What is the science behind larger smallmouth being so difficult to catch in the summer?

[Ohioguy25]

Is it simply because they become sluggish from the extreme temps and their metabolism slows as it does in winter, or do they go deep to cool off? If the latter, wouldn’t they still need to feed in current like the rest of them? I ask because after the cold front we experienced, I caught two trophies back to back last night. One was just shy of 20 and the other was 18.5. I know it has to be the cooler water I’m just wondering what the exact mechanism of action is.

[MickD]

It is my opinion, not science, that the problem is in finding them.

[Ohioguy25]

8 minutes ago, MickD said:

It is my opinion, not science, that the problem is in finding them.

Wouldn’t they be feeding where the other fish are?

[MickD]

I guess if you can find the other fish and not the big ones, the answer is no.

 

If you are finding the other fish in shallow then I think there may not be big ones with them.  I think the big ones stay deeper, the little ones are shallow.  But in some waters smallies of any size in summer are very hard to find.  

[Ohioguy25]

11 minutes ago, MickD said:

I guess if you can find the other fish and not the big ones, the answer is no.

 

If you are finding the other fish in shallow then I think there may not be big ones with them.  I think the big ones stay deeper, the little ones are shallow.  But in some waters smallies of any size in summer are very hard to find.  

Interesting, so in other words big fish generally don’t feed in current post-spawn.  

[cyclops2]

Do not feel too bad. The fall feed is ON !!  But still no SMB of any size.   Lots of Rock, Perch & big Sunfish.    I am happy on a Rapala & 4 # mono   ?

[MGF]

Talking river fishing here but last week in the raging heat I caught a bunch of big (for this river). By "big" I mean 18" or so. That was last Sat. and Sun. I fished the same area Wednesday evening and caught only smaller fish...15 inchers.

 

Last Sat and Sun were almost identical weather but they were very different fishing days. I caught many more fish on Sat and they were far more aggressive. I did manage to catch a couple nice ones Sun but the mood was completely different. I have no idea why. I suppose there was less bait in the area but I don't know why or where it would have gone.

[TnRiver46]

Hot summer days are one of the best times to catch big river smallies . No science , the shallower the better! 
 

 

[Sphynx]

Here's the thing about obesity, it's hard to obtain if your exceptionally active, most of the fat fish we catch are the least active fish in the water body, and in order to catch them they have to be willing to expend the energy to attack our lure, and do it before a more active fish decides to do it first, that's before any of the theory about what percentage of the fish are feeding or willing to feed in the first place. 

[Tatsu Dave]

9 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hot summer days are one of the best times to catch big river smallies . No science , the shallower the better! 
 

Agreed been my experience at least. I find the truly nice fish (I go by weight and consider 2 1/2lbs and up large) to be found more often around a piece of structure in the current. We have spots we check every trip on rivers we fish, last trip a couple days ago we found that to be the case. Trees or laydowns/ stick-ups/ sunken logs can be real productive now as they feed up as water temps drop. One of the best spots has produced 4lb'ers in the last month of fishing. They LOVE crawfish and plastics that mimic them. Good Fishing.....now is the time up north here.

[MickD]

12 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Interesting, so in other words big fish generally don’t feed in current post-spawn.  

I didn't say that.  I think smb always like some current, regardless of size.  But there may not be any big ones around.  They may have some other place they like better than where you are looking.  You are also assuming there are some big fish.  Maybe not.   The only thing I know for sure is that if there are big ones in the system, they will be where the bait is.  Now, where is the bait?  

[Ohioguy25]

3 hours ago, MickD said:

I didn't say that.  I think smb always like some current, regardless of size.  But there may not be any big ones around.  They may have some other place they like better than where you are looking.  You are also assuming there are some big fish.  Maybe not.   The only thing I know for sure is that if there are big ones in the system, they will be where the bait is.  Now, where is the bait?  

Well I seem to target all of the prime areas where most of the other fish are feeding so there is obv plenty of bait there. I think the big fish are there and just too fat and slow to chase a swim bait, especially once it hits 80+ degrees.

[Sphynx]

14 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Hot summer days are one of the best times to catch big river smallies . No science , the shallower the better! 
 

 

Is it that there's no science, or is it that we simply aren't smart enough to identify the influences and causes that affect bass behavior at this time of year? I personally lean towards the latter option, but it is just possible that some day we might...I also hope that there are some mysteries with regards to fishing that we don't ever solve, the mystery contributes to the fun for me.

[cyclops2]

The big fish NEED LOTS more food.  SOOO   They travel around to many spots. In all different water conditions.  The bait moves?  They move also.  Life

[TnRiver46]

57 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

Is it that there's no science, or is it that we simply aren't smart enough to identify the influences and causes that affect bass behavior at this time of year? I personally lean towards the latter option, but it is just possible that some day we might...I also hope that there are some mysteries with regards to fishing that we don't ever solve, the mystery contributes to the fun for me.

Well there’s lots of science but you don’t need to know or apply much of it to catch a shallow River smallmouth on a hot summer day. They’ve got to eat 

[Sphynx]

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Well there’s lots of science but you don’t need to know or apply much of it to catch a shallow River smallmouth on a hot summer day. They’ve got to eat 

That's definitely true, add in a tube and it's almost cheating too

[MickD]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I think the big fish are there and just too fat and slow to chase a swim bait,

I have not found any smb that was too fat and slow to chase a swim bait.  

[A-Jay]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 I think the big fish are there and just too fat and slow to chase a swim bait, 

Not sure what 'big fish' size we are talking right here,

but I've got a bit of video that shows some fairly respectable brown bass

clearing the surface by two and tree feet.

They may be fat but definitely not slow. 

#sixplus

Fish Hard

A-Jay

 

 

 

[T-Billy]

41 minutes ago, MickD said:

I have not found any smb that was too fat and slow to chase a swim bait.  

My PB river smallie was an incredibly fat 5-14 that CRUSHED a sassy shad with about 6' of line out. Talk about a handful!!! There was nothing slow about that fish, and it was about to burst at the seams. Early Nov. water in the high 40's to boot.

[OldManLure]

You mention “extreme heat”, and it’s unclear if you’re referring to air or water temp.  I’ve always caught bigger fish in warm water conditions.  Water temp on Upper Potomac during summer is typically 83-84*.  A week ago, air temps were in mid 90s, during a 4 1/2 hr float I boated a number of smallies with 5 measuring 18 1/2” or better, including a new personal best of 21 3/4”.  Caught all of them on topwater.  Several had minnows in their mouth, and one was still working down a crawfish.  The science, I believe, is that they go where there is an abundance of easy food.  They typically are not going to burn more energy than what their meals provide.  

[TnRiver46]

Science: smallmouth bass (micropterus dolomieu) are poikilotherms. Therefore the warmer the water, the faster their metabolism. So the hotter it gets the more they must eat 

[cyclops2]

I am still at 74 F  surface. Most Baitfish schools are right at surface sunrise to midday. Then the go to the bottom layer.   2 feet in 13 feet of weedy bottom.

[Tatsu Dave]

On 9/3/2021 at 6:49 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

Interesting, so in other words big fish generally don’t feed in current post-spawn.

I catch my fish sheltering from current with rocks/wood/or structure a few inches from the current. 

21 hours ago, Sphynx said:

That's definitely true, add in a tube and it's almost cheating too

Yeah the tube and crawfish style baits slay them this time of year. They are not slowed down or hiding just waiting for the next meal to come along. We are catching a lot of river SM right now, they make up a larger % of our catch then LM this month. Keep looking and offer them a tasty looking treat........carried past them by the current. Fish Harder

[cyclops2]

The Delaware river USED to be FANTASTIC SMB  river with  solid rock bottom,  ledges & bridge piers. The bass & channel cats were behind every current break possible.  Waders & walking were all that was needed. Then the luxury homes & development came. All the dirt & small road chips were washed into the river. Filled in everything.  There is nothing left.  Progress spells death to fish in waterways.  All the lawn treatment pesticides & herbicides. I have not fished  the pebble smooth riverbed for years. I had hooked a 24 to 30" Stripped Bass at night under the bridge.  I panicked as I put my whole hand deep into mouth & gullet to unhook the tiny Rapala. About 60 mile from salt water.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

The Delaware river USED to be FANTASTIC SMB  river with  solid rock bottom,  ledges & bridge piers. The bass & channel cats were behind every current break possible.  Waders & walking were all that was needed. Then the luxury homes & development came. All the dirt & small road chips were washed into the river. Filled in everything.  There is nothing left.  Progress spells death to fish in waterways.  All the lawn treatment pesticides & herbicides. I have not fished  the pebble smooth riverbed for years. I had hooked a 24 to 30" Stripped Bass at night under the bridge.  I panicked as I put my whole hand deep into mouth & gullet to unhook the tiny Rapala. About 60 mile from salt water.

 

 

Cheer up buddy!!