Summer Wading

[Mobasser]

Since it always seems like there's not enoupgh time to trailer our canoe or boat to the lake in the evenings, I've started wading again, on evening fishing trips.                       I have both hip, and chest waders that I've owned for years. The hip waders are not bad for summer fishing, but my chest waders are way too hot. With our temps getting near 90 here, and high humidity, I just wear an old pair of cutoffs, and cheap canvas tennis shoes. I've rigged a 4" x 6"small Plano flat sided box, which holds everything I need for a 2hr fishing trip, and clips to a beltloop on my cutoffs. I recently picked up a fishing vest which has a mesh back, and should work well for packing tackle also.             Wading for bass is great fun. One rod/reel and a few baits is really all you need. It's a laid back, old school approach, but can be very effective also.                         When you wade out say 20ft from the bank, you get an entirely new perspective as opposed to standing on the bank. You can hit targets with your cast, that you couldn't hit before. I discovered a good spot this way the other evening, along a bank on the opposite side of a cove I've fished from the bank many times. I'm still not sure exactly what's under the water at this spot?                    The important thing was I was able to easily hit this area with short accurate cast, as opposed to heaving long cast to get my bait in the strike zone.               I think wading, for bass fishing anyway, has fallen out of favor with many anglers. I don't see too many guys doing it anymore. I think it was probably more popular years ago, before so many huge impoundments were built.                                                    We do have some snakes here in Missouri, but they'll usually always leave you alone if you leave them alone. And, we don't have any gators or other critters which can cause trouble while your wading.                             For the bank fisherman who feel bummed about not owning a boat, you might try wading for bass. You'll quickly realize that it can work very well.                                     About the time the shadows start to fall over the water, and the big bullfrogs start to croak, I usually tie on my old Storm Chug Bug, and quietly work the weed edges. My grandson likes to call this " the magic time". I think that summs it up very well .                       Is anyone else wading any small lakes, rivers, or creeks this summer?                                                Tell me about your setup, baits, and if you've noticed an increase in your catch rates since you started wading for bass.                                                                                            

[OkobojiEagle]

When just wanting to get a little away from the shore brush I pull on a pair of 15" rubber chore boots.  When wanting to get a little deeper in warm water it's twill pants tucked into a pair of wading boots to help manage the small leeches.  I also will fish from my belly boat with flippers.  Lots of ways to get at bass in small waters.

 

oe

[The Bassman]

My fishing roots come from wading creeks for smallmouth. Knee and ankle problems have made it much more difficult the past few years. Shorts and sneakers would suffice in the water temps I fished in. A cheap vest, med light spinning gear, and a few small buzzbaits, paddletails, and jigs and I was all set. Very much miss those outings.

[PhishLI]

I wade a bunch of local "no boats" spots. Breathable stockingfoot waders are tolerable in the heat. Thin over the calf dress socks and super lightweight Orvis shorts help with keeping cool. i use Simms.

 

All baits are on the table. Everything. I bring up to 6 rigs that I keep at the bank and exchange as needed. Some places it's one or two. If I'm roaming down a bank the unused rigs will be propped in a tree. I wade at night more than anything. It's weird at first, and a completely different world, but a total blast. Love it.

 

Everything changed once I started wading lakes that I was sure were fished out or devoid of bass. It's the single best investment I've made.

[Scott F]

My smallmouth club currently has around 300 members. I'd say about half wade most or a lot of the time. The other half uses canoes or kayaks, but I think almost everybody does some wading for smallies. It's only a small percentage that use powered boats exclusively.

[Tennessee Boy]

When I was a teenager,  I spent most of my spare time wading creeks during the Summer.  Had a lot of fun and caught a bunch of fish.  I never caught a smallmouth over 2 pounds but man did a catch a lot of them.  Most were very small but I don't think I ever got skunked.  Can't say that about lake fishing.

[RoLo]

 

Wade-fishing is a great way to access low-pressure areas.

When necessary, I'll use the chest waders used for duck hunting.

It's most exciting in the backwaters of tributary arms, during the spawn (bass & bluegills).

 

Roger

 

[Steveo-1969]

I do not own a boat or canoe or kayak and wade fishing is my jam! 12 months out of the year if the water level in my local river is safe for wading, then I'm wading. The rest of the time I'm shorefishing.

 

In warmer water I wear shorts and tennis shoes. In colder water I have breathable stocking foot waders with wading boots.

 

I only carry one rod, either a baitcaster or a spinning rod depending on my mood. I carry my tackle in a small over-the-shoulder tackle bag.

[Bassun]

I've been wade fishing for as long as I can remember.  Love-love-love it!  Good light action pole, light line and few key lures will keep you slamming smallies (and redeye) all day.  J5/J7 broken back Rapala, Tiny Torpedo, and a small blue/black spinner with an up-sized black Colorado blade - those three have done 90% of my work.  (4" Roboworms in motoroil, white grubs, and a few other toys get out occasionally) Honestly, 80% of the time I'm running Rapala's.  I did upgrade to some wading boots and a vest which is handy for carrying a hand net.

[Smells like fish]

I have always been a creek wading fisherman. Smallmouth is my fish. Up to neck deep water and sometimes a swim even. My reel is a 40-50 year old Garcia Mitchell 308 on a 5'6" shimano ul rod. 6 or 8# line. My lures of most success are the AC Shiner 250, Rebel Crickethopper, and the deadly Nedley. My biggest Smallmouth so far has been 20" in the creek. Best day was an early October morning when I caught 27 in less than 2 hours on the Crickethopper. That was probably a dozen years ago. 

[Bassun]

5 minutes ago, Smells like fish said:

I have always been a creek wading fisherman. Smallmouth is my fish. Up to neck deep water and sometimes a swim even. My reel is a 40-50 year old Garcia Mitchell 308 on a 5'6" shimano ul rod. 6 or 8# line. My lures of most success are the AC Shiner 250, Rebel Crickethopper, and the deadly Nedley. My biggest Smallmouth so far has been 20" in the creek. Best day was an early October morning when I caught 27 in less than 2 hours on the Crickethopper. That was probably a dozen years ago. 

I do love swapping the the AC Shiner below riffles.  IDK why it works so much better, but if I get a long run it tends to outpace even the Rapala.

[Smells like fish]

4 minutes ago, Bassun said:

I do love swapping the the AC Shiner below riffles.  IDK why it works so much better, but if I get a long run it tends to outpace even the Rapala.

I have probably 40 of the AC's... I'm definitely a fan!

[Tennessee Boy]

Watch this video and you'll understand the secret of the AC Shiner.

 

 

[Smells like fish]

Here's a story for you Mobasser. I was wading a section of stream I frequented often and was near the bank going to the next pothole Of water when I looked down in the silty bottom and saw something brick shaped but slightly larger. It was buried with only the shape noticeable. It was a double sided Plano box with a dog snap attached to wear it on your belt loop while wading. It had been there a year or more, I do not know how to judge it, the box looks very old and worn on the outside. Opening it up it contained 4 AC shiners. 4 Rebel crawdads, some soft plastic hellgrammites, a few blue fox spinning lures, several bitsy size cranks. It was truly a wade fishermans artifact. The box when opened was caked in silt and mud but I managed to clean and save every piece and have kept it unused and as a keepsake. 

 

 

[Mobasser]

Just now, Smells like fish said:

Here's a story for you Mobasser. I was wading a section of stream I frequented often and was near the bank going to the next pothole Of water when I looked down in the silty bottom and saw something brick shaped but slightly larger. It was buried with only the shape noticeable. It was a double sided Plano box with a dog snap attached to wear it on your belt loop while wading. It had been there a year or more, I do not know how to judge it, the box looks very old and worn on the outside. Opening it up it contained 4 AC shiners. 4 Rebel crawdads, some soft plastic hellgrammites, a few blue fox spinning lures, several bitsy size cranks. It was truly a wade fishermans artifact. The box when opened was caked in silt and mud but I managed to clean and save every piece and have kept it unused and as a keepsake. 

 

 

That's a lucky find for sure! It's also good you were able to save that stuff.

Not to get off topic too much, but what is it about the AC Shiner that you guys like? I've used Rapalas, Bang O Lures, Bombers etc. I've never had an AC Shiner. What makes it different or better?

[Smells like fish]

The paint job of the AC Shiner is different on some patterns but other than that it is your typical balsa minnow and just personal choice that I use them. My fishing mentor did and I do out of sentiment I suppose. I do love the rapalas, bang o's and Bombers too. Those 3 lures have also caught in that same creek.

[TnRiver46]

The best part about summer wading? Wearing shorts and tennis shoes royally angers all the trout guys. I love watching smoke come out of their ears when I wade. I can just hear them sitting by their $10,000 outdoor fireplace sipping Johnny Walker blue and saying “some %€<*+ waded through the river in tennis shoes and shorts! The nerve!!!”

[Tywithay]

I have chest waders and they're thin, but still hot. I just bought some water shoes and the wrangler cargo shorts made from the thin dri-fit material. I can wade for an hour or two and be dry by time I walk back to the truck.

[OkobojiEagle]

Guess you guys that wade in shorts must not have tiny leeches in your water or ticks on your shorelines.  Those buggers can get in places you'll have to be double jointed at the waist to eradicate them from...

 

oe

[Scott F]

In addition to leeches and ticks, we also wind up bushwhacking through areas filled with poison ivy that just loves guys wearing shorts. The rivers where I live also run through agricultural areas where cows leave fecal material as well as the thousands of resident Canadian geese leave behind their calling cards that can contain E. coli. Any little scratches you got coming through the bush, give bacteria an opening to infect you. I’m sticking with waders when I enter the river.

[Hower08]

If it wasn't for wading creeks and streams for smallies when I was a kid I would have never hardly swam. Now my son is 8 and he went wading for smallies for the first time last summer and has caught the bug as well

[Mr.Jackson]

I love wade fishing for smallmouth.Usually do a 2 mile stretch.Then walk the road back to the truck.My boys love it.

[bigbassin']

Wading has been my preferred method of fishing without a boat for several years now, so much water that is missed by bank anglers opens up if you are wading. I’ve caught 6 of the 7 black bass species while wading, and realistically don’t think I’d have been able to access smallmouth, shoal bass, or Suwanee bass water without wading to it.

 

Because of location, I’m typically targeting largemouth when I wade. 2-3 jigs, a bag of craw trailers, and a KVD 1.0 in orange/red are all I carry with. Jig will get the majority of the work, 1.0 will be used just to throw something different for a while more than anything.

 

Fighting a fish while in the water at their level also adds to the fun imo.

[TnRiver46]

9 hours ago, OkobojiEagle said:

Guess you guys that wade in shorts must not have tiny leeches in your water or ticks on your shorelines.  Those buggers can get in places you'll have to be double jointed at the waist to eradicate them from...

 

oe

Hahah! Ticks an leeches are just part of the fun...... mosquitos are always the worst, at least in the moment. And then there’s chiggers........

[FishinBuck07]

Been doing it my whole life!  Mesh shorts or swim trunks, and tennis shoes when I was younger, I now wear wading boots for the ankle support.  One rod and tackle is in a fly fishing vest!  Awesome way to fish for sure, love it when the water is so clear you can see the smallie you just hooked running towards you and he goes right between your legs, talk about dancing in the water!  haha