Much of the smallmouth population relates to faster-moving water at this time, and fish use all sorts of current breaks to rest or ambush prey. If you are fishing a river with a good bit of current you'll want to try to find river eddies (slack water). Falling water levels on both rivers and lakes make it easier to locate bass because the fish congregate more along structure … Good numbers of 15- to 18-inch smallies thrive on this float and bigger fish are a real possibility, especially in May and June. See more ideas about smallmouth bass, fly fishing, fish. Wade Fishing for River Smallies. River Smallmouth Bass Fishing. I also watch for anything that causes a current break like woody debris, large boulders or rocky points.” Smallmouth bass fanatic and river guide Pete Cartwright spends an astonishing amount of time on flowing waters. Not only is wade fishing great exercise, but being in the water on a hot summer day is more enjoyable for me than sitting in a boat. For one, river smallmouth are pound-for-pound the hardest fighter in the stream, launching themselves into the air when hooked; something the lake-based smallies do not frequently do. During a Missouri Outdoor Communicators outing at Southern Comfort Cabins and RV Campground in Doniphan, Mo., I got the chance to fish with Bill Smith of Scenic Rivers Guide Service on the Current River. I was rudely awakened next weekend when I tried it on my own. Smallmouth bass are gaining fast popularity among fly fishing circles. Fly fishing for smallmouth bass. “When I fish smallmouth bass on rivers, I look for bends in the river that create an eddy. In these waters in the cold water period, smallmouth bass may be almost anywhere – except in the fast water. Bass can be shallow or … This trick will work great for smallmouth bass holding up in slow-moving rivers. You can fly fish for bass in rivers and lakes. The smallmouth bass will sit in the hole and wait to ambush prey. Stream smallmouth fishing and river bass fishing in general nourishes the soul and calms the nerves, taking the angler away from the pressures of every day life. The smallmouth were right where he said they would be. "Fifty- to 100-fish days can be had at the peak of the spawn." A true fighter, the “smallie” is known for its bulldog strength, acrobatic leaps and rod-bending dives. Why fish for smallmouth in rivers? You can fish a living minnow or a dead one. That's because the Columbia, unlike other smallmouth rivers, generally is easy to navigate, with water fluctuations rarely more than 1 to 3 feet. Gaining knowledge of the area you intend to fish beforehand will help you catch more and larger fish. In rivers a jig and plastic, a wacky rigged stickbait and a Tex-posed soft jerkbait are excellent presentations. Take some time to learn about smallmouth habitat and where they like to feed and then follow the advice of this great articles by our friends over at Orvis on how to fly fish for smallmouth bass in Spring. When she’s ready to swim, let her go home. When rivers and lakes are on the rise, bass move to the shallows and spread out in newly flooded cover, which makes them difficult to find. From the Mississippi River to the Peshtigo River, Wisconsin and the surrounding region has miles of flowing water chock full of smallmouth bass. How to Fish Shallow Rivers for Smallmouth Bass. Move slowly back-and-forth to displace water through the gills. While these are all excellent places to fish for smallmouth, this article will outline some tips on how to catch smallmouth bass while fishing in small rivers and streams. Smallmouth bass, among the most important Iowa gamefish, are most common in small to medium central and northeast Iowa rivers, but can also be found in larger rivers such as the Cedar, Des Moines and Mississippi, as well as some natural lakes in northwest Iowa. Representing their preferred bait of crawfish perfectly, the plastic tube fishing bait has been garnering attention and catching boatfuls of fish for a record number of years, with many believing it to be the pinnacle of baits for catching this robust specie. Cartwright offers tips for true winter smallmouth fishing.Smallmouth “Location: “During the winter, I fish the smaller, fairly shallow rivers. When targeting feisty smallmouth bass from rivers, no matter what the season, tubes produce trophy fish. For the most part, the lure you use almost doesn't matter. Smallmouth bass exist in more than 500 fishing lakes plus many rivers, including the Mississippi and St. Croix. In many area's rivers of this size provide absolutely phenomenal smallmouth bass fishing. All of these baits are great for making precision casts to specific targets, such as pockets and the outside edge of … Habitat:Smallmouth bass prefer clear, rocky areas of lake and pond shores or medium sized to larger rivers. i fish shallow rivers for smallies quite a bit. The top five rivers that could hold your trophy smallmouth bass are New River, Detroit River, St. Lawrence River, Snake River, and Columbia River. threadfin shad, gizzard shad and blueback herring) that the bass fatten up on in preparation for the cold winter ahead, start migrating into shallower water in search of cooler waters. James said the best part about fishing on smaller bodies of … Smallmouth bass are common in many rivers, and that makes them a great species to seek. Tube baits and smallmouth bass are a match made in fishing heaven. River smallmouth tackle tips. After the "surgery", place the fish in the water with the head facing upstream. During a typical summer, flow is moderately low and rivers run clear. Apr 26, 2016 - Smallmouth bass on the fly. Perhaps the most fun river species to catch is the smallmouth bass. The size rivers and streams that are normally thought of as "trout fishing" rivers. What does matter, is getting whatever bait you use in front of the fish. Try to release fish in as little current as possible. Add a split shot to the line and slowly work that minnow back to you. KANAWHA RIVER I have floated the upper Kanawha in a raft, putting in below Kanawha Falls and experiencing some quality smallmouth bass sport. Where to fish in … These bass are very hard fighters and the thrill of fighting a 3 pounder on a fly rod is enough to make any angler drool. Read More; 3 things a southern angler learned about northern smallmouth. Fly Fishing For Smallmouth Bass in Rivers. Many anglers who hook a two-pound smallmouth swear they are fighting a fish … The smallmouth bass is one of the hardest fighting fish in North America, and Minnesota has a bunch of them. Fish along the eddies off the main current. Two, smallmouth in rivers have a constant appetite from fighting current all day, making them a reliable target on any given trip. I've had many pleasant days on small rivers and streams despite catching few fish. Most of the good smallmouth bass rivers will hold plenty of fish in the 3 to 8 foot depth range and lipless crankbaits are made for covering water at these depths. No matter where you fish, summertime is a great time to hammer smallmouth bass. Gearing up for spring smallmouths is … I ended that trip with four smallmouth bass over 18 inches, thinking that winter fishing was easy and always fruitful. Life History: Smallmouth bass take advantage of boulders and fallen trees as cover, from which they ambush prey including small fish, crayfish, and insect larvae. Smallmouth bass and rock bass (goggle-eye) anglers often use smaller versions of the same baits and lures used for largemouth bass. One of the key largemouth bass fishing tips to remember is that you will most often find these fish close to cover. James and Luke spend some time on the river casting towards the bank with the boat out in the current. Lipless crankbaits are one of the best lures to use for smallmouth bass in the rivers. Cast, retrieve and hang on … Any bait you have in your box will catch river smallmouth when you put it in the right spot. The main reason I love chasing bass on the fly during the fall, is because a lot of the forage food (ex. As avid smallmouth bass fishermen, we are all trying to catch the trophy smallmouth bass that live deep inside of the rivers and lakes we fish. Fly Fishing for bass in the fall is one of my favorite times of the year to hit the lake. When most anglers think of fishing for smallmouth bass they tend to think of fishing for them from a boat in a lake, reservoir, or large river. In shallower waterways across the northern portions of the species’ range, smallmouth actually migrate. The most common fishing method is casting and retrieving artificial or live baits into places where you suspect smallmouth bass are hanging out. They hook several nice sized smallmouth bass. And while an angler catches smallmouth, he can relax to enjoy the scenery as well. Autumn can truly be one of the most pleasant times of the year to target smallmouth bass in rivers. In many instances you can fish just as you would for trout, with the difference being that smallmouth are caught. Wade fishing for smallmouth bass in clear, rocky rivers, is my favorite way to fish. 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