Sunny summer days serve up some of the best fishing of the year on many creeks and rivers where smallmouth bass are the main attraction. To get in the fine fishing, though, you have to consider the season’s effects on stream conditions and smallmouth behavior and plan your strategies accordingly.
FISHING TOPWATER LURES
Many fish watch the surface in search of passing meals, creating fun topwater fishing. The best surface action often occurs early or late in the day, but sometimes the smallies will feed on top all day long.
If the water is low, as tends to be the case though the middle of the summer, stick with small topwater fishing lures like Heddon Tiny Torpedoes, Arbogast Hocus Locusts and Rebel Crickhopper Poppers. Many real meals will come in the form of beetles, grasshoppers and other bite-sized critters. Given more current and a bit of color, work a Heddon Super Spook, Jr. or a Rebel Pop-R and hold on tight.
DIG DEEP
If the smallmouths won’t feed on top during the summer, you often have to go to the opposite extreme and fish the bottoms of deep runs, plunge pools and riverbend holes. Many fish will go deep, seeking sanctuary in the cooler waters, especially through the middle of the day.
Smallmouths find abundant crawfish on the bottom, so “match the hatch” with a YUM CrawBug, a BOOYAH Baby BOO Jig matched with the new YUM Craw Papi or a YUM Wooly HawgCraw fished on a jighead. Hop these little offerings along the bottom or swim them close to the bottom and set the hook at the slightest tap on the fishing line.
GET NATURAL
When the water is extra clear, you want your offering to blend in so the bass see only a hint of movement. Natural forage species are camouflaged to their environment, and bright colors can send even the hungriest smallmouth swimming for cover when the water is low and clear. Stick with crawfish- or baitfish-imitating patterns and extra subtle hues, like watermelon seed.
WATCH YOUR APPROACH
When streams run low, be very aware of how you approach potential fish-holding areas. Make long casts when possible, and try to stay out of the smallmouths’ likely line of sight. In small wade-fishing streams, stay downstream of fish lies, move slowly, stay low and use shoreline cover and mid-stream boulders to mask you silhouette.
Use the lightest fishing line you can get away with, which will help you manage longer casts with small offerings, along with being less visible in the water. Silver Thread Fluorocarbon offers extremely low visibility, but Silver Thread Trout fishing line would be a better choice if you intend to do much fishing with small topwater fishing lures, because fluorocarbon sinks.
Finally, consider every presentation. When low, clear water makes fish spooky, they become very aware of the direction food should come from. Cast upstream of key spots and let the current deliver the offerings, using your rod tip only to add action to the bait.