I know nothing

[zpelletier]

There’s a river behind where I live, very popular for fly fishing (which I’m not trying to get into yet.) It gets stocked with trout every year, and in the spring it’s pretty common to look up and down the river and see people every 25 feet. But I have no idea how to fish in a river, no clue at all. I would love to catch some smallmouth as I’ve only ever caught one (totally by accident, fishing a pond I know has largemouth and I was surprised when I pulled it out of the water.) I feel like there has to be some smallmouth in there, or at least a little down the river where it gets deeper. Any advice would be great, I don’t even know where to start (or links to videos that have good information would be appreciated!) 

[islandbass]

The first thing you can do that might help is to verify that there are smallmouth in the river system. In WA state, our reg booklet usually list the fish species that are in a given body of water. I would suspect there are smallmouth in your river but it doesn’t hurt to confirm it, lol. 
 

Do you already have the fishing gear? If so what kind? For example, spinning or casting gear? Many smallmouth fishing (and lmb fishing) can be done adequately with both but other techniques are better done by one over the other. 
 

I would next recommend doing searches here for smallmouth fishing techniques and decide on a few you’d like to try. The drop shot, tubes, and Texas rigged plastics are a fair options to try. Floats and hair jigs sometime later down the road too. 
 

Also, do as much research on that river as you can. Take the time to learn about features in a river fish will tend to gravitate to. Pools, river bends, rocky bottoms, where changes in water current occur, etc. And take the time to scout your river out on foot, looking for such features. 
 

As much as I love both reel types, especially spinning for finesse type fishing, for some reason, I simply prefer baitcasters in rivers when possible. Just last night I was fishing for salmon in a river with jigs, and all I had on me was spinning gear and I felt the time I lost pulling line to the rod and opening the bail (and sometimes the bail is in a position that opening might take a second) and then cast was costing me precious time whereas with a baitcaster, as soon as you reel in your lure, depress the thumb button and cast. This is relatively minor, but ooohhh I felt like those few seconds cost me. The jigs from others casting can scatter the schools and they’re already gone when I release cast, lol. 
 

Good luck! Before you know, you’ll be the one giving future newbies advice. ??

[WRB]

In-Fisherman did a early edition study report on Rivers, how to read water. I will take a look to see if I saved it?

Smallmouth bass are river bass that thrive in current similar to trout. Fast moving water has seams where faster meets slow water current, this is where bass like to be positioned facing into the current.

Anything that breaks up the current or creates eddies attract bass, so learning how to read water is very important.

Keep in mine fish face into the current so your lure should come towards them running down current.

Tom 

PS, couldn’t locate the I-F study report.

 

[OldManLure]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

In-Fisherman did a early edition study report on Rivers, how to read water. I will take a look to see if I saved it?

Smallmouth bass are river bass that thrive in current similar to trout. Fast moving water has seams where faster meets slow water current, this is where bass like to be positioned facing into the current.

Anything that breaks up the current or creates eddies attract bass, so learning how to read water is very important.

Keep in mine fish face into the current so your lure should come towards them running down current.

Tom 

PS, couldn’t locate the I-F study report.

 

I also used to believe that lures should be retrieved with current.  Over the years I have caught significantly more smallmouth retrieving across the current or against the current than ‘with’ it.  In fact, just today, I caught 12 smallies, including an 18” and a 20 1/2”, retrieving a spinner bait across the current or upstream.   I have no idea which way they were facing, but they saw my lure.

[WRB]

Current breaks create eddies reversing the current. Cast up stream eventually requires retrieving cross stream and upstream. Casting down stream means the lure is only running upstream.

Gotta get the basics down before fine tuning your presentations.

I still think In-Fisherman articles on river Smallmouth is a good resource.

Tom

[zpelletier]

5 hours ago, islandbass said:

The first thing you can do that might help is to verify that there are smallmouth in the river system. In WA state, our reg booklet usually list the fish species that are in a given body of water. I would suspect there are smallmouth in your river but it doesn’t hurt to confirm it, lol. 
 

Do you already have the fishing gear? If so what kind? For example, spinning or casting gear? Many smallmouth fishing (and lmb fishing) can be done adequately with both but other techniques are better done by one over the other. 
 

I would next recommend doing searches here for smallmouth fishing techniques and decide on a few you’d like to try. The drop shot, tubes, and Texas rigged plastics are a fair options to try. Floats and hair jigs sometime later down the road too. 
 

Also, do as much research on that river as you can. Take the time to learn about features in a river fish will tend to gravitate to. Pools, river bends, rocky bottoms, where changes in water current occur, etc. And take the time to scout your river out on foot, looking for such features. 
 

As much as I love both reel types, especially spinning for finesse type fishing, for some reason, I simply prefer baitcasters in rivers when possible. Just last night I was fishing for salmon in a river with jigs, and all I had on me was spinning gear and I felt the time I lost pulling line to the rod and opening the bail (and sometimes the bail is in a position that opening might take a second) and then cast was costing me precious time whereas with a baitcaster, as soon as you reel in your lure, depress the thumb button and cast. This is relatively minor, but ooohhh I felt like those few seconds cost me. The jigs from others casting can scatter the schools and they’re already gone when I release cast, lol. 
 

Good luck! Before you know, you’ll be the one giving future newbies advice. ??

 

I did double check, there are smallmouth in this river. The state website confirmed it and I checked on Fishbrain and saw people posted pictures of smallmouth. 

 

I have a light spinning rod, a medium spinning rod, and a medium heavy baitcaster. Ive been catching largemouth in local ponds this past summer with chatterbaits, a couple swim jigs, senkos, whopper ploppers, ned rigs, and crankbaits. I am somewhat confident in ponds and small lakes, but bank fishing in most of the ponds around here is difficult as they are typically mostly overgrown and surrounded by trees, leaving only small areas accessible to fish from. The river has a lot more places to fish from, but I don't know where fish like to hang out and what baits work well, as well as technique for fishing in current. 

 

 

I appreciate all the responses and everyone willing to share their knowledge. 

[Chris Catignani]

17 hours ago, zpelletier said:

 

I did double check, there are smallmouth in this river. The state website confirmed it and I checked on Fishbrain and saw people posted pictures of smallmouth. 

 

I have a light spinning rod, a medium spinning rod, and a medium heavy baitcaster. Ive been catching largemouth in local ponds this past summer with chatterbaits, a couple swim jigs, senkos, whopper ploppers, ned rigs, and crankbaits. I am somewhat confident in ponds and small lakes, but bank fishing in most of the ponds around here is difficult as they are typically mostly overgrown and surrounded by trees, leaving only small areas accessible to fish from. The river has a lot more places to fish from, but I don't know where fish like to hang out and what baits work well, as well as technique for fishing in current. 

 

 

I appreciate all the responses and everyone willing to share their knowledge. 

Good luck on the river...

Now (like Shultzy would say) "Maybe I know something."

 

[billmac]

Current breaks or seams. Deeper pools near shallow water.  Any kind of structure.  Even weeds or pads.  Weeds aren't usually ideal smallie structures, but as long as you're there, why not?  Honestly, this is how I would fish rivers for virtually any kind of fish.

[zpelletier]

20 hours ago, WRB said:

In-Fisherman did a early edition study report on Rivers, how to read water. I will take a look to see if I saved it?

Smallmouth bass are river bass that thrive in current similar to trout. Fast moving water has seams where faster meets slow water current, this is where bass like to be positioned facing into the current.

Anything that breaks up the current or creates eddies attract bass, so learning how to read water is very important.

Keep in mine fish face into the current so your lure should come towards them running down current.

Tom 

PS, couldn’t locate the I-F study report.

 

So I should cast up river and retrieve with the current? 

[cyclops2]

Best direction.  But very difficult to feel a hit. The flyrod guys have surface floats that signal a lure has been stopped. Possible fish.   A SMB on a flyrod ??  Waahh   HOOO  

?

[Spankey]

I prefer fishing a rocky point of some type that has a deep water drop off to a channel. Or find structure along the bank, rock, wood or combination of that where it drops off to deeper water. Been a river rat my whole life, caught them in inches of water and in 15 feet of water but I find they relate to where shallow water drops off deeper rather quickly. 
 

But if I were a betting guy, there are Smallies all over that river relating to all structures and current breaks. All rivers are different but they must share some common traits. 

[cyclops2]

Where are the baby lobsters. Where are large & small schools of baitfish.

Where do large insects hatch out in great numbers . Usually weeds & muddy areas. 

Can I use real meat now ??  I am getting tired of boat trips and falling asleep in the chair.

The fish are keying in on 1/2" rubber insects more than the Rapalas.  Very odd.

ALL fish are so full there are tails of food hanging out of their mouth.

 

 

[MassBass]

Current is the key. If that river is fast or slow, tactics will differ. For example, in a slow shallow river, finding a narrow stretch with current and depth is great. There is only so much you can learn from text, I recommend you cover as much water as you can with a search bait, for example one day go as far upriver as possible, and back; the next day go far downriver, and back. You will find different current and cover situations and even different main river features. Hopefully you get some bites to then you can start really reading the water.

[WRB]

A few popular Smallmouth River lures are Rebel medium size wee crawdad, Major Craft Zoner Hunter Crawdad color and 3/16 Single blade spinnerbait in white/chartreuse.

Tom

[Chris Catignani]

I grew up wading...we always waded up stream as to not disturb the next hole/spot. 

Those river smallies will just about hit anything. I had a short 5'6" Lamiglass rod.

The short rod made it easier to cast under the trees.

One thing for certain...My #1 absolute go to lure was a motor oil colored 4" Slider worm.

Rigged just like this.

[Cdn Angler]

My go to for SMB in this is to throw the smallest, shallowest diving crankbaits, cast downstream, retrieve just so it doesn't get snagged.  Has basically never failed.

[JWall14]

On 9/19/2021 at 4:36 PM, zpelletier said:

So I should cast up river and retrieve with the current? 

Yes. Always wade upstream and let the current bring your bait to the fish. It’s the most natural way to present a bait to them. Keep in mind you may need to reel a little more to keep up with the current moving your bait more than you plan.

[JWall14]

Also if your river has crawfish please do yourself a favor and throw a Ned rig. It is the best bait for catching numbers in a river. Also make sure to cover water. If you aren’t getting bit or seeing fish after a few casts it is time to move on.

[cyclops2]

River SMB & even Channel Cats will chase & bite anything going up or down. Their first job is to catch it. Mouth it. Then decide what to do with it.

[MassBass]

I also don't think you should get too hung up on casting angle. Forage like helgramites and bugs naturally kind of drift down current, but prey fish in the river can swim up, down, or across. A cast straight across current can be very productive. Disoriented or fleeing baitfish will flee any way they can, whether that is up current or down. River herring swim up current when they migrate. The answer really is try different casting angles when you can.    

[Spankey]

On 9/21/2021 at 7:26 PM, Cdn Angler said:

My go to for SMB in this is to throw the smallest, shallowest diving crankbaits, cast downstream, retrieve just so it doesn't get snagged.  Has basically never failed.

Great approach. CB’s are a big part of my river Smallie fishing. I’ve gotten away from throwing a lot of the smaller baits a long time ago. I like to make a banging bottom contact or at least have that ability. I use to throw the smaller Rebel, Mann’s and the Rapalas. But I’ve long ago opted to step up the size. Example the Bomber model 8a will nail a 10”

Smallie as well as an 18”. But I do realize we all are fishing different river conditions and depths. And there is no right or wrong to one approach. 

[PaulVE64]

Since its your first time hunting smallies you probably dont want to buy alot of useless lures.

Get a rattling crankbait in a shad pattern, some green pumpkin tubes with jig heads 3/16 to 3/8 oz depending on current. The only other lure you need is a bag of 4" senkos or yum dingers in watermelon red flake.

 

You'e going to love it.