Smallmouth bass fishing in rivers is a popular sport in summer in the Eastern United States. As water is warm, fish are aggressive, and fishing can be a blast. Following are smallmouth bass fishing tips for summer river fishing.
Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tip #1: Fish Eddies
Eddies, found below rapids, riffles, and behind rocks can be some of the best waters to fish in summer. Cast Zoom finesse worms, weighted with light Slider jigheads, and fish them with slow reeling and twitches. This tactic is particularly effective in deeper waters below riffles and behind rocks.
Also try throwing large tubes, rigged with jigheads, into eddies. Fish these slowly, with substantial rod twitches, which jig the lures up off of the bottom, followed by slow reeling of the slack. This tactic will have tubes looking like crayfish, a favorite food of smallmouth bass.
River Bass Fishing Tip #2: Fish Deep, Shaded Banks
Deep, dark banks are some of the best places to find monster smallmouth in rivers, as big bass tend to lurk in the depths. Try using jig and pigs and Yamamoto senkos in these waters.
To fish a jig and pig, cast to the bank, let the lure sink, and then begin a slow retrieve. Twitch the rod up, and slowly reel the slack created. Repeat this, and once the bait is back, cast several times to the same waters, as it can take many casts for fish to locate these bulky crayfish imitations.
If fishing pre-weighted (as sand is baked in with these worms) Yamamoto Senkos along deep banks, additional weight may not be necessary. Another technique works well for these baits, which should be dark colored: cast to the bank and simply allow the lures to sink down. Every few seconds, give the rod a twitch, and then reel the slack, allowing the lure to sink again as this is being done. Smallmouth often pick up the baits as they are fluttering down.
Bass Fishing Tip #3: Fish Shallow, Sandy Shores
Although rocky-bottomed areas are often the best places to find smallmouth bass in rivers, large fish can sometimes be visually spotted cruising shallow, sandy banks. For this type of angling, try to sight fish, and then cast. Use a light artificial worm, like a finesse worm, or a soft plastic fluke in a dark color, and if fish are seen, cast in front, and rapidly twitch the rod's tip, making the lure look like a struggling minnow.
Summer Smallmouth Fishing Tip #4: Fish Grassy, Open Areas
Medium-depth, grassy waters in the middle of the river can be great places to fish in summer. Use senkos, finesse worms, flukes, or Gene Larew sinking sluggers, rigged with very light weight or none at all. Often, bass lurk below the grass, waiting to catch sight of minnows swimming above, or damselflies buzzing about the surface. Twitch these baits constantly to give them motion, and frequently, bass will come up to bust them.
Summer smallmouth bass fishing in rivers is great fun in the Eastern United States. When angling, especially from a boat, try heeding some of these bass fishing tips to maximize success.
Related:
Largemouth Bass Fishing Techniques for Summer
Northern Pike Tips and Tactics
Thomas Wyatt - Tom Wyatt grew up in Virginia. He has been interested in the outdoors (fishing, birding, camping, and other such activities) since he was ...
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