River smallmouth bass often migrate long distances in fall. Efficiently cover water to locate moving fish as they adapt to high vs. low water conditions.
River Smallmouth Bass Fall Movements
River smallmouth bass have a dramatic seasonal migration as the cold water hits. They often migrate twenty to forty miles during this transition and seldom linger in any one area. The system we were fishing today encompasses many miles of free-flowing rocky river that flows into a shallow reservoir. Upriver stretches still hold most of the fish and they tend to remain relatively shallow at this time. As water temperatures dip from the high into the low forties, smallmouth bass will have vacated the shallow upriver stretches in favor of deeper downstream areas.
Migration Patterns
The fall migration of smallmouth bass in rivers is something many hardcore bass anglers look forward to each September and October. As the bass begin to vacate their fast following, shallow water summer areas and move they gather in greater numbers. When they finally reach their fall and winter locations the schools of bass can be comprised of fifty bass or more. This can lead to some incredible river smallmouth action.
Unusual Locations
What was intriguing was that the smallmouths we were catching were on the downstream side of what is basically an island. This is not usually where people would think about smallmouths, but under these river conditions it seemed to be where the fish were gathering. A majority of the time a smallmouth bass location will be directly correlated with the forage they are feeding on. Look for current breaks, river seems, and slower pools that have a large concentration of bait.
River Smallmouth Bass Baits
While there are a ton of different smallmouth bass baits that work in rivers there are two in particular that shine exceptional well in fall. The first is the Rapala DT crankbait.
The Rapala DT series of crankbaits dive fast to a preset depth and cast far allowing the crankbait stay in the strike zone for longer. Made from premium balsa wood it has a side-to-side action only balsa crankbaits can achieve and is irresistible to fish. Available in a wide variety of fish catching colors and works great when fished over rocks, wood, over the tops of weed beds. Depending on the depth of water you are fishing a DT6, DT8, or DT10 are best suited for river smallmouths.
The second bait that is a killer for fall smallies is the Rapala X-Rap Deep. The Rapala X-Rap Deep has the same incredible action as the X-Rap but is able to reach depths as deep as fifteen feet of water. With a variety of great colors, internal holographic foil, internal long cast system, 3D holographic eyes this deep diving jerk bait is perfect for fall river smallmouth bass.
FAQ’s
1. Do river smallmouth bass school together?
Yes. In most cases if you can find one it’s a sure bet more smallmouth bass are in the area.
2. What is the best color for river smallmouth bass?
Orange, chartreuse, and clown are great river smallmouth bass colors.
3. What pound line should I use for smallmouth bass?
A ten-pound braided main line paired with a eight or ten-pound fluorocarbon leader is recommended for smallmouth bass
4. What do river smallmouth bass eat?
Smallmouth bass eat a variety of smaller fish species, as well as crawfish, frogs, and small invertebrates.
5. What is the best month to target fall smallmouth bass?
In most places October is the preferred month. The smallmouth bass will be schooled together and are often biting well throughout the month.
Conclusion
Smallmouth bass have a dramatic seasonal migration as the cold water hits. With the latest sonar technology, we were able to find the fish in unexpected places. It was a great experience and we were able to catch a big one. This experience has given us a better understanding of the migration patterns of smallmouth bass and how to find them in different conditions.
