Float
Trippin' Smallmouth Bass.
Need a break from the
fast-paced style of big water angling?
Locate your favorite smallmouth river
this summer and set-forth on an extreme
angling adventure.
By:
Andrew Ragas
Date Posted: July 19, 2011
Ever
since I knew how to handle a rod and
reel I have frequently fished rivers
throughout the Upper Midwest in search
for anything that swims and is deemed as
catchable. Growing up, flowing waters
have served as my playground for
learning about their diverse populations
of fish species, and figuring out the
methods and techniques in how to best
catch them. In fact, most rivers today
still serve as my training grounds in
trying to better understand fish that
come in all shapes and sizes. Of all
bodies of water they are without
question some of my favorite places to
spend significant amounts of time at,
especially during the heat of summer.
It
wasn’t until my formative years during
the beginning of high school when I saw
firsthand of how great some rivers can
be for smallmouth bass. Once I caught my
first, I became hooked on it and like
most other bronzeheads there was no
looking back. My first smallmouth bass
outings often took place confined to
shore, and then quickly progressed to
wading and exploring rivers and streams
by foot, eventually wearing out several
sets of waders during the decade since
then. As I grew older with some grey
hairs along the way, about mid-way
through college, I took an enthusiastic
interest in fishing the waters less
traveled with my small 12 foot aluminum
boat, “The Mud Puddler”. Float tripping
flowing waters gives me the mentality
that I am “Lewis” and my fishing partner
is “Clark,” and this style of angling
brings a huge excitement to me from the
adventure and unique angling experience
that comes with it.
By
nature, smallmouth bass are originally
known as a river fish, inhabitants of
the shallow, hard-bottomed mid-gradient
rivers of the northern United States.
Back in the good ‘ole days, when life
seemed less complicated and railroad
expansion took place throughout the
country, smallmouth bass were
unconventionally introduced into new
waterways along routes and their
populations expanded as well. Since
then, most states have conducted
stocking programs to establish new
fisheries which are now thriving.
Nowadays smallmouth bass are present in
rivers and lakes throughout several
regions of the country, and serve as
favorites for like-minded river anglers.
When and Where to Float
On an
average summer of fishing, I make five
to ten float trips for smallmouth bass
down a few rivers that are scattered
throughout the Upper Midwest. Each of
these places I fish differs and
contrasts from one another in several
ways. For instance, some of these rivers
possess clear water with high
transparency while others have a dark
tannic brown color and clarity that is
less than a foot. Another distinguishing
factor is how certain rivers have more
current and cooler/cold water sources
than others, and even differences in
habitat as some are rocky, some are
sandy, while others are somewhere in
between. Meanwhile, other differences
are seen in fish populations such as
average sizes, growth rates, abundance,
and catchability.
Knowing
when and where to float all depends upon
whether your river in question contains
a productive smallmouth bass fishery
along with an area for you to somehow
access it. Fishing in Wisconsin’s
Northwoods for half the year, I have the
luxury of being able to catch smallmouth
bass from majority of the navigable
river systems that are all within
driving distance from my home base.
Once you
know that there is a viable fishery
present in the river that is desired for
smallmouth bass, the best way to know
whether a float trip can be had is
obviously if the river is able to
support watercraft in order to allow a
trouble-free drift. In my situation and
the first thing I look for, the river
must have some depth and be able to
support a smaller boat with an outboard.
Choosing Your Water / Listen to
Conditions
There
are several variables that come into
play for choosing the best water to
fish.
Before I
head out for my river adventures, the
first thing I ever do before leaving
home is to check the online stream flow
gauges provided by the U.S. Geological
Society. Their national and state
website displays river heights, current
flow levels, and yearly records of
rainfall, floods, and more. This is an
obvious procedure to do, providing that
the river you want to float contains a
monitoring station. If not, then I just
go with the gut-feeling that water
levels will be manageable and good
enough for a float. Some days I have
been lucky by blindly guessing current
flow and water levels while on others
the trips have led to failure because
either the river was unknowingly flooded
or too low to offer any navigability.
Learn from some of my mistakes; don’t
let failure like this and a wasted trip
happen to you. Before you even think
about fishing, always research and study
beforehand.
Another
factor that dictates in my selection of
water to fish is if there are any public
access areas such as boat landings,
roadside parking, and take-in & take-out
points at any points along the river. In
most of the wooded and lake-littered
regions I fish, a hand-held GPS tool as
well as the car GPS have proven to be
unreliable tools in locating access
areas due to their sometimes poor detail
in terrain and inabilities to receive
signals and coordinates while located
out in the middle of nowhere. Instead, I
use county road maps, and a state
gazetteer while driving and searching
for my access areas. My Wisconsin
gazetteer, a must-have tool for all
backwoods fishermen, clearly identifies
back roads, bridges, public access
points, public boat landings and canoe
launches, and even rapids and
treacherous areas for river navigation.
Best of all, it even distinguishes
public from private land which is vital
in searching for access areas. Paying
attention to the detail brought forth by
printed maps and legitimate cartography
rather than relying on spotty technology
is quite possibly the best means for
searching and finding water to fish.
Besides
fulfilling these homework obligations
with figuring out water levels and
finding access areas, there are several
environmental factors that determine
whether or not to things will be on task
for a float trip. The checklist of
factors is the following:
-
Water Clarity:
General Rule, the clearer in normal
water conditions the better.
-
Currents:
Smallmouth bass are traditionally a
current-related fish. In normal
water levels slow to medium currents
that have plenty of riffle runs are
the norm.
-
Navigability: The
presence of boulders and other
obstacles. You’re good to go as long
as there aren’t hundreds of
boat-busters exposed to the point of
making boating treacherous,
navigation impossible, and breaking
a lower unit and cotter pins
probable.
-
Depth: Average
depth needed for a small boat with
short shaft outboard motor is a
minimum of at least 2 feet. A river
containing both shallow water
habitat and deeper water refuge
areas along with a channel that can
be followed is money.
-
Bottom Composition:
A diverse habitat with a multitude
of fish holding areas usually
contains the best fishing in terms
of quality. A river that has
boulder, rock, gravel, sand, wood,
and submerged vegetation is best for
all.
-
Gradient: Slow
gradient usually contains poorest
habitat, the deepest and most
featureless water, and the warmest
water temperatures. Fast gradient
contains the best habitat and
coolest water temperatures, but too
strong of currents and poor for
navigation & boat control. Mid
gradient is suited the best and an
overall good medium for all factors
involved.
-
Time of Day: Fish
can be caught all day long providing
that you fish during peak periods.
However, during off-times of the
year, more fish can be had at
different times of the day; usually
early or late depending upon season.
Fish Locations and Seasonal Movements
In terms
of river environments, most of my float
trips take place on rivers that possess
a combination of both shallow and deeper
water, and have a noticeable channel
flowing through it. On most average
river systems (whether large or small),
navigation is had through the channel
running through the middle and then
anglers work for fish along the edges
and either sides in the directions
toward the riverbanks. For most float
trips down smaller and mid-size rivers,
this practice is most often followed.
Where I
float the most in Wisconsin’s North
Country, the most productive smallmouth
bass fishing occurs from early May and
lasts into September before fish
eventually migrate downstream to deeper
and larger sections of the river near
their reservoirs for wintering. In
mid-summer for instance, smallmouth bass
are notorious for their migrating
patterns and eventually transition from
their shallow water habitats that were
once best suited for spawning and
early-season feeding.
Ultimately fish disperse out to
mid-river areas that hold structure and
habitat such as hard-bottomed pools,
deeper holes, rocks and mid-river
boulders, riffles, moderate current, and
channel edges. During warm-mid-summer
days fish are more likely to be found
utilizing areas with greater depth and
current in order to escape from the
external elements such as sunlight,
warmer water temperatures, and in lower
water levels and a near-stagnant flow
which is an extremely common summertime
scenario. In addition, areas with
current and riffle runs are attractive
to smallmouths because they contain rich
amounts of dissolved oxygen.
Throughout much of summer it is
important to take note that smallmouths
will not be as concentrated in certain
locations as they likely once were
during the previous weeks during the
pre-spawn, spawn, and spawning periods,
and likely will be again during the late
fall. From mid-summer until the first
cold spell of fall it is extremely
important to stay mobile while on your
floats and to maximize water coverage.
By covering large expanses of water the
odds increase for better catches and
greater numbers of encountered fish.
One last
thing to take note of during the
summertime months is to pay attention to
peak periods. By angling definition, a
peak period represents the best feeding
activity and abundance of fish species.
For summertime smallmouths, these events
can be had when fish are found
concentrated in number in a particular
area, and are responding positively to
conditions and what is being thrown at
them. These scenarios can take place
early or late in the day when fish might
be more inclined to feed, or in areas of
river where fish location might be
dictated by water levels, water
temperatures, clarity, and outside
factors. For example, when water levels
are low smallmouths will be schooling in
deeper pools and channel areas. Another
example is in warm weather where fish
will seek riffles and areas of current
to escape heat because these areas will
contain the cooler and colder water. In
essence, peak period fishing is all a
biological game, all related to the
positive moods of fish and their
availability in known areas. Once fish
are located and the conditions are
right, it’s time to capitalize on them.
Gear and Tackle
There
are several ways to tackle summertime
smallmouths while float tripping. For
mid-summer action, a variety of
presentations will produce well for
smallmouths. Below we examine some of my
favorites from each lure category and
describe when and where each is
recommended to be fished.
SPINNERBAITS
Spinnerbaits are known as producers for
active fish and serve best when making
long drifts and covering water. Due to
their abilities of performing well
through both current and calm water,
they are the most versatile lures I
carry. They are nearly snag-proof, easy
to fish, and bounce well off of rocks
and other obstacles. Depending on
current, water clarity, depth, and
levels, it is wise to bring a variety of
colors, blade types, and sizes ranging
from ¼ oz. to as heavy as ½ oz. My
absolute favorites are the Terminator T2
series in either a thumper style
Colorado blade, or double bladed willow
blades.
INLINE
SPINNERS
Inlines
are a traditional old-school approach to
river fishing. They are quite possibly
one of the most simplistic ways of
catching fish from flowing water and
they share many of the same
characteristics as spinnerbaits. Inline
spinners work best when covering water,
and searching for actively feeding fish.
Best of all, they can be fished
EVERYWHERE! Favorites are Mepps Aglia
and Sims Spinners with size 4 and 5
blades. Always bring a variety of colors
because you never know which might be
the hot color or style for that
particular day.
CRANKBAITS
Crankbaits are a favorite for summertime
smallmouths and are my best producers
for when fish are utilizing mid-river
channels, deeper holes with current, and
slackwater areas in and around boulders
and riffle runs. Crankbaits in crayfish
pattern match the hatch extremely well
in most river systems can be fished in
any area imaginable. Favorites for
grinding out fish are Rapala DT-4’s,
Bandit 100 Series, and Mann’s Minuses
especially when fish are in the
shallows.
BUZZBAITS
Buzzbaits are great search baits, and
work best when fish are on a surface
feed. They work best when fish are using
slackwater areas and pools with minimal
current, and when fish are holding tight
to downed wood and other shoreline
cover. Favorites are 3/8 oz. Booyah in
solid white and chartreuse.
TOPWATERS
Secondary to crankbaits and spinnerbaits,
topwaters are excellent options when
fish are putting on a surface feed, and
active throughout the entire water
column. They fare best during summertime
heat and when water levels are low.
Topwaters such as poppers, walkers, and
propellers all have their time and place
and should be a mainstay in anyone’s
arsenal. Poppers such as the Rapala
Skitter Pop and Heddon Jitterbug should
be used in calm slack water pools and
around eddies. Walkers are my favorites
and are quite possibly the most
versatile of the trio. They can be
fished through moderate current and calm
water areas, and active fish find them
easily. Favorites are Rapala
Skitterwalks and Heddon Zara Spooks.
Lastly, I have taken a huge interest in
prop style topwaters because they simply
call the fish and are the loudest and
most obnoxious of all. Like walkers,
propeller topwaters such as the Rapala
Skitter Prop work great in nearly all
situations and shine especially during
low light conditions.
GRUBS
Grubs
are recommended when fish are less
active, and holding near bottom. Certain
grubs imitate minnows and baitfish while
others display characteristics of being
able to imitate crayfish. I always bring
a package of grubs with me because they
will usually work when nothing else
does. Favorites are 5 inch Kalin’s
Lunker Grubs rigged on 1/8 oz. Owner
ultraheads or weighted worm hooks.
Besides single tail grubs, twintails
have become my best producers in recent
years because they are capable of
matching the profile of a
bottom-scurrying crayfish more
accurately. Twintails are nothing fancy
and my favorite is the YUM brand.
CRAW
TUBES
Of all
baits imaginable for catching smallmouth
bass, craw tubes in the 3 to 5 inch
range such as the YUM brand are quite
possibly the deadliest and most
irresistible for fish. Craw tubes can be
fished weedless with either a Texas rig,
or a weighted worm hook such as an Owner
or Charlie Brewer slider head style.
Craw tubes are almost always a
guaranteed catch for fish and work best
when fish are feeding exclusively on
crayfish. They can be fished everywhere
but fare best when fish are confined to
current breaks, eddies, and deep pools
with rock bottom.
CREATURE
BAITS
Last but
not creature baits have their time and
place and can load up on smallmouth
bass. Like craw tubes, creatures are
excellent crayfish imitators and bring
some beef to the table when catching big
fish is the objective. Creature baits
are meant to be fished in snag-proof
presentations along the bottom and work
best in deeper pools, alongside of
boulders, and slackwater areas on the
downstream side of riffles. Favorites
are 4 inch YUM Wooly Bugs and 4 inch
Stankx Mudbugz. Also included in this
category are hula styled grubs, a
skirted plastic that features a twin
tail. Never come to the water without a
package of 5 inch Chompers and 4 inch
YUM Gonzo Grubs.
As far
as rods and reels are concerned, old
time favorites is medium to medium-heavy
action spinning gear, along with a
baitcaster. In addition, fly fishing has
become an effective means for scoring
fish when wading becomes a secondary
option during the float and if trying to
efficiently fish specific areas.
Due to
fishing out of a smaller craft and
wanting to stay comfortable, I usually
limit myself to two spinning and two
baitcasting set-ups on each trip. If
also in the mood, I will bring my 8WT
fly rod which collapses and stores
easily.
On any
given float trip, it is wise to use a
variety of presentations. Likewise, it
is even wiser to limit your gear
selection by only taking what you need
as the watercraft is usually small, and
the fishing is to be kept simplistic.
Boats and Watercraft
Depending on the type of river you fish,
the best craft for smallmouth bass
fishing can be a high powered bass boat,
an aluminum semi-V, jon boat, canoe, or
even a kayak. Most traditional small
river boats, however, are 12 to 16 foot
aluminum semi-V and flat bottomed jon
boats. For the all-day comfort,
durability, maximum horsepower and
weight capacities, ability to clear over
shallow depths and stable casting
platforms, I prefer fishing from small
aluminum boats.
The
stability and light weights of small
aluminum boats make them ideal for river
fishing. Many rivers in my neck of the
woods lack developed boat landings and
modernized access areas. This problem is
easily defeated with the aid from my
fishing partners as we can easily lift
the boat off from the trailer, slide it
through the woods and then drop it into
the water. Following that, we load up
the gear, strap on the waders, and away
we float.
Small
river anglers tend to rig their aluminum
boats differently. I have seen boats
that have been bare bones without any
accessories, and I have seen others that
have everything from customized casting
decks, pedestal seats, bow-mount
trolling motors, GPS, jet outboards, and
more. Since this style of fishing is
rather simplistic, boats do not require
much in terms of rigging unless you
choose to build the ultimate dream
platform.
For your
small river rig, the necessities for
navigation are a small short shaft
outboard. Smaller aluminum boats have
ratings for up to 10 horsepower while
some that are larger and a bit heavier
have ratings for up to 25 horsepower. My
suggestion is to go with the maximum
horsepower capacity that your boat can
handle. Believe it or not, small gas
outboards are a necessity for river
fishing if the river is both large and
deep enough to support them. They prove
beneficial in situations when motoring
for miles upstream back to the access
area, and are able to fight against the
current far easier than paddling
manually (such as a kayak or canoe).
In
addition to gas outboards, other
accessories worth considering are oars
and an electric motor. Oars are
beneficial for operating a controlled
downstream drift and enables anglers to
fish with stealth and quietly hold
position. In addition, an electric
transom mount trolling motor may be used
to further improve boat positioning, and
the speed and accuracy of the drift. In
some situations, bow mount trolling
motors might also be used but they are
not essential unless the boat features a
front casting deck that is frequently
used.
Besides
motor options, other accessories worth
mentioning are fish locators. In many
small river environments, fish locators
are a necessity for finding channels and
the deeper holes that fish will
sometimes be relating to. Small river
anglers commonly use portable sonar
units that adhere to the rear of the
boat while others use permanently
mounted graphs that are more accurate
and reliable. Some anglers might even
use GPS and high end side imaging sonar
systems but in my opinion a basic unit
that displays depth, water temperature,
and distinguishes bottom contour is all
that is needed.
The boat
in particular I fish from is a small 12
foot aluminum semi-V that gets trailered
around to several of the hard to access
lakes and rivers in my area. This little
rig features everything such as a short
shaft 6 horse Evinrude outboard, a 45
lb. thrust MinnKota Traxxis electric
motor, a set of oars, a basic fish
locator, and even padded seats.
Ultimately my choice in watercraft suits
my style of fishing and the type of
fishing I do is reflective of it.
Boat Positioning Techniques
Boat
positioning is the most critical factor
in dictating the productiveness and
success of your float. As already
mentioned, it is important to consider
small outboards, electric trolling
motors, and oars as precise boat control
enables anglers to have the best casting
angles, accurate drifts, more catches,
and better success. However, there is
one tool that I have yet to mention and
that is a set of anchors.
Anchors
are the most important tools in my boat.
An anchor allows the boat to hold steady
position, and along with their aid
certain spots can be fished effectively
and efficiently. Most common river
anchors feature three arms and come in
15 and 20 lb. sizes. On most float trips
it is common for one anchor to be
released at the rear while the other to
be released up front. Dual anchoring
prevents the boat from shifting caused
by current push, an annoyance for
achieving good casting angles.
As far
as formally positioning the boat is
concerned, we fish both the upstream and
downstream sides of riffles, boulders,
deep holes, rocks, and anything else
capable of rearing fish. I’ve always
heard the notion that you should only
fish the downstream ends by casting
upstream because fish are always facing
upstream. That is all a myth. To
maximize the full potential of each area
fished it is important to work each end
of a certain spot equally hard because
fish always respond differently to
current and the placement of baits.
A river flows through it
Many
anglers overlook river bass fishing as a
viable option for catching fish as they
focus more on shore fishing small ponds,
or running and gunning large lakes with
fast boats. With the tremendous amount
of smaller navigable rivers and streams
scattered throughout the Upper Midwest,
there are several opportunities for
catching fish from these areas. Most of
which are less traveled, rarely
accessed, and seldom receive angling
pressure.
Like
Lewis & Clark, the mentality of each
trip I take is to float downstream and
explore as much water as I possibly can
until it is take-out time. Fishing a
river often brings out the possibilities
for numbers days, big fish days, or just
a mixed bag of good multi-species
action.
What’s
so great about fishing small rivers you
may ask? Is it the sound of water which
fuels life, or the abundance of
smallmouth bass being present in the
places less traveled? Being in the
presence of nature and taking a break
from fishing the big water is what
compels me to undertake such adventures.
Ever
wonder what lies around that bend? I’m
still wondering for myself as I still
have miles upon miles of smallmouth
loaded water left to cover. To my
surprise, I still have more than enough
to last me a lifetime of continued
explorations.
