River Smallmouth Fishing?

[ToadTorcher]

How many people on here fish river smallmouth? I'm not talking Mississippi type water ways, but more along the lines of small, wade-able rivers.

 

I recently moved to Wisconsin after living in Florida for the majority of my life, so I'm somewhat new to it, but have been at it for a solid three years now and really enjoy it! 

 

Three or so weeks ago, me and buddy went on a smallie fishing spree and over the course of two days caught close to 150 fish: Close to 15 of which being in the 17 - 20 inch range.  

 

However, since then we've been lucky to get 10 in a 4 hour trip and really haven't been able to get back on them. We're still throwing the 'ol reliable 3" tube and 4" senko and fishing the same holes that were so productive through those two days. 

 

So why do you think the fishing has slowed down so substantially? The water level has dropped a foot from then but has been steady for a couple days and the fishing still hasn't been great. Did we just fish the place out or do you think we need to change something up perhaps? 

 

Wucha think, and what do you do when facing with similar circumstances? 

[bass1980]

Sorry I can't help you on the question but I must say WI is one hell of a state for Smallies. I'm from MN and we have areas with nice Smallies but the size is not a big as WI's Smallies.

[Scott F]

There could be a lot of reasons for the drop in catch rates. When the water drops a foot in a river that is already shallow enough for you to wade in, that's huge. That alone would move fish. Other fishermen might have been fishing that same stretch right before you. They may have only moved a short distance or spread out. Some days, they'll be in slow water, some days fast water. A change in water temps will move them around. Some days, they are active when you are there some days they aren't. Keep at it. Try a few different baits and some new water. You can't expect to catch them like you did every day. I wish it worked like that.

[mod479]

If the water level dropped suddenly, bass sense this and may have moved to the safety of deeper water until things stabalize. With time they'll probably come back to those areas, depends on current, oxygen levels, water temp, forage...etc. I'd start exploring new areas of the river since you can wade it. The bass will move around over the course of the day, they will tend to seek out cooler, oxygenated waters (think deep pools) when it is real hot. Be stealthy, wear camo, and always be moving upstream. The big ones don't get that size being dumb and will spook easy in little rivers.

 

One tip: You've got lower water levels, when this happens up here in NNY, I break out the topwaters. Grab a skitterprop in the frog color, or a clear zara puppy. (swap out the hooks)      

[smalljaw67]

I fish the Susquehanna and Juniata rivers a good bit, what you discovered is what happens a lot in rivers and that is the fish tend to move a lot. I was on the Juniata 2 weeks ago and we only managed 12 fish but most were over 14" with 2 other them over the 20" mark. Check your weather and find the NOAA website and look to see if you can find the stream gauge for the water you fish, look to see if the water is falling, rising, or holding steady, you will be able to tell as a solid line represents what the water was and currently is at followed by a dotted line showing the prediction, you can usually tell what the river is going to do 4 to 5 days in advance. If the water was falling and the weather is hot look for the fish to move away from slack or slow moving water and into deeper riffles, the riffles are important this time of year in shallow rivers as that is where the most oxygenated water is going to be, also look to deeper pools but only the ones with an eddy forming directly above or below as there has to be an area where food will get brought in but still have a place for the fish to lay without fighting current. If the water is rising due to rains look toward the deep cut banks, and where shallow meets deep with any type of current break such as a boulder, deadfall, or eddy but most times they will move to the bank. I hope this helps, good luck.

[38 Super Fan]

I'll second the fish the riffles tip, that's where I've been catching them lately down here.

[ToadTorcher]

Awesome thanks for the tips guys! Makes sense to fish the fallow riffles... we've been fishing the deeper pools thinking that they'd be seeking at the deeper water since the over all water level is falling. 

[Gavin]

Active fish are usually near riffle areas in the summertime. When they are inactive...they tend to drop into the deep holes near riffles. Look for current, shade, and a changes in bank and bottom structure and you will find the active fish...If its low and clear...long casts...Fish faster baits until you find them...Walkers, Buzzers, Flukes, shallow cranks...follow up with some plastics. Good luck.

 

 

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[Curved]

Good reading.

 

I just want to toss in that since in most of the holes there might be as few as 10 bass schooled up and they don't always move a long ways, the next time you fish that hole, they might be the same 10 fish, including the ones you caught. I let my holes sit for a couple weeks between trips so the bass don't feel overly pressured. Like I'll work upstream of my put-in one day and then downstream the next time. Maybe I'll switch to another creek or part of the river entirely. I think you could try some new water and let those spots sit for a while.

 

Also I feel like the big fish are intuitive to when someone's fishing them. Camo, stealth, and long casts I do feel contribute to a higher catch rate. In some spots that get a lot of fishermen, I've seen the big girls come out of their hole (a good 30+ yards away), swim around like they're looking for someone, find me, look at me for a few seconds, and then swim off away from their hole. I haven't seen many smaller fish do that ... but 18+ inch ones, sure.

[Basshammer]

I fished Wisconsin river last year, my wife is from there and was smallie fishing but all i caught were Walleye.  They seem to be faster and more hungry than the smallmouth, but had a blast great fun.  Plenty of lakes to fish in wisconsin also.

[The Young Gun]

Sorry I can't help you on the question but I must say WI is one hell of a state for Smallies. I'm from MN and we have areas with nice Smallies but the size is not a big as WI's Smallies.

I live in north Wisconsin.. And the small river smallies here are the toughest fighters around. My avatar came from a river that's 20 yards wide, she ate a Cavitron buzzbait right after I zipped it past the rock she was behind..

[The Young Gun]

Sorry I can't help you on the question but I must say WI is one hell of a state for Smallies. I'm from MN and we have areas with nice Smallies but the size is not a big as WI's Smallies.

I live in north Wisconsin.. And the small river smallies here are the toughest fighters around. My avatar came from a river that's 20 yards wide, she ate a Cavitron buzzbait right after I zipped it past the rock she was behind..

[Crookedneck]

This time of year can be tough, but in as short as a few weeks can turn into a feeding frenzy. The weather in this part of WI has been changing drastically in short periods. On Wednesday we had 90 degrees & on Thurday it was 50 degrees there have been several storms too. The smallies have been hanging close to cover in the rivers and streams. Your lure presentations have to be slow & accurate.

A couple techniques working for me a walk the dog type top water. Twitch it 3 times let it sit 5-6 seconds before moving it.

Upsizing your Senkos to 5" two colors black & baby bass. Cast it let it drift in the current. When it hits the bottom let it sit 10 seconds. 1 little twitch. Let it sit. Repeat.

Concentrate on 1 piece of cover at a time. Make several cast to it if needed. Rocks, current breaks, clumps of grass. Right now work it slow and you will be rewarded.

Once the water temps start to drop & the fall pattern starts to develope change over to crank baits and hold on.

Good luck & post some pics!

[redeye1234@aol.com]

I am looking for information on float fishing the Staunton river for smallmouth bass. Putin & takeout areas, distances, rapids, best water levels, etc. I have a raft that I use to float. Any information is greatly appreciated.

[wademaster1]

River bass fishing is my favorite thing to do at this point....

 

If you think you aren't catching the number of fish you should be, change baits.....I throw cranks a lot....good luck!