Five tactics for early season smallmouth the ultimate bass. For local fisherman, this is convenient in two ways. Smallmouth bass will react favorably to the warming trends and these fish will move out of the winter holes and into transitionary water in mid to late march. On this weeks episode of larry smith outdoors we joined up with dj kirkpatrick and did some early spring smallmouth river fishing using a variety of tactics. My favorite alltime plastic for early season smallmouths in shallow water would have to be a flukestyle plastic. This should give you a look at a common technique for catching late season smallmouth in canada. By 2014, another 207 rivers had been afforded similar status in 39 of the 50 states. It became americas first national river on march 1, 1972. It has become a very popular waterway for kayakers as well as innertubers just floating in water to cool off on a summer day. How to locate early season smallmouth bass in a river system charter and guide. Timing your trip early season is lunker time harrington starts his spring smallmouth fishing in march, typically when the water temperature rises to 45 to 47 degrees, when the large female bass move into spawning areas. While fishing on lake erie early last season, the water temperatures were getting warmer and naturally i started looking for migrating smallmouth out in deep water.
Expect to find early spring stream smallies in the deeper, slower pools. Mar 07, 2017 five best early season smallmouth bass flies march 7, 2017 april 25, 2019 harry murrays heavy black hellgrammite, murrays black madtom sculpin streamer, murrays olive marauder, murrays magnum hog sucker streamer and shenks white streamer. We ended up with a dozen or more over 17 inches, a great day considering it was midmarch, the water was in the mid40s and the air only slightly warmer. Smallmouth rivers everywhere, from the pennsylvanias susquehanna to the john day in oregon, offer an honest shot at your biggest river smallmouth of the year. No one would want to give up those relaxing summer float trips in cutoffs and teeshirts. Ice however, usually starts to form at launch sites by late november, so fishing in december is limited.
Smallmouth levels restored in susquehanna river news. Cast a prerigged plastic worm in purple or black toward shore and slowly work it back to the boat stopping and letting it sit now and then. River water temperatures can change quickly depending on weather and it can be difficult to know from one day to the next how the bass will behave. Jigs also work well for spring smallmouth in rivers and streams, where hair jigs often get the nod. That said, if rivers are running on the low side, anglers can target prespawn river smallmouth with some consistency by focusing on deep holes with soft bottoms, as well as sloping channel edges. Early in the spring, id slowly drift down the river looking for bedding fish and smallmouth working minnows in the shallow and warmer water.
Since coming over from japan in the early 2000s, the drop shot has become a staple for anglers fishing deep water. Jul 15, 2015 if youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this season. Early inland trout catch and release january 4 5 a. It offers a completely different look than other bottom presentations, and can be effective when many other presentations fail. On this weeks episode of larry smith outdoors we joined up with dj kirkpatrick and did some early spring smallmouth river fishing using a. This week i sat down with michigan smallmouth guru mike schultz to learn how to start putting fat bronzebacks in the boat before the trees even start to leaf. Smallmouth fishing tips, articles and videos everyday. Spring smallmouth river fishing tips everything smallmouth.
Apr 17, 2018 the double tail jig sold by the table rock bait company is maybe the best soft plastic lure for early season smallmouth bass available. Three tricks to catch early season smallmouth bass. Options for search baits in spring include spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, crankbaits and throwing a tube or other weighted soft plastic jig in a particularly fishy looking. Coldfronts during the early part of the season will effect smallmouth bass more than later in the year. Feider shares many of his favorite smallmouth bass baits and how to fish them for each stage of the season, early fall including seths goto tough bite bait poor boys erie darter, late fall including tightlining finesse swimbaits and jigging blade baits, winter including the rapala jiggin rap ice jig. There are times, however, when soft baits shine, particularly with extremely clear water or postfrontal conditions that cool down water temps. The spring bite was definitely on and the hundreds of anglers on the detroit river adjacent to us had no idea of the fun we were having. High water associated with spring runoff makes river fishing for early season smallies difficult, because rapid bumps in flow tend to scatter the fish. By late march, smallmouth can consistently be found holding in the middle of the water column behind mid river boulders and along the edges of current seams where fast water meets slow water. Five tactics for early season smallmouth from ice out until post spawn these five techniques are deadly on smallmouths. Northern wisconsin smallmouth bass calendar midwest outdoors. If youre not already targeting smallmouth in rivers, you need to start this season. However, beginning at rumford falls, a few miles east of the new hampshire border, smallmouth take over as the river s dominant species, and virtually the entire river from rumford falls.
If it shows an upward trend, even a degree or two for a few days, then its time to fish. I am getting one of them inflatable pontoon boat things and plan on hitting the river once season is open. Those anglers aching to get on the water during this phase need to pay attention to the water temperature. Second, it allows floats to be delayed until the spring runoff has subsided, and the river has become a safe and enjoyable place to be. Bass season opens the last saturday in april in michigan and runs thru december 31.
Although there are not as many deep portions as the fox river or kankakee, nor as popular, there are still plenty of places that hold smallies. Will countys smallmouth bass secret the dupage river. When it comes to locating and catching shallow water smallmouth bass from our natural lakes, cold weather that prevents warming water temperatures and stalls the early season movements and shallow water spawning of fish often bewilders anglers. As it is with most rivers, youre never quite sure what youre going to catch since the wisconsin river holds dozens of fish species. Throw in a couple crankbaits like rapalas 2inch fat rap and youre pretty well set. Using that old conundrum, if fleming wanted to catch smallmouth on the john day all day long but could only choose one lure, it would be outlaw baits ripple worm in black. For the first time in almost 20 years the state fish and boat commission has found the smallmouth bass population to be doing very well in the susquehanna river just in time for the fishing season. Find smallmouth as the weather warms in the spring.
The river i fish the most is a shallow fast river that is too shallow for anything but kayaks and canoes. Umpqua river smallmouth bass fishing how to catch big. The author with a trophy smallmouth bass from the james river in downtown richmond. However, with urban sprawl comes recreationseekers, and the dupage river provides just that. Fall is one of the best times of the year to target big smallmouth bass across the state. How to catch fall smallmouth bass 101 fall is here and its one of my favorite times of the year because its transition fishing time for fall smallmouth bass. In regions where early season bass fishing is allowed following ice out, many anglers find themselves at a standstill on where to fish and the techniques to fish with. Early season for big smallmouth bass union sportsmens.
I love bass fishing, so when invited to return and float an undammed, wild river, specifically targeting them, i agreed. The fish weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and i caught her on a big bite baits 3. I grew up fishing the dupage river from north of plainfield to minooka. Opt for economytype jigheads as they often dont last long when creek fishing. Its rare to have a weatherperfect spring fishing season. It has a skirt in the front followed by a rigid body and ending with a double twist tail. Large and smallmouth bass southern zone harvest may 2 to. Aggressive techniques for river smallmouths river smallies.
After a winter of low activity, smallmouth bass in rivers tend to become more active with every increase in water temperature. Jigandtwister rigs can be fished on deep, main lake flats, shallow bay flats in the 5 to 15foot range, or anywhere along the breaklines where smallmouths may be staging for the spawn. They are missing out on some fine sport, particularly early in the spring when the biggest fish are often taken. In spring, smallmouth bass move up onto shallow rock and sand flats, initially to feed, and eventually to spawn. Now that we have lost an hour of sleep and the days are getting longer, its time to get after some early spring smallmouth bass. How to locate early season smallmouth bass in a river. Encompassing the prespawn to early summer period, all species of fish are on the feed, and in abundance throughout the shallows of most lakes and river. Mar 24, 2016 coldfronts during the early part of the season will effect smallmouth bass more than later in the year. Early season smallmouth were about to get another snow storm in ct. Early spring smallmouths smallmouth tipstricks youtube. Aaron horvatits of buffalo with a beautiful lower niagara river. Anyone who has hooked a smallmouth knows what fun it can be. Smallmouth bass are some of the scrappiest fighters in freshwater.
The initial spring smallmouth bass bite on the allegheny river in. Oct 14, 2000 later in the season, from about early to midsummer, the food source continues to grow and the water on most rivers begin to drop and become very clear, sometimes making the fishing rather tough. River water temperatures can change quickly depending on weather and it can be difficult to know. Smallmouth bass spring location and lure preference youtube. Fish soft plastics for early season smallmouth bass anglers. Early season smallies the spring season takes place in may and june, and offers some of the best fishing of the year for all species. Early season smallmouth with mike schultz midcurrent.
By alex mccrickard, dgif aquatic education coordinator. But for the biggest river smallmouths, hit the water now. Brush off the cold and brush up your skills christopher smith feb 17, 20 0 as february fades and we move toward spring, many anglers come out of hibernation and get trigger happy to be back on the water. Will countys smallmouth bass secret the dupage river dan. Here are mikes top 5 moves for getting your bronze on in the early season, in his own words. Smallmouth bass are native to the great lakes system and the mississippi river basin including the tennessee and big sandy river drainages of southwest virginia. That same day i had five smallmouth that weighed a total of 22 lbs evenit wasnt a tournament day, but what an. First, it does not interfere with early season fishing for trout and landlocked salmon.
As iceout arrives, here are six spring bass fishing tips to help you catch more smallmouth and largemouth bass early in the season. How to crush smallmouth bass right after iceout meateater. Seasonal patterns for smallmouth bass fishing on lake st. Three tricks to catch earlyseason smallmouth bass field. Early season for big smallmouth bass union sportsmens alliance. Five best early season smallmouth bass flies murrays fly shop. If you live in a northern climate youve been icebound for months. While fishing in 20 40 feet, all i could find were optimistic anglers hoping for a deep water bite. It isnt just the new river that holds so much promise in late winter and early spring. By mike gnatkowski bass guide gerry gostenik knows exactly when smallmouth are going to invade the shallows and be susceptible to suspending jerk baits. Catches and hunts of the month april 2020 the buffalo news. Fish soft plastics for early season smallmouth bass. Michigan bass fishing tours smallmouth and walleye. Five tactics for early season smallmouth the ultimate.
Smallmouth bass northern zone harvest june 20 to march 7, 2021. John day river smallmouth bass fishing spring tactics. With 99% of my trophy smallmouth fisheries being located in the upper midwest and great lakes region, nearly all of my spring techniques have been honed, modified, and mastered to my specifications and angling style and work on. Lake superior and connected sloughs, kakagon river smallmouth bass harvest. May 14, 2018 on this weeks episode of larry smith outdoors we joined up with dj kirkpatrick and did some early spring smallmouth river fishing using a variety of tactics. Encompassing the prespawn to early summer period, all species of fish are on the feed, and in abundance throughout the shallows of most lakes and river systems. Warmer weather and spring rains often cause rivers to get high and dirty. The following is a breakdown of the seasons and some patterns that are consistent for catching smallmouth bass on. Tips, howtos, wheretos, and whattos for river anglers chasing the hardestfighting freshwater fish around.
Every year anglers get excited at the prospect of early spring bass fishing again. Aaron horvatits of buffalo with a beautiful lower niagara river steelhead he caught. Nonetheless, the smallmouth are present and thriving. Harry murray in edinburg can fix you up with the best flies and providing guide service if you need it. When the water starts to cool down in mid to late september, the fall smallmouth start to feed up for the winter months. A lot of fishing pressure has taught the fish the difference between a shiner minnow and. Largemouth bass northern zone harvest may 2 to march 7, 2021. Outlying waters of green bay and lake michigan within 14 mile of washington, detroit, plum, pilot, hog or rock islands. Ill bet itll work on those living in the states, too. Early season smallmouth on americas first national river. Ontarios jack levert is a multispecies guide and competitive angler with more than 40years experience catching smallmouth from the st. Five best early season smallmouth bass flies murrays fly. The dupage river is one of the most overlooked smallmouth bass fisheries in northern illinois. Aug 29, 20 paul castellano from cast adventures shows us where to find cold water smallmouth in a prespawn situation.
Later in the season, from about early to midsummer, the food source continues to grow and the water on most rivers begin to drop and become very clear, sometimes making the fishing rather tough. Smallmouth feed year round though in early season they can be a little slower due to the lower water tempatures. At the same time, the earliest months of spring can be the best time to catch lots of big smallmouth bass. Fall smallmouth bass fishing in virginia virginia dgif. The biggest smallmouth ive ever caught was during the fall of 2005. I have had clients look at the river with these types of conditions and. Blog find and catch giant river smallies now booyah bait co. Regardless of what species of fish we go after and the type of water to be fished, whether it be pond, lake, or.
If you want to fly fish, large streamers are the key to early season smallmouth action. Another bait that catches early season smallmouth bass wherever they swim is the traditional leadheaded jig and twistertailed grub combo. Right around when the fishing season opens up i will usually get into a pretty good bite right below riffles and feeder creeks. Braeden lenhard from grand island caught this early season smallmouth bass from the shore along the west river. However, these game fish have been introduced all across the piedmont of virginia and are truly a worthy opponent on rod and reel. Weve put together the best drop shot smallmouth tips to help you catch more fish this season. Even better, there wasnt another soul on the river.
John day river smallmouth bass fishing spring tactics that. Some of us have braved the elements and fished through the winter but with a new season, comes new. Murrays heavy black hellgrammite size 4 shenks white streamer. Itll be a full blown blizzard in far eastern mass, just a run of the mill storm here, but still a late winter dumping. I like to fish early in the morning before the river gets busy. During winter, smallmouths often hole up in deep water with a soft bottom, and that holds true for both lake and river fish.
One of the things to remember is that fish are coldblooded and when water temps are cool, warmer water. Ironically in the section of one river i have fished that gets stocked but also seems to have some naturals, i saw a mink in the same stretch where i. Paul castellano from cast adventures shows us where to find cold water smallmouth in a prespawn situation. How to locate early season smallmouth bass in a river system. During the winter season, river smallmouth anglers have three choices. There might not be a finer season to explore our freshwater fisheries across virginia than in fall. First saturday in may to friday preceding the third saturday in june. Based on this success i plan to rely strongly on these for my early season smallmouth bass fishing this year.