Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Smallmouth bass stream fishing.



I caught this smallmouth bass on a Rainy's Foam Cricket and I remember it being very hot that evening.  Makes me crave warmer water and late springtime weather.  I caught this bass on a feeder stream withing the watershed I fish most.  I fish almost all the tributaries and on a recent outing, I got to thinking . . . "Where are all the stinking smallies?"

We had another cold snap and one that will bring freezing overnight temps for several days.  It has thrown fishing off again.  Along with a late winter and lots of cold snaps, water temps just haven't stabilized enough for continuously good fishing.  It's kind of been hit and miss.

I figured smallmouth bass would head into smaller tributaries to make beds.  Early spring, I usually begin fishing on those small streams.  Last year, I lost access to my spring location.  Do smallmouth bass head into tributaries to make beds?  I'm sure of it but how many?  A lot, a little, does water level or stream temp play into it?  Are all bass on the same internal clock or do they lay eggs at different times based on things I don't understand?  Do the females look for deeper water or think to head toward the parent stream?

I guess that's what keeps us on our toes.  This is the toughest April I've had in several years.  I've had to look for new waters and even try different flies I'm not used to casting.  I do know several of us that do chase smallies quite often just haven't landed many this spring.

I caught just a few pre-spawn smallmouth bass.  But in a few months, I do believe they will start schooling and hanging out with suckers.  I don't think they are spooked like suckers are but I think July or so provides closer wading access to smallmouth bass.

All I know is that it's always a learning experience.  I remember having some pretty lousy years.  Especially, years that I spent riding a desk and had just a handful of weekends to hit the water.  I still think that mornings and evenings are still best and that after it rains and the current picks up, smallmouth bass are more active and ready to hit flies.

I have caught a lot of smallmouth bass - most being small to medium with a few larger ones thrown in here and there.  Learning the same stream buy fishing it time and again has helped me to land more smallmouth bass.  However, due to flooding, it's not the same and I've had to hit up new locations.

Stream angling is more appealing because it provides a higher catch rate than lake fishing.  The typical habitat in which smallmouth relocate after spawning is dependant on stream level - I guess.  High flows let fish use habitat such as rocky and timber habitat which was too shallow in the past but rocky habitat is usually chosen over logs and cover or log jams.

Or, if you are a newbie, you will catch a fattie on your first cast as I catch nothing but small stuff the rest of the afternoon.


6 comments:

  1. This cold snap really sucks...just as the fishing was starting to get good too. I really think that most of the smallies on those creeks are finishing up with the spawn but I could be wrong. The beds were numerous on our two day float but less than 1 out of 10 actually had a fish anywhere in the vicinity. I suppose they could build a bed and then leave it and come back to spawn but I just assumed that once a bed was built the fish started using it fairly quickly. The key for us this Spring has definitely been to fish deeper , those fish just havn't moved up onto their shallow haunts yet. Another week or two and it won't matter , the weather should stabilize and then those fish are going to go crazy.

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    1. They'll come soon, I'm sure. Great temps next week. I'm usually stuck fishing remote places with not so great access or fat toads because of all the floaters and drunks.

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  2. Josh, pondering a lot of worthwhile information there. I don't know a whole lot about spawning habits of Smallmouth just because I have not had the opportunity to fish much for them. I do know that your are putting in your time and that your fish will come. You will benefit from your study of how it all happens.

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    1. I can usually find a good place to hit 'em hard in late March or April. I lost my spring location due to lousy stream laws in AR and a few grumpy neighbors living in what used to be farm land. I always hit tributaries in early spring and then move to the main source for a bit until the floaters take it over from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Even then, I sometimes end up battling for position in the stream with other anglers.

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  3. Sorry to hear its a tad tough so far this year. Smallie's are a blast and I hope you do great this year and are able to locate some new quality water (sucks you lost your previous access). Its still early and with the temps up this next week I am sure things will start to turn around. Tight lines sir.

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  4. Well, some guys I know hit a small stream south of here (whereas I was north) and caught a few decent ones. When my schedule opens up, I'm gonna be hitting the water quite a bit - or at least try. I've got some plans to possibly hook up with someone for white bass but that all depends on smallies,

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