Float Fishing Tips for Smallmouth Bass
- An angler fishes from a rowboatFishing men on the boat image by Kokhanchikov from Fotolia.com
Although the televised icons of tournament fishing are primarily known for hauling trophy largemouth out of lakes and reservoirs, there is an ever-growing following for river smallmouth. Even moderately-sized smallmouth put up a real fight, and a 19-inch bronzeback is a beauty of a fish. Anglers who set their sights on "smallies" need specialized equipment. Boats, tackle, and techniques contribute to smallmouth float fishing success. - This kayak is outfitted for fishing.man in kayak image by Janet Wall from Fotolia.com
Favorite choices of smallmouth anglers include flat-bottomed boats, canoes, and kayaks. Each of these has its advantages and drawbacks, and will be more or less suitable for use in an individual angler's home waters. All three of these types of boats have shallow drafts, making them ideal for rivers, where levels can vary from several feet to mere inches. An advantage of the flat-bottomed boats is that they offer a relatively large amount of space for gear and movement, as opposed to canoes and kayaks. They may also be outfitted with small motors for ease of movement against current. Drawbacks are size and weight, making transportation and portage over land more difficult. Canoes are smaller, lighter, and more maneuverable, and some fishing canoes can also accommodate small motors. A major drawback is the instability of canoes. Fishing kayaks are rapidly gaining popularity. These specially designed craft are light, easy to maneuver and transport, and they come with rod and gear holders. They can even be outfitted with anchors. A drawback to the kayak, when used for river fishing, is the need for transportation between the put-in and take-out points. Some athletic anglers stash a bicycle at one end, ride back for the car or truck, and then return for the kayak. Others simply enlist a friend or fellow angler to assist with a second vehicle. - A fly angler fishes deep, moving water.casting about image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
Smallmouth anglers can be successful with all types of tackle, and both spinning gear and fly fishing equipment are popular. Tube baits, crankbaits, rubber worms, and spinner baits are all frequent choices of ardent smallmouth enthusiasts. Spinning gear allows fishermen to cast these types of lures accurately and repeatedly, even when the river is lined with low, overhanging tree limbs, but fly fishing for smallmouth can be even more productive than other methods. With fly tackle, the fisherman can cast quickly, picking up and putting down a surface fly or popper with speed and accuracy. Streamers and flies designed to be fished under the water rather than on the surface, both give fly fishermen the option of fishing deep, too. - Smallmouth prefer rocky river beds.underwater world of stones image by Konstantin Gusev from Fotolia.com
Smallmouth prefer cooler water, moving current, and rocky substrates. They won't be likely to lurk in deep holes with their largemouth cousins. Smallmouth fishermen concentrate on areas with steady current that will wash food into the smallmouth's path. Swirls, eddies, rocks, and underwater tree limbs provide places for smallies to lie in wait for food to come tumbling by in the current. In hot, summer weather, smallmouth often move to grassy areas, where vegetation holds food and provides shade. - Float fishermen can often leave the boat and wade.Fly Fisherman Casting image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
Successful smallmouth fishing techniques vary with the seasons, weather patterns, and river features. The fish will move to cooler locations in mid-summer, but they still need to eat. Baitfish or crawfish imitations, fished early and late in the day, are proven winners. When smallmouth are in vegetation, dead-drifting a popper to imitate a fallen cicada will often provoke a strike from a bronzeback that just can't resist such a tasty, easy meal. Float fishermen have plenty of options for delivering their lures and flies. They can anchor and cast to structure, drift with slow current as they work the river's bends, or beach the boat and wade. For versatility and fishing enjoyment, it's hard to beat float fishing for smallmouth.
Boats
Tackle
Where to Find Smallmouth
Techniques
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