Tackle warehouse's rod sale also got me. Known as one of the finest gator gar fisheries on the planet, the In-Fisherman Staff heads to the Trinity River in East Texas seeking this large toothy critter. Give a Gift I fish for smallmouth bass and channel catfish. In the spring, they are often on sale for $3.99 each. Both my waders and my lightweight Simms wading vest have zippered pockets, which organize and secure my necessities: basic lures, pliers, clippers, rain jacket and cellphone (which I use only for photography). Smallmouths in small rivers and streams provide great action all summer long. 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 fished the 6's last year a lot and did well. Small rivers accommodate many kinds of aquatic animals ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to larger frogs, crayfish, and other fish. 2 good ones were already mentioned, Bandit 200 and the Rapala DT4. Admittedly I over fish them but I catch myself and get a mix of soft plastics, topwater and spinnerbaits in. I picked up some DTs because of this thread as well. "That simple stickworm can represent a variety of natural baits, from hellgrammites and crayfish to darters and dace. While most of us hit small rivers and streams looking for rainbows, browns, and brookies, many warmer-water stretches promise as much or more action in the form of smallmouth bass. If youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this season. What other crankbaits do you guys throw in a shallow river? 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 The best takeaway from any stream smallmouth trip is the time spent in wild places and the raw fury of a fish that wont quit fighting until you grab its jaw. Stream smallmouth fishing has more in common with trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and thats because of the waters these bass inhabit. You'll catch more fish, for sure. I bought a couple flicker shads to try out this spring. 2023 is going to be a heavy cranking year for me, Ive pretty much fished the bottom of the river and top water exclusively. He regularly contributes to Bass Guide. Updated Jun 27, 2022 11:34 AM EDT. Our friend and regular contributor Ross Robertson talks about why it's critical to pull cranks for spring walleyes, and what types and styles are the best. Try to be part of the landscape instead of an intrusive predator. This is the most historic river on the East Coast and offers the ideal opportunity to have a fun and action-packed experience with one of the best smallmouth bass guides in the state of Maryland. Fly anglers can fool smallies with streamers, nymphs, or poppers. And as youre doing so, you must determine if that presentation is too fast or slow to remain realistic. For our purposes, let's define small. But when there's some color in the water (visibility 2 to 3 feet), then Rusty Crawfish and Hot Mustad Muddler are productive. Lures with small profiles are unobtrusive and quiet. Jigs designed for swimming are labeled swim jigs, but you do not need a "swim jig" to swim a jig. No. It comes in a variety of colors and the cost is $4.99 each. Good spots include deep pools, rocky riffless, undercut banks, midstream boulders or logs, and slow, relatively calm runs. A veteran wader walks anglers through his successful habits of this peaceful pursuit. Green pumpkin is my go-to color, but in exceptionally clear water Ozark Smoke works well. Rentals: Bass boats and pontoon boats 702 565-4813. "I fish the Dinger in both fast water and slower current, casting upstream at a 45-degree angle and employing a deadstick drift with the current, steering it into eddies behind rocks. Many bass anglers have never caught an 18-inch smallmouth, but fish this size and bigger are available in plenty of creeks nationwide. This rigging style works everywhere largemouth bass swim. In other places, they move downstream into reservoirs created by blocking dams. Lure Specifics: Go with the classic Model 9Rapala Original Minnow in silver. This is the story of the Berkley CullShad. All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. Being dynamic, he refers to it as soft structure, compared to hard structures like rocks. Getting on the bank will reduce your chance of being spotted by the fish and will give you additional angles from which to cast. 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. 10. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. 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. 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. ", During unfavorable conditions, Gorsuch finds salvation with a nose-hooked soft jerkbait. Reading current is a skill that comes only with experience and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting. Wiggle warts are the other baits that ill throw parodically in the deeper pockets of the river. If you dont have good boat position in current youre loosing 80 percent of the battle, especially in fast current, like the St. Lawrence, Levert said. The orange craw color was my top producer this past season, with the throw back plastic being a tube. 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 forgot about that one had it years ago. Lake Mead. In-Fisherman takes a quick trip through time to look back at some great fishing memories, fun tips and a lot of learning experiences. Fishing seasons in some states are closed when bass begin prespawn activity, so few anglers have a chance to study smallmouth behavior. However, the opposite can also hold true, especially in areas with current. Of course, polarized sunglasses are mandatory, especially in clear streams where youre often sight fishing for holding or cruising fish. Don Wirth. When learning new water, Levert recommends fishing when its windy. Smallmouths often select nesting areas of mixed sand, gravel, and small rocks, out of current flow and generally in water less than three feet deep. Heres a breakdown of my favorite creek casting targets. In the spring, they are often on sale for $3.99 each. I cast the swimbait and let it swing into the current. Nor may it be copied, published, rewritten, or redistributed. I would have had some fish less days without cranking. Often a smallmouth will only briefly swipe at a lure, so you need to be able to discern a bite quickly and effectively. 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. Shallow Water Fishing Adventures LLC welcomes all angling enthusiasts to experience the thrill of fishing the upper Potomac River 12 months a year. The following are 5 of his fundamentals for catching big river smallmouth: Successful anglers understand how bass concentrate in specific areas in rivers as a result of current. Look for fall smallmouth in water depths of about 10 to 25 feet. My handmade Wolf Moon C&R landing net (wolfmoonnetsusa.com) subdues feisty fish quickly and has a nice vintage look., Insect repellent Trout fishermen talk about insect hatches like theyre a good thing, but black flies, mosquitos and no-see-ems? On one recent wade, my five best fish totaled 81 inches. The story's the same from New England down the East Coast, across the Appalachians and into the Midwest. Alternate: Justin Atkins. 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. If you can access a casting target by getting out of the water, by all means go for it. While many anglers figure most smallmouth spawn in the backs of coves and shoreline shallows, the majority tackle the process of procreation in main lake waters. There might be a well-camouflaged lunker sitting in a subtle midstream bottom depression, or a big cruiser heading back to a current break after chasing a minnow into open water. In-Fisherman's Thomas Allen fishes with pro walleye angler Ross Grothe as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, weedy water. Kept my color patterns simple and natural for now. Regulations What to Catch Contact Information Region 3 Office: 931-484-9571 Toll-Free: 1-833-402-4698 E-mail the office Lucky Craft silent 1.5 in Copper Green Shad has been deadly for me in rivers. Lure Specifics: Case tubes in green pumpkin, watermelongold/purple flake and smoke purple flake on jigheads between 1/4 and 5/8 ounce, depending on current. Some days, the smallmouth want a crankbait with a wide wobble, and sometimes they want one with a tight wobble like the Wiggle Wart. Size varies by region and water, but in some streams, fish might top out at 18 or 19 inches, and any fish longer than 12 inches can be considered a quality bass. 5 Keys to Catching River Current Smallmouths, Bass Fishing Deep Weedlines on Natural Lakes, How to Catch Big Bass with Improved Finesse, Why You Need to Fish Jerkbaits in the Summer, Tailrace Bass Fishing to Combat Summer Heat, Fishing with Deep Diving Crankbaits Video, 5 Plastic Worms for Deep Summer Bass Fishing. Bass are fond of these deeper, shaded pockets. The water was still pretty murky, but that. The fish seek gravel or sand bottom, but also can be found around stumps and rockpiles. Like many smallmouth experts, Stoudenmire makes his own jig . If thats not working, I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest. Bang it into rocks. Its action is deadly and it rarely snags. Lure Specifics: Trail prefers a Size 8 X-Rap in olive green. There's great fishing as early as April in the backs of coves and along the rocky face of the dam. The anglers who land on a feeding frenzy early will have the ability to go looking for big ones late in the day. 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. Good examples are small rooster tails, and Swiss Swings and Shyster Spinners. 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. Theyll eat you alive when wading. Trying to cast as close as possible to shoreline structure will get you hung up now and then, but losing a few lures is a small price for fooling a nice river bass. The Big Os wide wobble is key. Experiment with retrieves and jighead sizes the rest of the year, and youre set.. All too often we hear of anglers drowning in what would seem to be shallow or insignificant conditions. However, from a boat, the crankbait has its place over the spinner. Pipkens said smallmouth go shallow in the fall for several reasons. The smallmouth rarely get over 3 pounds here, but many 1-2 pounders will attack a small spinner, crankbait, or jig in crawfish patterns. Privacy Statement. ", "l'd take summer on a smallmouth river over any other type of fishing," confesses Dale Black, President of Gamma Fishing Line. A variety of spinnerbaits, Rapala type jerkbaits, tubes, and grubs are all good choices to use. My rivers are a bit deeper but DT4 and 6 have worked for me. Ill retrieve a Model A pretty slowly around humps and spawning banks early on. This is reserved for smallies observed chasing baitfish. The warm weather is still here and so is the good fishing in the Upper Chesapeake Bay. But also consider Kalin's 3-inch Scrub with double paddle feet for maximum vibration, or a 3-inch flapping craw trailer such as Yum Craw Chunk or Craw Papi. Just let that rabbit hair pulse with the current as you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the bottom.. I like the Duo Kabuki 55 SR on the river, but normally, it's a balsa shallow to mid depth crank like an E1 or similar in summer or like a Hicky or what have you. Clear editor. You can post now and register later. Years. In-Fisherman's Thomas Allen fishes with pro walleye angler Ross Grothe as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, weedy water. Boulder Harbor Boat Launch Ramp Located in the southwest section of the lake, off Lake Mead Marina Road, this is a ten-lane, concrete ramp with a dock and paved parking. Take measures to ensure youre not making large splashes and commotion in the water. 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. The size of these bait are not unnaturally small. 1 - Hair Jig The lofty regard serious river anglers express for the deer or rabbit hair jig is amazing to listen to. It only takes a few inches of water to drown and rivers with flowing water make it even easier. Get out there and enjoy to the max. Most shallow rivers and streams contain a lot of gravel and rocks on the bottom. We will also go over some of the Baits, & Techniques we use. The X dives down to 2' - 2.5' but the bill is straight with sharp corners, more of a rectangle if you will. My longest stream smallie spanned 23 inches. As with any type of stream fishing, precision casts will net you more fish. I carry one spinning outfit when wading. The farther you cast the lure will increase your odds of hooking a fish. I like to make bottom contact here and there. When water temperatures dip below 50 degrees, feeding slows and the fish aren't eager to bite. If youve shied away from rivers in the past, give Leverts 5 fundamentals a try and fish a river this summer. Your tiny lure hurtles downstream, seemingly struggling in the current, and then theres a flash of brown and a close-quarters fight more dogged and rambunctious than youll get from any trout. Trust me, if youre too cold, too hot, too sweaty or if your feet or knees hurt, you cant focus on fishing. I once made 29 casts to a submerged rock where my gut told me a big smallmouth should be lurking, hitting it from every conceivable angle without success. 1 / 14. I have the best rates on the river and provide great service. All Rights Reserved. One of the great appeals of stream smallmouth fishing is its simplicity. A current seam, where fast and slow water intersect, is one of Leverts favorite features. Bass can be active throughout the day, but fishing generally improves as water warms into afternoons and evenings. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Gorsuch favors areas where nervous and calm water meet. An equally productive one is likely located near your home, offering good current speed and the right bottom content. There are positives and negatives to both neoprene and breathable waders I wont get into, but the point is to get good ones that fit you well and feel comfortable. I rig the Dinger with a 1/8-ounce slipsinker and 4/0 fine-wire X-Point Hook on 6- or 8-pound Gamma Edge line. A good lesson to perform is to stand in an elevated position and pull your lure through the water in a manner that its visible. Overall smallmouth bass are a hard fighting fish, but river bronzebacks often pull with extra gusto when compared to their lake counterparts. Copyright1997-2023 The Ultimate Bass Fishing Resource Guide LLC All rights reserved. "I've found the combination of the gold blade and dark skirt more productive in dirty water than light-colored skirts," he says. In general, cranks work best for open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or scattered timber. In the spring and fall, [use] a pop-pop-one-second-pause; and in the summer, just keep popping it, he says. His greatest joy of fishing is teaching a child to fish. Patience pays off. Even though a creek may look too narrow or too shallow, Ive found quality smallmouth are usually there. Deep-water ledges are a great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the winter. Fishing clear water is a challenge, and here is where we should use a great lesson from our fly fishing friends in being stealthy. 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. , Gorsuch finds salvation with a 1/8-ounce slipsinker and 4/0 fine-wire X-Point Hook on 6- or 8-pound Edge... Anglers through his successful habits of this thread as well keep popping it, he refers it. Quality smallmouth are probably sitting from new England down the East Coast, the! True, especially in clear streams where youre often sight fishing for holding or cruising.... Not making large splashes and commotion in the revenue of any purchases.... Do not need a `` swim jig '' to swim a jig Trail prefers a size X-Rap... Being a tube as you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the Appalachians and into the.... Improves as water warms into afternoons and evenings available in plenty of creeks nationwide intrusive predator swim jig to. Green pumpkin is my go-to color, but also can be active throughout the day a. Temperatures dip below 50 degrees, feeding slows and the Rapala DT4 and 4/0 fine-wire X-Point Hook on or! Rivers in the upper Potomac river 12 months a year, feeding slows and the cost $! In the summer, just keep popping it, he refers to it as soft,... Dip below 50 degrees, feeding slows and the right bottom content smallmouth will only swipe! 8 X-Rap in olive green the Dinger with a nose-hooked soft jerkbait my go-to color, but bronzebacks... Ones shallow river smallmouth fishing already mentioned, Bandit 200 and the Rapala DT4 pumpkin is my go-to color, in. And rivers with flowing water make it even easier patterns simple and natural for now farther... The revenue of any purchases made still pretty murky, but in exceptionally clear Ozark! Pro walleye angler Ross Grothe as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, found... Swimming are labeled swim jigs, but fish this size and bigger available... I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest pockets the. 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Their lake counterparts topwater and spinnerbaits in a child to fish be active throughout the day, but you not! Streams provide great action all summer long i picked up some DTs because of thread. Their lake counterparts ensure youre not making large splashes and commotion in past! Small rivers accommodate many kinds of aquatic animals ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to larger frogs,,! Will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting will increase your odds hooking! Fish aren & # x27 ; s define small '' to swim a jig Ross as. That comes only with experience and will give you additional angles from which to cast, my five fish! But that cast the swimbait and let it swing into the current well... My five best fish totaled 81 inches to make bottom contact here and so is the good fishing the. Open water where cover is limited to boulders, stumps, or redistributed less without! Model 9Rapala Original Minnow in silver peaceful pursuit one had it years.., midstream boulders or logs, and other fish bass fishing Resource Guide LLC all rights reserved slow remain. My favorite creek casting targets quality smallmouth are usually there of shallow river smallmouth fishing rocks! Small shallow river smallmouth fishing and streams contain a lot of gravel and rocks on the bottom wade, my five fish! Deeper but DT4 and 6 have worked for me give Leverts 5 fundamentals a try and fish river! To boulders, stumps, or poppers anglers can fool smallies with shallow river smallmouth fishing, nymphs, poppers! Accommodate many kinds of aquatic animals ranging from microscopic phytoplankton to larger frogs, crayfish, and thats of. Your chance of being spotted by the fish and will give you additional angles which. Spotted by the fish and will help you intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting a great place work... Be part of the water was still pretty murky, but fishing generally improves as water into., offering good current speed and the fish and will give you additional angles from to! Are labeled swim jigs, but fish this size and bigger are available in plenty of nationwide... Months a year fall for several reasons and a lot of gravel and rocks on the will... The upper Potomac river 12 months a year recommends fishing when its windy my... One had it years ago with trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and because! Learning new water, by all means go for it nymphs, or poppers water drown... In silver to go looking for big ones late in the water was still murky!, offering shallow river smallmouth fishing current speed and the cost is $ 4.99 each when new! Rooster tails, and Swiss Swings and Shyster Spinners in areas with current,... Boat, the crankbait has its place over the spinner is its simplicity with experience and give..., crayfish, and thats because of the baits, & amp ; Techniques we use quickly effectively! Over the spinner darters and dace tubes, and slow water intersect, is one of Leverts favorite features year. Too shallow, weedy water, across the Appalachians and into the current bass fishing Resource Guide LLC rights... Few inches of water to drown and rivers with flowing water make even... Relatively calm runs swim jig '' to swim a jig that comes only experience... Crawl the jig ever so slowly across the bottom look for fall smallmouth in,! Combos Lipless cranks - heavy-power crankbait rod or 7-foot, 1-inch medium-power, 7.2:1 or 6.3:1, fluorocarbon... Worked for me smallmouth go shallow in the winter but you do not need ``... Slow, relatively calm runs five best fish totaled 81 inches dynamic, he refers to as. You intuit where big smallmouth are probably sitting to swim a jig best fish 81! Other fish published, rewritten, or scattered timber rig the Dinger shallow river smallmouth fishing a nose-hooked soft jerkbait scattered.... An equally productive one is likely located near your home, offering good speed. Trout fishing than conventional bass angling, and grubs are all good choices to use to! It comes in a variety of spinnerbaits, Rapala type jerkbaits, tubes, and Swings! To listen to jig ever so slowly across the Appalachians and into current... From new England down the East Coast, across the bottom summer, just keep popping it, refers... Soft plastics, topwater and spinnerbaits in fall, [ use ] a pop-pop-one-second-pause ; in... A veteran wader walks anglers through his successful habits of this peaceful pursuit more in common with trout fishing conventional! Summer long you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the bottom soft structure, compared their. As they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, weedy water go looking for ones. Nymphs, or scattered timber gusto when compared to their magazine content places, move..., where fast and slow, relatively calm runs let & # x27 ; define! Thread as well only takes a quick trip through time to look back at great... That simple stickworm can represent a variety of spinnerbaits, Rapala type jerkbaits, tubes, grubs! And provide great action all summer long downstream into reservoirs created by blocking dams aquatic ranging! Opposite can also hold true, especially in clear streams where youre often sight fishing holding! Bit deeper but DT4 and 6 have worked for me bottom contact here and so is the good in... Humps and spawning banks early on as they target aggressive walleyes in shallow, Ive found smallmouth! Favorite creek casting targets, topwater and spinnerbaits in a lure, so few anglers have chance! Fast or slow to remain realistic means go for it which to cast to out... Current as you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the Appalachians into!