Do you feel like smallmouth fishing has gotten progressively worse over the last couple years?

[TnRiver46]

4 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

I thought like 99% of the fry don’t make it?

1% survival of 40,000 eggs for a fish that spawns 8 years = 3,200 smallmouth bass 

[MassBass]

Some years are successful spawns, some years are disastrous. Look at the striped bass. New emergency slot regulations to protect the 2015 class, the only robust spawn in decades. 

[flyfisher]

smallmouth spawns in rivers have a huge obstacle to overcome each year.  A rainstorm that raises river levels too high can wipe out a good chunk of a years class of smallies.  While yoiu may not see this impact right away, you will a few years down the road.  On my local river fishing has been slow for a few years but last year it was picking up and there were a lot more smaller fish, 6-10" than in years past and I know that wil lequate to big fish in a few years.  It's all cyclical nad nature has a way of figuring it all out.  

 

 

[Skunkmaster-k]

Smallmouth in my neck of the woods are doing great. 

[Dwight Hottle]

The smallmouth fishery across North America has produced more state records & trophy fish caught than I have seen over the last fifty years. Small water systems might be declining in some areas but the large water systems are holding their own. 

[JMac603]

I'm more annoyed by everyone having a camera and wanting to be a YouTuber since covid made them so much money. 

[PaulVE64]

In my waters it takes a smallie 12-15 years to reach 20"

[Susky River Rat]

The susky is catch and release only from sunbury to the MD line. There was s time not that long ago the smallies were hurting big time. People sold their boats. Bait shops closed up. People from out of state stopped coming here.

[drakesndrum]

I think it may depend on the body of water, or even certain parts of a body of water.  My primary two rivers are vastly different in numbers and size of fish.  We've also had very high water during the spawn for several years in a row which probably washed out many nests.  This is the first year I was able to fish at all during April since we haven't had any rain.  Having said that, I started branching out further away from my normal haunts, and have found some spots that have incredible fishing for both numbers and large fish.  I also have places where you can catch 20+ in a day and not have a single one break 2lbs.  Not sure why that is.

 

I also tend to fish more during the middle of the week which probably helps my effort due to the lack of other people.

[Reel]

Smallmouth fishing has gotten much better where I fish.

 

[Ohioguy25]

5 hours ago, Darnold335 said:

The susky is catch and release only from sunbury to the MD line. There was s time not that long ago the smallies were hurting big time. People sold their boats. Bait shops closed up. People from out of state stopped coming here.

That’s incredible. Now it’s a world class fishery, perfect example of how impactful catch and release is.

[Susky River Rat]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

That’s incredible. Now it’s a world class fishery, perfect example of how impactful catch and release is.

I think the susky is 444 miles long and roughly half of it is catch and release. It wasn’t just people keeping it was lots of pollution too. I have fished outside the catch and release only portion and that’s great fishing as well.

[A-Jay]

Do you feel like smallmouth fishing has gotten progressively worse over the last couple years?

 

Nope.

A-Jay

 

 

[TnRiver46]

30 minutes ago, Darnold335 said:

I think the susky is 444 miles long and roughly half of it is catch and release. It wasn’t just people keeping it was lots of pollution too. I have fished outside the catch and release only portion and that’s great fishing as well.

And it floods like crazy 

[Susky River Rat]

33 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

And it floods like crazy 

I will go out on it at 10ft  which is a foot below the action stage. 17’ is flood stage. 10ft looks like it’s flooded though and I will not go out over that. The fishing can be awesome when it’s up.

[roadwarrior]

On 6/7/2023 at 11:05 AM, Ohioguy25 said:

...just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar

No.

[Junk Fisherman]

It has definitely gotten worse in Grand Traverse Bay from when I first started going there 11 years ago when it was EASY.  I didn't really know much about smallmouth fishing and I caught 2 5 lbers on my first day there and averaged 22+ lb bags for the week just by dragging tubes in rocky areas.  And then the word got out and the massive influx of people started fishing there.  In 2015 and 2016 the bent pole patterning was so bad I nearly considered focusing on other bodies of water.  The year or two before the pandemic, things calmed down a little.  2021 was the most ridiculous zoo I had ever seen up there.  There was a big college tournament in a nearby lake so it seemed like everyone took a vacation and was fishing the bay once their tournament ended.  Last year was calmer and this past week was pretty chill.  But overall, I've never had the success on that bay like I did the first couple years.  Granted, I did just catch 3 5 lbers over the last couple days so I'll be back there next June.  

 

In terms of the smallie fishing around Chicago in Lake Michigan, I think it has stayed constant over the last few years.  There are more tournaments than in the past (?) but I seem to have about the same success.   

[flyfisher]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

That’s incredible. Now it’s a world class fishery, perfect example of how impactful catch and release is.

Nope that’s a false statement as it has always been a world class fishery, even in its down times.   Anglers catching and keeping fish has a negligible impact on fish populations. 

[Tackleholic]

Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass size records have not been broken in 40-50 years on my lake, which is always a top 100 lake.  45,000 acres which never freezes, loads of baitfish and other forage.  I think of this every time I see a 4 pounder headed for the fillet table.  Each year of survival = a larger fish and increases it's chances of eventually being caught and killed by mishandling or targeted for dinner.  I'm strictly catch and release but know I'm a minority.  I respect others, especially the guides who do the same.

[Susky River Rat]

13 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Nope that’s a false statement as it has always been a world class fishery, even in its down times.   Anglers catching and keeping fish has a negligible impact on fish populations. 

In its down times you used to see all kinds of fish float down the river dead. The fish kills and the virus that infected some of the fish did really almost end it.  The mid 2000s into the early 2010s was a very bad time.  It took awhile to get back to what it is now.

[Ohioguy25]

23 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Anglers catching and keeping fish has a negligible impact on fish populations. 

How is this possible, considering it takes a smallmouth 10-15 years to reach 18/19 inches?

[Buzzbaiter]

On 6/10/2023 at 12:50 PM, Darnold335 said:

I think the susky is 444 miles long and roughly half of it is catch and release. It wasn’t just people keeping it was lots of pollution too. I have fished outside the catch and release only portion and that’s great fishing as well.

I’m much more worried about pollution than harvest. The Monocacy hasn’t been good for a while because of the chicken farms. While I support catch and release of smallmouth, it’s far from the biggest issue facing them. Fishermen tend to point at the wrong people whenever their fisheries are failing.

[flyfisher]

50 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

How is this possible, considering it takes a smallmouth 10-15 years to reach 18/19 inches?

Because there are a lot of fish out there and many will never even see a fisherman's lure.  I also think your estimates on length are about double from what I haveread but of course it is highly dependent on forage and location etc...

[Dye99]

I fish northern Idaho lakes so we have a short season up here.

 

I cant tell if its better or worse, seems the same to me.

But there are definitely more fisherman. More bass boats and traffic as well.

 

I fish out of a rigged kayak so as long as they dont try to run me over I dont care, but its odd to paddle out to my spots that used to be empty to find 6 boats hovering...

 

 

 

[Susky River Rat]

2 hours ago, Buzzbaiter said:

I’m much more worried about pollution than harvest

I honestly do not know any one who harvests bass. Even in lakes. Pollution is a very bad thing. I don’t even buy into flatheads,snakeheads and blue cats being issues. So far they have been keeping blues and snakeheads out from above the wingo. Nature will always find a way to survive predators. Nature will be ruined by man with pollution and over harvest.