When fly fishing in mid to late fall, consider fishing with a sinktip or a 250 grain full sinking line in the deeper riffles and pools on our larger rivers. A Chess Match with Early Season Manitoba Whitetails, Pawn Shop Shotguns for Hunting and Home Defense, Recipe: Freshly Ground Wild Boar Bacon Bomb Meatloaf with Honey Crisp Apples and Maple Bourbon Glaze, Whitetail Wednesday: Deer Hunting On Smaller Acreages, Tuesday’s Take Your Best Shot: Muzzleloader Pronghorn, Shooting with the Mann: Practice Smart, Shoot Better. Fall smallmouth can be found across the United States and Canada and the fishing can be absolutely awesome through the month of October and sometimes even into November, depending on the weather. Guns. Stick with crankbaits measuring 1¼ to 2 inches for most situations. When the water starts to cool down in mid to late September, the fall smallmouth start to feed up for the winter months. These all are found naturally in rivers. I even start to see them get into feeding groups in an effort to trap baitfish easier. Top Five Fall Baits For Smallmouth Bass with Ben Nowak TFO Ambassador Ben Nowak is no stranger to smallmouth fishing. A smallmouth in a shallow river fights better than any lake smallmouth, and it’s a truly unique type of fishing. Latest. When the water starts to cool down in mid to late September, the fall smallmouth start to feed up for the winter months. .380 Auto + The Right Bullet = Conceal Carry Confidence, Pickin’ Deep-Water Fall Pike from Green Veggies. The summertime river smallmouth angler’s arsenal should include both finesse and power-fishing lures. Regardless, you can’t go wrong fishing these streams. So look for similar baitfish in your area and use baits that mimic that pattern. Plastics can also be effective on fall river smallmouth especially when faced with a severe cold front. (Photo by Jeff Knapp) GET AGGRESSIVE. It is important to work your baits as slow as possible keep them tight to the edge of the river channel and any shoreline wood cover. Bench’s favorite time to fish for river smallmouth though is in … As for the plastic portion, 3.5 inches is a proven performer for me, with brown, orange or … And, it creates tons of smallmouth … The passage of fall cold fronts can also put a damper on smallmouth fishing in rivers but not always. “I look at our fall in two sections — early fall and late fall,” he said. You may not get many bites, but the fish you catch can be big and it’s possible to catch the trophy fish of a lifetime in the fall! That’s about twice as deep as he usually catches them in summer. This combo mimics the look and movement of a crawfish to a T — and fall smallmouth will readily gobble it up. smallmouth with a topwater, spinnerbait or crankbait. Seth Feider takes the guesswork out of choosing the best lures for smallmouth bass fishing from late summer through late fall. Whitetail bucks are rutting, and waterfowl, grouse and pheasants are flying. Fall is here and it’s one of my favorite times of the year because it’s transition fishing time for fall smallmouth bass. ... done the right way. DIY European Mount – Using a Pressure Washer! What to use: Weights vary depending on water depth, so carry various sizes. As a result, a river smallmouth feels like a lake bass twice its size. In the fall, they will stay on the summer pattern until the water temp drops to about 60 degrees, and after that they start moving to wintering holes.” If you haven’t done it much, you should get on it while you can. This is river fishing. That same day I had five smallmouth that weighed a total of 22 lbs even…it wasn’t a tournament day, but what an incredible day in the fall! First, I cast a diving crankbait such as a LiveTarget Threadfin Shad Magnum Crankbait (above) tight to the weed edge and quickly crank it down, then slowly bounce it along bottom. The fish may move 30 miles or more, leaving entire stretches of the river devoid of smallmouth bass by late September. In shallower waterways across the northern portions of the species’ range, smallmouth actually migrate. Jerkbaits, spinner baits and buzz baits can all be used for smallmouth fishing. Shooting with the Mann: Anatomy of a Miss. Gasconade River – The Gasconade River is the longest river in Missouri. Based out of Michigan, Ben hosts a YouTube channel called The Smallmouth Experience where he uploads weekly videos sharing his experiences of catching smallmouth bass, as well as helpful tips for anglers out there who want to find more success on the water. It’s just a bit of a drive from St. Louis and trying to tackle such a long river … I spend the day chasing smallies on the river and share some tips and tricks I use to catch them. We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! NRA Competitive Shooting Series, Part 2: The Disciplines, Shooting with the Mann: Running a Bolt-Action Rifle, Graphic Video: How To Remove Fish Hooks From Your Skin, Keeping It Old School: Hunting with the .30-30 Winchester, INFOGRAPHIC: Safe Firearm Storage Ideas from the NRA, Whitetail Wednesday: Don’t Clean the Table, Shooting with the Mann: Ballistic Balance. River bait like a flat surface under them but, like almost everything else that swims, they also like cover. By this point, I would recommend casting parallel to the river towards the pond and try to find any areas of stagnant water where a school might be hiding out. We’re not talking about a break like you find in a Tennessee River impoundment. After the initial flurry dies down, I toss a Carolina rig into the hot zone. Many smaller rivers have tons of smallmouth. Late October through November is an excellent time to fish large streamers for big smallmouth bass. It never even crossed my mind that I would be fishing the James River near Nixa this fall. The upper James River in Virginia offers some of the best smallmouth fishing in the country. On some northern U.S. and Canadian rivers, migrating fish congreg… Whitetail bucks are rutting, and waterfowl, grouse and pheasants are flying. More Fishing. The action often lasts deep into November, meaning there’s still time to get out and enjoy this exciting rite of fall. Sure, it’s hunting season. During our trip, the gigging season for suckers had started, which Smith claims also makes the smallmouth skittish. Light spinning tackle is the best choice for anglers fishing rivers for smallmouth bass. The areas I look for fall smallmouth are flats that have sharp drop-offs nearby or scattered rocks and riprap. If fall smallmouth are hiding in an eddy or deep patch just at the end of some thick current, fish those points and lines like your supper is almost ready. Fly fishermen and conventional fishermen both can enjoy the hard-fighting nature of the smallmouth in this absolutely beautiful river, which flows from the confluence of the Cowpasture and Jackson Rivers in Bath and Highland Counties, through Lynchburg and Richmond, past Williamsburg and Jamestown to the … When throwing baitfish streamers I focus on areas with shallo… Grass lines, rocks, timber, sand bars and points located within this zone hold largemouth. Always wear your life jackets, be safe and have fun on the water! Also, rivers run clear and low in summer and early fall. The lures do not weigh much and light line and tackle is required to cast them. It meanders for over 300 miles within a linear distance of about 100 miles. The first tactic is to fish aggressively. Fish Eddies Along Main Current When fishing rivers or streams, bass will congregate along the current for food passing by. When you hook one the fight is on and it will give you a surprising fight for its size. “The river in the summer time is really good because of the water temperature,” Bench says. The Case Sinking Shad is my favorite fall bait for weed related smallmouth and largemouth bass. By Mark Zona. Live minnows can also be used, but it is a bit more difficult to present them naturally. Bouncing from one high-percentage spot to the next with these two tactics is a great way to enjoy banner days for hard-fighting bronzebacks. Whitetail Wednesday with Dr. Grant Woods: Simple Trick for Sneaking into a Treestand. If you’re located in the south and want to catch smallmouth till you’re sore – head to Wilson in the fall or early spring. All over North America, river smallmouth bass fishing can be absolutely phenomenal if you know where to look. Editor’s note: Check out the video below to see Chip Leer take advantage of this outstanding autumn opportunity. Massive lakes and impoundments aren’t the only places that giant smallmouth call home. September 1, 2004. During the month of October, these fall smallmouths make such great changes, you are going to go through a full spectrum of presentations in a relatively short period of time. Small versions of largemouth crankbaits and also crayfish-shaped models are terrific mid-level smallmouth lures. You can prepare as best you can, but you’ll never know exactly what they are biting until you show up that day and dangle it in front of them. As the water temps start to drop into the 60s and 50s, smallmouth bass, as well as all warm water species shift into overdrive for the upcoming winter. I’ve had a lot of success catching fall smallmouth on almost everything at this time of year including crankbaits, jigs and of course a variety of soft plastics. Fall smallmouth bass fishing is almost always dynamite. Fall smallmouth can be found across the United States and Canada and the fishing can be absolutely awesome through the month of October and sometimes even into November, depending on the weather. Sure, it’s hunting season. Shooting with the Mann: Ballistic Reticle Basics, Shooting with the Mann: Defensive Handgun Reliability, Video: Monster Channel Cat with Plus-Size Whiskers, Shooting with the Mann: Bonded vs. Non-Bonded Bullets, Video: Melissa Bachman Gives Great Arrow Advice. Fish care done the right way. One of my favorite fall fishing areas is the tip of a firm-bottomed, sandy bar bordered by softer substrate and vegetation such as wild rice. Fall cold fronts can drop the water temperature and slow down the action. Whitetail Wednesday: Is the October Lull a Myth? How To Find Winter Largemouth Bass In Open Water, Mystery Tackle Pro Box Unboxing (Multi-Species January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Elite Unboxing (January 2021), Mystery Tackle Box Bass Unboxing (January 2021), 7 Crappie Lures You Can Rely On All Winter Long. The heat of summer makes river fishing ideal for smallmouth. It is a great idea … In early fall, Klatt catches bass from the transition zone between the slack water of a bay mouth and the main river current. Casting crankbaits is a great way to pluck aggressive bass off the spot. Smallmouth bass love fast-moving water – rivers, creeks, anything that has moving water. Photo by Meghan Marchetti/DGIF. I use a two-pronged attack to catch the most bass possible from each spot. As rivers cool below 57 degrees, dramatic changes in smallmouth bass behavior occur. It twists, turns and doubles back on itself. The Ultimate Guide to Hunting Snowshoe Hares. The biggest Smallmouth I’ve ever caught was during the Fall of 2005. Hunting. Outdoor Hub Staff 11.01.16. The best jig colors for smallmouth are brown, green pumpkin, watermelon and any other natural color that best resembles crawdads that live on your home lake. No votes so far! They are also fond of river … “The warmer the water gets the more active the fish are.”. Whitetail Wednesday: The Pre-Rut is Finally Here! Fall smallmouth spawners? Be the first to rate this post. The smallmouth bass will face upstream angled towards the current but be resting in slack water to the sides called the eddy. “Fly fishermen should wait until we’ve had 50-degree-plus air temperatures for three or four days, which typically cause the water temperature to rise from, say, 40 to 44-45 degrees,” he says. Depths of 2-4 feet are ideal. New River, West Virginia. Best Color of Worms for Smallmouth Bass Worms are another popular and effective way to catch smallmouth bass. “Most of the largemouth leave the large spawning bays and swim upstream,” Klatt said. Across the southern-most range for smallmouth bass one hears chatter about “winter smallie fishing.” However, upon examination of water temperatures on the lakes and big rivers down south, those readings rarely fall below the mid-40 … Winter River Smallmouth With Pete Cartwright. Look for areas with an abundance of weed lines, drop-offs and scattered rocks. I have read about the river for years, and see plenty of instagram photos showing some great fish caught from there. Occasionally, I pause to throw slack in the line, which causes the lure to turn, often triggering a strike. My typical rig consists of a pegged sinker, 24-inch-long 12-pound monofilament leader, 3/0 hook and either a creature body or Northland Fishing Tackle IMPULSE Fatty Tube, rigged weedless (below). The exceptions happen in spring, when they spawn, and a short time in fall. So make sure and try everything in your Mystery Tackle Box this month! By Will Ryan. Also be on the watch for fish swirling. The best live baits to use when smallmouth bass fishing and rivers are crawfish, helgramites, and nightcrawlers. You can slowly drag the rig or let it rest in place, allowing the river’s current to activate the soft plastic. Along the way, they stop at predictable places to rest and feed, offering diehard anglers some of the year’s best bass fishing. I never like to waste an opportunity to go smallmouth fishing. This post guest written by Bob Adkinson, Professional Bass Fisherman & Guide. They’re also great for fall smallmouth bass fishing. But that’s no reason to forget about fishing, especially if you happen to hit a day or two of unseasonably warm temps, which often slows down the movement of bucks and ducks. Abandoning their summer haunts, fish may travel many miles downstream to slack-water hibernacula, where they will overwinter. Shooting with the Mann: Why Steel Targets. Looking for a Bargain Bear Hunt in Canada? These flats will hold fish that are roaming around looking for prey. The fish weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces and I caught her on a Big Bite Baits 3.5” Tube in the color ‘Old Ugly’ which mimics crawdads and other baitfish. Don’t miss a chance to fish undercut banks, fallen trees, weed beds, deep holes, and eddies. NRA Competitive Shooting Series, Part 1: Is It for You? These fish thrive in the waters with current. He finds most smallmouth in deep water — 40 to 50 feet where he’s fishing — about Labor Day. And remember, most importantly, be patient! I use 13 Fishing’s 7-foot, 11-inch Envy Black Crankenstein casting rod (below) with 10-pound mono for crankbaits, and their medium-heavy 7-foot, 1-inch or 7-foot, 4-inch Omen Black casting rod with 30-pound Northland Bionic Braid mainline for Carolina rigs. You can use a variety of baits to catch smallmouth in … They become somewhat reckless as they chase baitfish near the banks and in the shallow flats of river systems. I use both tube jigs and skirted grubs. “Any time you have a front come through the fish shut down on the back side of that front as a general rule,” Smith says. Best river smallmouth fishing rod and reel. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year for fishing, and can be yours too. In rivers across the Midwest, smallmouth bass make a fall migration from their summer ranges to deep wintering holes in the main channel. Fall Fishing for River Smallmouth. The lightest weight plastics like a Texas Rig or jig head need just enough weight to make bottom contact and then walk it down the shoal. It’s not uncommon on the rivers that I guide on to see multiple bass chasing my flies during the retrieve. An example would be points or ends of islands which create current breaks and allow the smallmouth to remain out of the current and wait for baitfish to wash down to them. Bass don't spawn all at the same time, so it follows that they don't all communally recover from spawning stress. Best baits for river fishing smallmouth bass. If you find more than one place with bait, choose the one on a flat that’s near deeper water with wood on or near the break. Fishing for smallmouth in rivers is an exciting way to spend a day. Frogs . Willis’ Mike Smith operates New River Fly Fishing and offers this advice. 8. Just as when fishing the river grass in summer, it is important to fish both the weeds and the weed line. In fact, if I had to pick one month out of the year to fish for smallmouth bass I would choose the month of October. The time is NOW! 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. How to Fish for Smallmouth Bass in the Fall. At this time of year, the rivers are absolutely full of shad minnows which the fall smallmouth feed on to get ready for the winter. 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