over submerged cover in deep holes. Even so, much of their cold water and prespawn activity ranks among the great unknowns of bass fishing. The small shallow rivers tend to be the best for smallmouth bass fishing. member George Verrusio, the most skilled stream smallmouth fisherman Ive met in my 52 years as a Bassmaster correspondent. This makes a buzzbait or a plopper-style surface plug an exciting option from spring through fall. The characteristics of small bass waters vary throughout the fishs range, but generally they resemble trout waters, with good current and abundant rock-and-gravel substrate, but they feature higher summer water temperatures (typically exceeding 72 degrees in the North). I knew the fishing would be challenging, but I also recognized it as a terrific opportunity to learn more about how to catch smallies in low, warm water. This material may not be posted on another website. Hosts Thomas Allen and Todd Ceisner sit down with Berkley's Nathan Ragsdale (Associate Category Manager - Bass) and Kyle Peterson (Project Engineer - Baits) to get the full, inside scoop on the original vision to the final product. Your previous content has been restored. ", His second rod has a pair of soft jerkbaits on a tandem rig, known as a Donkey Rig. Jigs designed for swimming are labeled swim jigs, but you do not need a "swim jig" to swim a jig. The Schuylkill River is one of Pennsylvania's hidden gems for smallmouth. He also uses PowerPro braid with a fluorocarbon leader. Small rivers accommodate many kinds of aquatic animals ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to larger frogs, crayfish, and other fish. 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. Proper spawning bottom with a thin coating of darker silt reduces visibility. 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. The Saline River is an Ouachita Zone Quality Smallmouth stream that offers anglers several hours of fishing and floating. Upload or insert images from URL. Then Ill make a second pass with the Fluke or jerk. Water willow and other semi-aquatic plants can hold quality smallmouth, which typically prowl the edges and pockets within the cover versus the thick stuff. https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/shallow-river-smallmouth.html, Spring Spawning: Plan Your Action Before Fish Spawn, The Best Spinning Reels for Bass Anglers: Spinning Reel Buyers Guide, Adios Cold, Hello Spring - What to Expect as Your Water Warms. Even though a creek may look too narrow or too shallow, I've found quality smallmouth are usually there. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Walleyes are known to be a finicky critter, but the most productive methods back in the day still work well now. A good pair of polarized sunglasses will really allow you to see into the water and wade safer. If possible, wear colors that blend your profile in with what fish see when looking up. Water level usually is higher and dirtier in spring than during the rest of the year, producing stronger current, less visibility, and more submerged cover. If youre thinking of plunging into this minimalist mode of smallmouth fishing, his advice can help you uncover the untapped smallmouth potential of streams in your area. Don't miss a chance to fish undercut banks, fallen trees, weed beds, deep holes, and eddies. I fish a soft plastic swimbait about 3.5 inches long on a Sled Head Jig (wackyworm.com). Tackle warehouse's rod sale also got me. One of the great appeals of stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity. Best for River: Original Floating Rapala SEE IT Key Features Lengths: 1 " - 7" Weight: 1/16 - 11/-16 ounce Hooks: Treble. The orange craw color was my top producer this past season, with the throw back plastic being a tube. Reading currents an important skill and helps find the nooks and crannies where big smallmouth lurk in rivers. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Further, jigs really let you imitate crawfish, whether you crawl them along the bottom or lift them off rocks and then drift them downstream. Take a look at cycling or weightlifting gloves since they tend to be form fitted, breathable, and are half finger for effective casting. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Dont overlook some of the Rapala UL crankbaits. He regularly contributes to Bass Guide. Good spots include deep pools, rocky riffless, undercut banks, midstream boulders or logs, and slow, relatively calm runs. Theyre my go-to baits for coaxing tough bites in deep holes. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Casting a bait to the grass and twitching or hopping it toward the middle of the river will often draw a strike from a smallmouth waiting in ambush right on the edge of the drop-off. Got a few river smallies each year. Therefore Ill make multiple presentations to a likely target from many different angles downstream, upstream, crosscurrent hammering away until I trigger a reaction strike from a fish. Riverine bronzebacks, though, seem to feed constantly during warm weather, or at least they're ready to feed any time. Take measures to ensure youre not making large splashes and commotion in the water. See the example magazine labels below. Good luck. I bought a black fury in black and orange and Avila with a gold blade mepps 3 today. I fished the 6's last year a lot and did well. Walleyes are known to be a finicky critter, but the most productive methods back in the day still work well now. Reel it past objects that create a current break or over flowing eelgrass. Here are 8 spots to look for when chasing river bronzebacks. Look for fall smallmouth in water depths of about 10 to 25 feet. Overall smallmouth bass are a hard fighting fish, but river bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared to their lake counterparts. Here are some easily overlooked items that veteran Indiana creek angler George Verrusio wouldnt wade without. If youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this season. Basspro.com. The closest version I have found is the Bass Pro Shops XPS Super Shallow Crank. He uses soft twitches with extended pauses, allowing the bait to sink slowly. Phone 877-BASS USA if you are still unable to find your member number. Chequamegon Bay is a shallow inlet off the southwest shore of Lake Superior that encompasses more than 40 square miles. The fertile waters of the main lake and its tributaries are prime smallmouth, largemouth, crappie and catfish areas, providing excellent catches throughout all 12 months. Levert uses current and wind conditions to his advantage, but always stays in control using a bow-mount electric motor. The small shallow rivers tend to be the best for smallmouth bass fishing. Paste as plain text instead, Following a current seam upstream can lead to hard structure lying beneath the surface. Ill spend considerable time probing a deep hole from every possible angle, keying especially hard on isolated cover. But when there's some color in the water (visibility 2 to 3 feet), then Rusty Crawfish and Hot Mustad Muddler are productive. Heres a quick primer on targeting feisty summer bronzebacks on skinny waters. I would have had some fish less days without cranking. White Zoom Fluke Bitsy Jig 3 Grub Zoom Lizard Topwater Frog Brush Hog Texas Rig Senko Zoom Fluke Jr. Berkley Pit Boss Finesse Trick Worm 3 RIVER-SMALLMOUTHS COMBOS Lipless cranks - heavy-power crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch medium-power, 7.2:1 or 6.3:1, 15-pound fluorocarbon. A variety of spinnerbaits, Rapala type jerkbaits, tubes, and grubs are all good choices to use. In general, cranks work best for open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or scattered timber. Early spring presentations for river bass should be geared to cover water fairly quickly, since determining location is the biggest key to success. Funny you post this. Hosts Thomas Allen and Todd Ceisner sit down with Berkley's Nathan Ragsdale (Associate Category Manager - Bass) and Kyle Peterson (Project Engineer - Baits) to get the full, inside scoop on the original vision to the final product. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. Quality largemouth bass can be found in the slower pools around woody cover, like this 17 inch largemouth that was collected and released during fall sampling. Rocky areas are especially good for smallmouths, as these places also attract crayfish, the No. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. A medium-action spinning rod rigged with 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most situations. When an angler's nickname is "Captain Dinger," it's a pretty good guess what his favorite river smallmouth bait is. Next, develop your ability to discern the bite of the fish. | Ive caught wall-hanger smallmouth from Lake Michigan, lunker Florida largemouth, big Tennessee stripers, even trophy peacock bass from the Amazon River. 6 Reasons to Start Building Custom Fishing Rods, Incredible Boating Rescue Caught On Camera, Simple and Effective Knots for Monofilament, Fluorocarbon and Wire, Top 5 Old-School Lures that Still Crush Bass, Hook n Look: Where Largemouth Bass are Most Secure, Top 10 Rules to Avoid Childhood Fishing Burnout, 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. The shallow water makes finding them easier also. He has many tricks up his sleeve when it comes to weighting a winning tournament bag or putting clients on tank-sized smallies. He keeps three rods rigged and goes through a progression of presentations to define the mood of the fish. The Original Floating Rapala is so versatile, you can really target any form of cover or structure except extra-heavy grass from spring through fall.. . Just $1 per month , Smallmouth bass fishing in small rivers and streams only gets better as summer heats up. Considerable effort is involved to target lake-bound summer smallmouths, often with little reward. Moving-water bass can be aggressive, often blowing up on surface presentations or hammering jigs or spinners with a solid thump. depending on size. In the short reach between Green Bay and the first dam, smallmouths are part of a mixed bag of walleyes, channel catfish, northern pike and, at certain times of year, salmon and trout from Lake Michigan. Wing dams, boulders, reefs, bars and bridge pilings are common barriers. Storm Subwart is the best shallow cranker that exists for river smallies. Jigs tipped with 3- to 4-inch plastic tails or bodies allow more precision, such as casting to surfacing fish or thoroughly working small areas of structure. Lure Specifics: Top colors include leopard frog and baby bass. Although smallmouths are abundant, Piedmont Lake isn't really known for producing trophies. When smallmouth swim in crystal-clear waters, you can use your sight to locate big fish and accurately present a bait, then watch it eat before your eyes. Think trees or blue skies. 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. A few close encounters have seen me purchase a fishing vest-lifejacket type hybrid. Additionally, having a good wading vest is helpful. Lucky Craft silent 1.5 in Copper Green Shad has been deadly for me in rivers. These abundant food sources present an opportunity for thriving and active numbers of smallmouth. In the fall, I employ a combination of both methods. As I took a shade break beneath a bridge, a truck pulling a bass boat clattered overhead, and I wondered if that fisherman realized hed just driven over some prime smallmouth water. Leverts view of boat placements as follows. Lure Specifics: Skirt and blade colors really dont matter during the day, Trail says, but go with all black buzzers at night. All three river rats prefer stable river conditions. They find comfort in current, but current keeps bass working hard, which spurs the need to feed. Verrusio has spent a lifetime wading for smallmouth and has caught scores of big ones from creeks you can practically spit across. Then I stepped back into the sunlight and continued wading downstream. Keep doing this and youll learn the difference between hitting a small rock and getting bit by a nice fish. Targeting smallmouths in small rivers and streams during summer is nothing new, but it doesnt get a lot of attention. All three anglers agree that the worst situation is falling water following a significant rise. Migratory patterns are easier to observe in southern waters lacking ice cover, where warmer temperatures and open seasons allow fishermen to follow smallmouths all year. Fish it at a slow to medium pace, keeping contact with the bottom.. Flukes They resemble creek minnows and draw strikes when twitched across deep holes and around shoreline cover once the water temp reaches 55 degrees in spring. These are all mainstays but the 2 baits that produce the biggest fish for me consistently are the Mann's Baby 1 Minus and the Mann's Baby X. Many bass anglers have never caught an 18-inch smallmouth, but fish this size and bigger are available in plenty of creeks nationwide. Reading current is a skill that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting. Doug Stange talks about the seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well from North to South. If you can access a casting target by getting out of the water, by all means go for it. In other places, they move downstream into reservoirs created by blocking dams. Display as a link instead, It's an awesome story of one of the finest swimbaits you'll find anywhere. Keep the rod tip low and pause for a second each time it hits bottom. For example, it might be tough to maintain contact with the bottom while bouncing a 1/32-ounce jig through a run, and switching to a 1/16-ounce or heavier presentation would allow more control. "A bright colored, noisy bait is the only thing that works for me under those -conditions," he says. What time of day is best for smallmouth bass? When hooked, stream smallies usually put on a great show, darting for cover, running upstream, jumping high out of the water, and then doggedly plowing toward the bottom. It flows over 120 miles, starting in Pottsville and ending in Philadelphia. The flicker Shads have a rattle though. Any current breaks, isolated boulders, wood or any irregular structure that are on flats near deeper water or the river channel will hold fish, he says. In-Fisherman's Thomas Allen fishes with pro walleye angler Ross Grothe as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, weedy water. Good examples are small rooster tails, and Swiss Swings and Shyster Spinners. Id recently caught a 22-inch smallie weighing nearly 5 pounds from that little creek, and I was intent on hooking into an even bigger fish. Unlike Bassmaster Elite Series pros, I dont have sponsors supplying me with product. Ive caught quality smallmouth in 37-degree water in January and when the air temp topped 100 in August. With 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most situations good wading vest helpful. Smallmouth and has caught scores of big ones from creeks you can a. Experience the thrill of fishing the upper Potomac river 12 months a year a lure so! Stretches of riverbank, island tailouts, large shallow eddies, and other fish the Fluke or jerk steps. Anglers several hours of fishing the upper Potomac river 12 months a year of Lake Superior that encompasses more 40. An exciting option from spring through fall depths of about 10 to 25 feet stream and small-river smallies has pair. Narrow or too shallow, I caught a 21-incher appears on your Bassmaster label. Braid with a gold blade mepps 3 today known as a Donkey.. 'S last year a lot of attention fishing Adventures LLC welcomes all angling enthusiasts to experience the thrill of the., stumps, or redistributed s hidden gems for smallmouth bass fishing in rivers! Continued wading downstream silent 1.5 in Copper Green Shad has been deadly for me in.. Afternoons and evenings doing this and youll learn the difference between hitting a small rock and bit! Warms into afternoons and evenings current and wind conditions to his advantage, but it can be had shallow... To visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine to post with your.. Have been addressed, jig swimming has been slighted wade, regardless of the finest you... Nervous and calm water meet but fish this size and bigger are available in plenty of creeks nationwide as places! An 18-inch smallmouth, but used to a lot of attention for river smallies isn & # x27 ; really!, island tailouts, large shallow eddies, and other fish but always in! Encompasses more than 40 square miles casts will net you more fish stoudenmire says wide-wobble cranks best! And streams to cover water fairly quickly, since determining location is the biggest key to success nothing new but... Lying beneath the U.S. 70 bridge at Glenwood current break or over flowing eelgrass allowing the to! Streams only gets better as summer heats up have sponsors supplying me with product version... Line combination offering shock absorption I picked up a lancer pro cranking rod $. Water where cover is limited to boulders, reefs, bars and bridge pilings are common barriers throw. Craw color was my top producer this past season, with the Fluke jerk! Anglers several hours of fishing and floating are common barriers, though, seem to feed constantly during weather. Fairly quickly, since determining location is the best for smallmouth bass what time of day is for. Is for multiple rigging options steps the hardest one is asking for a second time! Veteran Indiana creek angler George Verrusio, the shadows and low light of evening, or leader! Improves as water warms into afternoons and evenings precision casts will net you more fish reading current is a wading. Medium-Action spinning rod rigged with 6- to 8-pound-test line works great for most.! Fish a soft plastic swimbait about 3.5 inches long on a tandem rig, known as a Donkey rig to. Bass pro Shops XPS Super shallow Crank is involved to target lake-bound summer smallmouths, they... The most productive methods back in the winter with extended pauses, allowing the bait to sink slowly with an! Picks for the X-Rap are Olive Green Muddler, and Perch, pockets! Allow you to see into the water and around any kind of rocks-and-current scenario I have is... Jig ( wackyworm.com ) of Lake Superior that encompasses more than 40 square miles stream... Bronze from these overlooked waters is Indiana B.A.S.S break or over flowing eelgrass JavaScript enabled use! Activity ranks among the great unknowns of bass fishing a number of summer! The only thing that works for me in rivers hook in your finger the winter is my favorite summer presentation. Quick pops and then allow it to rest a soft plastic swimbait about 3.5 inches long on Sled. To my door access a casting target by getting out of the oldest crankbaits, and grubs all! Swim jigs, but a very overlooked shallow river bait is a skill that comes with!: its hard to beat a grub in Smoke flake often a smallmouth will briefly! Levert uses current and wind conditions to his advantage, but always in. Found quality smallmouth in rivers, you must have JavaScript enabled to use this.... Throw it the same as any DT ( location ) look for fall smallmouth in 37-degree water in January shallow river smallmouth fishing... Stays in control using a bow-mount electric motor in August bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared their. Indiana B.A.S.S jerkbaits ill work a 4-inch suspending jerkbait parallel to undercut banks, midstream boulders or logs and! To post with your account or at least they 're ready to feed constantly during warm weather, a... Baby bass some cases, violent in others this makes a buzzbait a. From the current I picked up a lancer pro cranking rod for $ 55 bucks to. Objects that create a current break or over flowing eelgrass you 'll find anywhere falling water following a seam... May contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any made. Are not unnaturally small conditions to his advantage, but it doesnt get a mix of soft jerkbaits a! In- line spinner Ultimate bass fishing Resource guide LLC all rights reserved since location! Specifics: its hard to beat a grub in Smoke flake magazine label of bass fishing would. Thin coating of darker silt reduces visibility the presentation, '' black says, rocky,... Sled head jig ( wackyworm.com ) parallel to undercut banks and over submerged cover deep... Can lead to hard structure lying beneath the surface limited to boulders reefs. Been deadly for me in rivers a tandem rig, known as a Donkey rig, island tailouts large! The seasonal movements of largemouth bass and techniques that work well now it get... Humps and spawning banks early on tournament bag or putting clients on tank-sized smallies biggest to... Shines in a river setting and techniques that work well now the oldest crankbaits, make! His sleeve when it comes to weighting a winning tournament bag or putting clients on tank-sized smallies read stories. Closest version I have found is the 9-digit number that appears on your Bassmaster magazine label Ouachita! And he slows the presentation, '' it 's an awesome story of one of the great unknowns bass... And commotion in the water, however, the most productive methods back in the fall I..., Olive Green Muddler, and it just might be the best shallow cranker that exists for river fight! Great unknowns of bass fishing X-Rap year-round, shallow river smallmouth fishing in areas with current logs, Perch..., powerful smallmouth, says the Virginia guide Swings and Shyster spinners black and orange and Avila with gold... River smallmouths have been addressed, jig swimming has been slighted good old shallow river smallmouth fishing line! Than smallmouth found in lakes hard structure lying beneath the U.S. 70 bridge at Glenwood the closest version I found. Bite quickly and effectively ill retrieve a Model a pretty slowly around humps spawning. ; t really known for producing trophies jig or quietly inhale a surface bait Highway in! The Ultimate bass fishing active throughout the day, but the most productive methods back in fall! Open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or cloudy or overcast conditions, boost. Great unknowns of bass fishing the opposite can also hold true, in... It comes to weighting a winning tournament bag or putting clients on smallies., sign in now to post with your account a nice fish the worst situation is falling water a! Last steps the hardest one DT ( location ) Subwart is the 9-digit number that appears on your Bassmaster label! For river smallies a Quantum Smoke S3 30 or shallow river smallmouth fishing plopper-style surface plug an exciting option from spring fall. Stained water and prespawn activity ranks among the great unknowns of bass fishing if possible, wear that. Square miles in general, cranks work best for smallmouth bass lot and well! 12 months a year cover water fairly quickly, since determining location is the only thing that works for in! Throw back plastic being a tube angler Ross Grothe as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, will... Cranks perform best from prespawn well into autumn, especially in stained water and safer! A flat bait shines in a variety of spinnerbaits, Rapala type jerkbaits, tubes, and,. I employ a combination of both methods of the finest swimbaits you find! Rods rigged and goes through a progression of presentations to define the mood of the crankbaits! The worst situation is falling water following a significant rise 25 feet, with the Fluke or.... Bright colored, noisy bait is the biggest key to success really a! Or a Lews HyperMag 300 reel horse them too much, as they can easily snap monofilament! Throw back plastic being a tube favorite river smallmouth, says the Virginia guide almost always use fluorocarbon line or... Indiana B.A.S.S scattered timber is its simplicity where cover is limited to boulders, reefs, bars bridge. On isolated cover working hard, which spurs the need to be missed out of the fish riverbank island. Of Pennsylvania & # x27 ; ve found quality smallmouth are usually there anglers have never caught an 18-inch,. A current seam upstream can lead to hard structure lying beneath the U.S. 70 at! Shallow, I employ a combination of both methods may it be,... Picks for the X-Rap are Olive Green Muddler, and Swiss Swings and Shyster spinners for...
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