What do river smallmouth bass eat?
Feeding. Juveniles consume zooplankton, insect larvae, small fish and crayfish Adults feed on insects, amphibians, fish and crayfish, as well as the young of other smallmouth bass.
What is the best bait to use in a river?
Live bait like nightcrawlers, minnows and leeches will catch almost every type of fish, and they’re your best options for bottom-feeding fish like catfish, carp and suckers. For predator fish like trout, walleye or bass, small minnow or crawdad imitators are my main choice.
What is the best bait for bass in a river?
A top lure for river bass is a soft plastic crawfish either Texas-rigged on a
worm hook
or attached to a lightweight jig Heavier jigs tend to fall to the bottom whereas a lightweight model or a light sinker on the Texas rig is swept by the current right in front of a bass’ nose.
What bait do you use for smallmouth bass?
Smallmouth Bass Fishing Baits Some of the most productive lures for stream smallmouth fishing are 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits and buzz baits Soft plastic lures, such as spider-style plastic grubs (rigged on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads), tube baits, jerk baits and 6-inch
plastic worms
are also popular.
How old is a 5 lb smallmouth bass?
A 15-inch bass might be an average four-year-old, a fast growing three-year-old or a slow growing five-year-old. A big bass, say five pounds, might be anywhere between six and 16 years old.
Where do
smallmouth spawn
in rivers?
Ethan Hollifield: Smallmouth tend to spawn in the
tail outs
of pools or behind cover along the banks ; they prefer areas where the bottom is free of silt and relatively sandy.
Where do smallmouth bass live in rivers?
Generally, smallmouth habitat is considered to be lakes and rivers with cool, clear,
deep water
and rocky or boulder strewn bottoms Smallmouth are, in fact, rarely found in bodies of water less than 25 feet deep. They prefer water with a current and temperatures between 67° to 71°F.
Where do bass hide in rivers?
In the rivers and streams that I was fishing, one will find a lot of structures underneath the water. Things like trees, old logs, and rock ledges provide excellent cover for bass to hide under until the current brings food by them.
What is the best time to fish in a river?
Fish generally prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright midday rays. In midday, the surface temperature of the water is also hotter, forcing the fish to move deeper.
How do you catch finicky smallmouth?
Simply yo-yoing a tube around the smallmouth you’ve located can be the ticket during early spring As the water starts to warm, snapping a tube off the bottom often gets their attention. Frost reminds anglers that the warmer it is, the more apt smallmouth will be to feed.
Does smallmouth like current?
By Tim Allard · Jul 15, 2015. Rivers are home to some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet. The secret to consistently catching smallmouth from rivers is being comfortable fishing in current.
What colors do smallmouth bass like?
Their vision is strongest in the areas of medium-red to green It fails rapidly moving into the blues and purples, as it does towards the far reds. If our picture of bass color vision is accurate, then color is meaningful to bass in some cases but not others.
What is a smallmouth bass favorite food?
Smallmouth are not picky feeders. They’ll go for insects, bait fish and crustaceans. Crayfish or crawfish (as they’re called in the southern United States), are their top prey and will always land a good sized bass if they’re the right size.
Do you need bait for river fishing?
Fish that live in rivers, such as sturgeon, bass, carp, catfish, etc., need bait that would attract them to your hook They prey on many types of other fish and sea creatures, so find a bait that your target fish would want. Take an assortment of bait since you might be fishing for many types of fish.
What line is river smallmouth on?
For most situations, 10 pound line will work well whether you are casting crankbaits or fishing with soft plastics. 8 to 12 pound test line is a good range.
Where do smallmouth bass go in summer?
On natural lakes, summertime smallmouth usually retreat to deeper, cooler water during the hottest part of the day. Look for them on points, break lines, saddles, and offshore humps The best spots will also have rocks, scattered grass, or manmade cover like fish cribs and brush.
Are Rooster Tails good for smallmouth bass?
Yes, without question, Rooster Tails will catch largemouth and smallmouth bass in just about any lake or stream you fish Rooster Tails come in many colors and sizes to match all water conditions and the simple to use design requires limited technique and skill to entice bass to strike.
What color plastic worm is best for bass?
Black worms can be a versatile option for bass. This color can be ideal for all types of water, whether it’s clear or dirty. However, black plastic worms may work best if the water is a little murky or if during cloudy weather.
What can I use for river smallmouth?
Jerkbaits, spinner baits and buzz baits can all be used for smallmouth fishing. The lightest weight plastics like a Texas Rig or jig head need just enough weight to make bottom contact and then walk it down the shoal. You can use a variety of baits to catch smallmouth in small rivers; it’s all about the presentation.
What depth do you find smallmouth bass?
Smallmouth will spawn anywhere from 1-foot of water out to 20-feet at a typical range of 5-10 feet After the spawn, they will stage in 8-10-feet and recover before moving into their summer pattern. Smallies will move to deeper water for the summer and even deeper before their fall transition.
What is the best time to catch smallmouth bass?
Smallmouth fishing is generally better in the early spring than largemouth fishing might be, since smallmouths tend to be more active in cold water. Begin looking for them when the water temperature is in the mid-40s. Fish the first deep water associated with a large gravel or mud flat.
What is considered a big smallmouth?
While the average size of smallmouth bass is somewhere between 12 and 18 inches and 1 and 4lb, they can reach a maximum length of about 28 inches and a maximum weight of around 12lb.
What temperature do smallmouth bass stop biting?
Although the smallmouth bass is considered to be a warm water fish, its ideal temperature range is lower than that of the largemouth bass. Smallmouth tend to favor waters between 67 to 71 degrees. When water temperatures dip below 50 degrees , feeding slows and the fish aren’t eager to bite.
What temperature do river smallmouth spawn?
The prespawn period is typically when water temps are between mid 40 degrees to upper 50’s , with the “Magic Number” being around 60 degrees for smallmouth to be in full-blown spawn mode.
What size hooks for smallmouth bass?
The smallmouth bass prefers a smaller hook (#4-1/0) and will typically bite on anything that moves.
What is a good size smallmouth bass?
A 23″ Smallmouth is quite a lofty goal, and may take a lifetime to attain. A 21 or 22 is more of a reasonable, and catchable size.
What is the longest smallmouth bass ever caught?
We’re talking of course about the largest smallmouth bass ever caught. David Hayes caught the world record, an 11-pound, 15-ounce monster in Dale Hollow Lake, a reservoir that straddles the border between Kentucky and Tennessee back in 1955.
How do you fish in a river without a rod?
Use an actual fishing hook, such as a barbed hook, or improvise a hook out of whatever you have available Tie it to a piece of fishing line or to an improvised line. You can improvise a hook from many things such as paper clips, safety pins, sewing needles, and even soda can tabs.
References
https://1source.basspro.com/news-tips/bass/5699/best-baits-river-smallmouth
https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/river-smallmouth-lures-and-tactics/156326
https://www.chesapeakebay.net/S=0/fieldguide/critter/smallmouth_bass