Do River Smallmouth Spread Out In Low Water Conditions?

[JacobB006]

Hi everyone. For the past 2 weeks I've been picking up some nice fish in ledges. They seem to have been stacked up pretty close together. But as the water got lower and cleared, I've had to cover some more water to catch the same numbers, with an average of 1-2 fish per ledge. I wasn't sure if it was the falling water levels or the rising water temperatures Does anyone else notice this pattern of smallmouth spreading out more in low water? Thanks

[TOXIC]

When I wade fished the Shenandoah it didn’t matter the season, I always found them in the deeper pools and eddys.  The warmer the water the deeper the pool, except in muddy water, then they went to the bank. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

In my river experience the answer is yes, they spread out when the water and current are low. I fish big rivers in Tennessee and when there is little current, the bass hang out at the deeper ends of the laydowns and rock piles. I rarely am able to catch anything close to the shore.

[JacobB006]

19 hours ago, TOXIC said:

When I wade fished the Shenandoah it didn’t matter the season, I always found them in the deeper pools and eddys.  The warmer the water the deeper the pool, except in muddy water, then they went to the bank. 

I agree with you there. Barring a flood event, the deeper holes and especially the eddys always have a fish or two in them. But the same doesn't apply to the shallows. No doubt they are there, but not in the same numbers as the deeper holes.

Although one day last August my boat did get on a good pattern of finding big fish (17"-20") in 1-2 feet of water along the banks on the shade-line of the trees, which got me wondering how often they get that shallow. Just another fishing mystery I will probably never learn the true answer to. 

[Reel]

I fish the St-Lawrence river and you can always find smallmouth in the shallows  (less than 6 feet of water) and you can see them... big fish !  There are also some that are deeper but they like to hang out in groups in shallow 70 degree water.  

[MassBass]

I think the opposite is true, low water condenses the fish, also makes pools and rips more defined, and makes it easier to wander the bank.

[PABASS]

In the Susquehanna River shallow water to me is less then a 1'. Typically big fish are loners when not in a feeding mood, however I have notice many times a wolfpack of 2-3 large smallies 16" plus together while in a feeding mode, typically lagging behind a large carp forging and stirring up small prey items or in a bait funnel area with current.

[Reel]

1 hour ago, PABASS said:

In the Susquehanna River shallow water to me is less then a 1'. Typically big fish are loners when not in a feeding mood, however I have notice many times a wolfpack of 2-3 large smallies 16" plus together while in a feeding mode, typically lagging behind a large carp forging and stirring up small prey items or in a bait funnel area with current.

 Most of the time the smallmouth where I fish are a little deeper ) 3 to 5 feet of crystal  clear water.  Almost all of them are big .. 3 to 5 pounds (and bigger) and group in larger packs from 4 to 8 or 9 individuals.  The will follow an eel as it ondulates on the bottom and feed.. mostly on gobies and craws.  I have seen groups as big as 20 to 25 fish ambushing perch in a bay.  The bottom is white marl so they are fairly easy to see for someone looking for them.  They were easy to catch 20 years ago but they are getting really difficult to catch these days. There are techniques that will make them bite but you have to work at it.

[wvsmallie]

I think so much depends on the river.  One of the rivers I fish is wide and shallow.  If the water drops even a foot, it can render entire areas too shallow to hold fish.  On this river low water concentrates fish and makes them easier to find. 

[flyfisher]

On 4/18/2023 at 9:13 AM, JacobB006 said:

Although one day last August my boat did get on a good pattern of finding big fish (17"-20") in 1-2 feet of water along the banks on the shade-line of the trees, which got me wondering how often they get that shallow. Just another fishing mystery I will probably never learn the true answer to. 

One of my best days on a small river here in VA, no more than 50' across, was when I was fishing exactly what you said, the shade line by trees.  It was ridiculous as anywhere else was not producing but those shade lines were the ticket.

[Tiger Stripes]

On 4/19/2023 at 12:55 PM, PABASS said:

In the Susquehanna River shallow water to me is less then a 1'. Typically big fish are loners when not in a feeding mood, however I have notice many times a wolfpack of 2-3 large smallies 16" plus together while in a feeding mode, typically lagging behind a large carp forging and stirring up small prey items or in a bait funnel area with current.

Would you think the same for carp breaking the surface? I fish falmouth boat launch on the susky a lot and have never seen carp break the surface the way they do there. I typically, always, avoid the spots with breeching carp but will have to take another look at it now. 

[PABASS]

Carp break the surface for three reasons I know of, clean there gills typically from mud, get a gulp of oxygen, spawning which you when know when that happens no bass with be near that process. 

 

When I target SMB chasing carp it will be just that, typically a single carp or a small group 2-3 forging, I can see the carp, I never see them breaching the surface when fishing this pattern.

With that said try it and see what happens, at the very least go over to the are and see what it looks like, I would "assume" its a muddy and not a good area for SMB.

 

 

[Susky River Rat]

14 hours ago, Jordan Seacat said:

Would you think the same for carp breaking the surface? I fish falmouth boat launch on the susky a lot and have never seen carp break the surface the way they do there. I typically, always, avoid the spots with breeching carp but will have to take another look at it now. 

There is a hole there from loading boats and protection from The current. I believe there is also some kind of spring in there as well. That’s why a lot of carp get caught there. Even more so in the winter.  It’s more of a pebble base right near there as well. When you get closer to the main channel it’s becomes more of the boulders. 

 

On 4/19/2023 at 12:46 PM, MassBass said:

I think the opposite is true, low water condenses the fish, also makes pools and rips more defined, and makes it easier to wander the bank.

It makes less water which makes less fish able to be in one area. High water no matter the water temp, all species of fish seem to push into the same areas.

[basscatcher8]

I fish the Illinois River for small mouth a lot. It's 20 feet maybe at it's deepest but cut out for barge traffic and all that. When the water drops and the current gets slow in the summer the fish most definitely spread out. To the point casting for them gets a bit much and I'll speed troll cranks on leadcore about 3-3.5 mph and locate fish that way. 

 

I've had other friends who have livescope on the boat at this time see fish that were actually suspended out in the channel only down a couple feet by themselves.