MassBass

I set off into the unknown of the Mt Washington valleys in NH, for a river rat campaign. I was very excited to have success with some wild and native trout. On the open river. The rainbow and brown came from the same hole, got another rainbow to with an early release. Two on spinners, one on jerkbait. Further north to the Androscoggin, I caught two brookies on a spinner. These fish were probably totally wild and native, near the main river nonetheless.

If there is some kind of bait fish beyond yellow perch, the silver minnow/shad/alewife type, creeks and any kind of water flowing into the lake will position this type of bait fish in the fall and smallmouth should be near. Keep in mind yellow perch isn't always the bait fish, they are aggressive and piscivorous and are sometimes feeding on the same bait as bass.

All around good color for most baits in most conditions. Problem is the pattern isn't flashy and doesn't catch fishermen as much as the more gaudy patterns. I believe in black topwaters at night, black spinnerbaits in muddy water and night, anything imitating a bug or craw in black, float and fly black fly, black chatterbaits, and black spinners when conditions are clear and bright. Basically black patterns stand out in low visibility, but look natural in good visibility.

If you look at the native range of the chain pickerel, it overlaps the densist part of the American eels' migration. In the old days there was always a connection between big pickerel and eels. In ponds known for big pickerel, the eels were so numerous that they could be caught through the ice on live minnows. That is unheard of today. There is also stories of people seeing the eels and their slime trails in the woods, on their migratory crusade. Further evidence I think is how pickerel react so aggressively to a snakey, erratic presentation- throw one of those slug go ss fished erratically and the pickerel will go nuts. The American eel run is a shell of what it has been historically, and has been for decades.

The habitat preference of pickerel and largemouth mostly overlap, but on one end you have largemouth which will often go to main lake, open water spots, and with pickerel they will go even further into the weeds than largemouth, shallow swamps, back of marinas, etc. When they are together they will go for the same prey, I agree that in lakes with a lot of good cover and a consistent forage base you see quality pickerel and big bass. Usually it is a lake big enough to naturally resist overpopulating and stunting. The stunted pickerel can be a real problem in some ponds. I have a theory it may be due to years of poor eel runs.

Ok, well I won't go to the tackle box every spot, if it is obvious that good spots seem empty, then I will try something else and then maybe if that is successful backtrack to those 'empty' spots. The river I live near now, the challenge is the big bite. So I may be getting bites on something, but have to decide if I want to try something else to draw a bigger bite or continue what I am doing (where there is still some potential for a big bite).

Night fish don't count.. hehehe

Yes, but you can usually cover water on any river. I think bigger rivers you can actually slow down more and soak each spot more thoroughly, any moment a fish could swing in from somewhere else. A small river that you can cast across and see each pool, it's less likely that pool is going to suddenly show a fish after you have already initially tried.

Thanks for bumping my old thread...I have something to add, I got into some big smallies on a blade bait, but in July.

I rarely go to finesse in a river. Sometimes for example low water, mid summer, bluebird sky, I will use a tube. Otherwise I am always starting with a presentation that will allow me to cover water, draw some reactions, and then adjust if needed. For bank fishing that is usually a spinner or spinnerbait. You might go to the river after a time away, and find there is some x factor you have to deal with, like high water, floating weeds, etc

Smallmouth love live worms. Worms are easier to keep alive than minnows, easier to find than helgramites, and stay on a hook better than crayfish. The best presentation will be with the worm near the bottom. Even directly on the bottom, a cruising smallie will find it on their patrol. If you want to use a drop shot, I would suggest a short line to sinker. Otherwise a basic Carolina rig/ catfish rig will work. Cast it out and wait for a take.

Troll walleye crankbaits

I have a fishing buddy that years back got big into swim baits. Really big swimbaits. Keep in mind we were fishing in MA not CA or FL. I used to say things like 'what are you gonna catch on that?' After showing me 4lb+ fish on almost every outing, I don't talk anymore. So yes, big baits will help get big bass

Look at the striped bass market

Where I grew up on a main-lake island, when the sunrise was very bright and would immediately trigger a stiff breeze, that was kind of a bad omen. Also sometimes lure choice would matter. Go-to would always be a walk bait, but once in a while it would be a popper day. As a general rule, if the top water bite is on, usually you know quick. If it is slow but still top water conditions try a different top water lure.

It's wind from the east, fishings least.

Chain pickerel react very strongly to an erratic jerkbait, like original rapala, etc. There will always be some shallow but try outside weededges to. In heavy weeds you can get the same kind of bite with a weightless fluke t rig fished erratically.

Wind from the south blows bait into the basses mouth

With New England weather especially this season, the only thing consistent is the instability. Post frontal is prime time to look for inflows/tributaries, even just a little trickle of runoff is enough to position fish around it. I personally like if it is a stalled or extended front, and you can get out in the mist or light drizzle.

Big browns

I used to get big ones in some New Hampshire lakes, well over two pounds. They are a very strong fighting fish at that size. In Winnipesaukee where the state record was caught, they would get as big as the smallmouth, 2-3lbs or more. Sometimes deep crankbaits would get them.

A think a good tip to help with the jump losses, is add another o ring to each treble. Now when a big smallie jumps with an easily leveraged lure like a whopper plopper, it's just gonna get hooked up more.

Can confirm white perch.

Other species from a trip North:

Lol but sadly you will probably encounter such situations along any major urban river in the states. Be aware and watch your back