Largemouth and smallmouth bass share some of the same likes and dislikes. It's common to find both species thriving in the same body of water. Occasionally anglers are treated to spots that yield good catches of brown and green bass.
While the habitat preferences of bass are similar, the smallmouth is a more adaptable fish than it's cousin the largemouth. Smallmouth thrive in a wider variety of water types than largemouth.
Rivers are a prime example of a water type that favors smallmouth bass. Largemouth bass are sometimes found in sluggish rivers, but they rarely thrive to the level of smallmouth bass in flowing water. The smallmouth is built for moving water and quickly adapts to rising and falling water levels, changing forage types and other environmental changes common to rivers.
However, not all rivers rate as ideal habitat for smallmouth bass. Small creeks and trout streams that are icy cold year around aren't great places to find smallmouth. Slow moving rivers that meander through bogs, marshes and other shallow areas with organic bottoms are more conducive to largemouth than smallmouth.
The types of rivers smallmouth prefer include flows that travel along a firm bottom composed of sand, rock, gravel or clay. Slightly stained to clear waters are ideal for smallmouth who use their sense of sight heavily when feeding. Smallmouth are sight feeders, but this species adapts readily to waters that are turbid such as the mighty Mississippi.
Smallmouth do exceptionally well in rivers with moderate current flow. Fast flowing rivers such as the Detroit River in Michigan that supports a sweeping 7-9 MPH current can also support good smallmouth fishing. In rivers with very fast currents, smallmouth become limited to areas within the river where the current is slower or spots that deflect the powerful impact of the current.
The best places to find smallmouth bass in rivers are spots that can collectively be called current breaks. A current break is created when the flowing water is deflected, forced around an object or otherwise slowed down. Bass lay in wait at these locations and let the current wash food within reach of their lair. Often these areas can be identified by swirling or gurgling water at the surface.
Some common current breaks to look for in rivers include flats, holes, large sunken objects such as rocks or logs, bridge pilings, wing dams, sharp river bends, points, docks, rip rap and other bank protection. Just about anything in the water that diverts the flow creates a current break and enough cover for smallmouth to thrive.
LURES FOR TARGETING RIVER SMALLMOUTH
A wide variety of lure types will catch smallmouth in rivers, but two shine especially bright. Jigs and crankbaits rate as exceptional river fishing lures because these baits are among the most efficient means of fishing a variety of spots and water depths.
Of the two lure types, jigs are more of a "spot" lure. A 1/8 or 1/4 ounce leadhead jig dressed with a three inch grub body is the perfect lure for casting to obvious targets such as downstream edge of a bridge piling, a big boulder that splits the current, deep but isolated holes or a half submerged log that stretches out into the current.
An open style No. 2 or No. 1 hook produces best unless the water to be fished is especially snag filled. Weedless style jigs can be used to fish areas that feature a lot of submerged wood, broken rock and other common snags.
Diving style crankbatis come into their own when fishing larger areas such as flats, meandering banks with rip rap or other areas where the location of the fish isn't as obvious. A crankbait can be casted long distances and retrieved rather quickly, covering huge amounts of water in the process.
The best cranks for this style of fishing are rather compact models that float at rest and dive quickly. Should the bait become snagged, open the reel bail and give the lure some slack line. Often the lure will simply float off from the snag.
Classic river casting crankbaits include the Salmo Hornet, Bomber 5A, Rapala No. 7 Shad Rap, Storm Wiggle Wart and Rebel Wee-R. Other good baits to try include the Cotton Cordell Wally Diver, Excalibur Fat Free Shad, Luhr Jensen Brush Baby and Rapala Fat Rap.
For the best results choose a bait that dives deep enough to make contact with the bottom or the cover being fished. Natural colors such as Tennessee Shad and baits with lots of chromes are best in clear to slightly stained water. The more turbid the water becomes the more important it is to use brighter colors such as firetiger. Crankbaits with rattles are a good choice in river fishing situations where the water is rarely as clear as we would like it.
River run smallmouth are always powerful and full of fight. The different species of bass share a lot in common, but when it comes to fishing in rivers the smallmouth is king.
