From the July issue of Susquehanna Fishing Magazine.
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Fishing is a great sport. For each season there are many things that you can count on.
This article reviews those aquatic features which we call “structures” and will help the reader to understand when one should look for fish holding on each of them.
Largemouth and smallmouth bass are different, but they have several things in common.
• They follow their prey (food)
• They move about in regular, predictable ways (seasonal movements)
• They hide from predators
• Although they feed little each day, they can be made to bite almost anytime
The characteristics they share help fisherman know where to look and what presentation or methods to use. What follows are a few of those locations and methods.
Winter is a time of rest. Much of the bass population will be collected in what is known as a “winter-over place” (a winter hole). Because the females have to feed to nurture their eggs, this is a time to catch big fish. Find their winter holes and you have an opportunity to catch the biggest fish of the season. Look for main river depths that provide a break from the current. It can be as simple as upstream from a big rock, to downstream from a ledge. Manmade structures, like bridge pillars and abutments, are prime spots. Use tube lures and hair jigs. Remember, these fish carry next year’s spawn. Enjoy the sport, but catch and release on the spot.
Spring is a time for renewal. Both basses move to the shallows. They migrate along structure as the movement progresses. Think big picture… They may follow a long ledge across the main river to an esker (a rock strewn point). Smallmouth bass will show up first, but can be allusive, as they move in and out depending on wind, weather and water levels. If you find a shallow point with sand and gravel with deep water close by, mark that spot. If fish are not there, check back on your spots later and often while fishing. Largemouth can use these same points, but will likely be on wood or rock features in shallow water. Both like sand and gravel. Smallmouth bass prefer big chunk rock, broken rock, and well graded gravel (stones of differing sizes). They can hold on a one foot rock like a trout, but three foot boulders are bronzeback magnets. Largemouth bass like to be out of the current and have limited access to their nest. Stumps, shoreline, boulders, discarded tires, and other features hold largemouth.
Summer follows the spawn all the way into fall. Both of the basses like edges. Shorelines, the surface, and confluence areas (where two rivers or currents meet) are some of these edges. The predominate cover is grass. Grass holds food. Aquatic insects use these grasses to transition into adults and carry out their propagation rituals. Minnows follow the bugs, and the bass follow the minnows. Crayfish are also present in the grass. Learn to fish the grass. When the grass is below the surface, try a spinner bait. It allows you to cover ground quickly. When emergent (the grass is up to the surface), try the edges and holes with a floating or sinking worm.
Fall can be challenging. It’s like summer, yet different. There is grass, but now not all grass holds fish. There is plenty of food and it’s everywhere. The young of the year fry will school and move about on the surface in open water… and the bass will follow. Search open water to find these fish. Look for what many call “nervous water”. Any surface disturbance that doesn’t fit in is a sign of schooling minnows. Birds may be working the school too. Both basses will loosely school, working together to cash in on the food bounty. A wise fisherman once said “they are either deep, shallow, or they are somewhere in between.” Bass seem to spend a considerable amount of time in 10 feet of water this time of year. Start there. Find the rock ledges, isolated boulders, logs, and grass beds that are alive and green. Floating and suspending stick baits like X-Raps and plastic minnows, like the fin-s-fish or fluke, are the best search baits. Rig two flukes using a dropper on the end of your line. Retrieve with a series of crank and jerks. It is a fun way to fish, because you can start a feeding frenzy.
Tight lines.
Bryan Wilhelm is a multi-species light tackle angler with many years experience both as a professional and a sportsman on the lower Susquehanna River. His zeal for fishing grows each passing year. We look forward to him sharing his experiences.
