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I am not talking about going out and fishing in freezing temperatures, or fishing in the snow. Cold water smallmouth bass fishing is actually when water temps start dropping below 60 degrees during the day and continue to drop for the rest of the season. Changes start occurring that affect the feeding as well as the location of the smallmouth bass. This is the time of the year most anglers refer to as fall. Usually, on our mid-Atlantic smallmouth river and streams, water temps will start dropping off around the end of September beginning of October, continuing into November or until the daytime water temperature reaches 45 degrees. To be successful you have to understand that there are three phases of the cold-water season those being an early, mid and a late. Let me explain the differences and the techniques to help you become a more successful cold-water smallmouth angler.
Early fall is when the water temps are still relatively warm (above 60 degrees). Water flows usually start out normal to low depending on the summer rain fall, and the food choices are declining. The biggest change is the smallmouth’s diet is the switch from crayfish to minnows. They will still eat crayfish, but when the water starts cooling crayfish become less active and available. Minnows such as shiners, chubs and shad are readily available. You can still have some top water activity with smallmouth chasing minnows, as well some insect hatches late in the day. Smallmouth bass will still be in shallow water and are more aggressive as they start to feed heavily to prepare for winter. Bass will be roaming rocky gravel bars, ledges, and long flats seeking out an easy meal. This is also the time of to catch a trophy smallmouth. The majority of my smallmouth fishing is down with full sinking lines. I prefer to fish a slow full sinking line (intermediate or type 3) making my cast across and downstream, to the edges of shallow bars and ledges using a steady fast strip, to make the fly jump and dart in the current. My go to fly throughout the cold-water period would be a minnow type imation like a Clouser Minnow or darter. In the early fall I like to use the baby bass or Susquehanna shiner color combinations. Other flies that will also work are Lefty’s Deceiver and the Half and Half. This is the time of year you want to present large flies that’s where I use a size 2. If you find smallmouth chasing minnows on the surface, a floating line and a pencil popper or floating minnow works well. |
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The mid-fall or cold-water season is when the water temps are in the mid 50’s dropping into the lower 50’s, this is when you will see dramatic changes in smallmouth behavior. The drop in water temperature causes the smallies to leave the shallow bars and fast flowing runs, and move to deeper pools and slack water eddies, these areas are where the bass will spend the winter months. Along with the dropping water temperature the bass start grouping up and their metabolism starts slowing down. They don’t have the energy to chase down fast-moving bait and tends to prefer slower moving prey. You will also notice a change in water density (water getting heavier) this is where I prefer to fish with heavily weighted flies (Clouser Minnow with either 1/30 or 1/24 oz eyes) and again full sinking lines, with a leader of straight 10 lb. tippet 3 to 4ft long. The technique that works well is to make your cast slightly up and across the current giving your fly time to get down toward the bottom on the swing, and retrieving the fly slowly along the bottom using short strips. With the decreasing metabolism the bass won’t rise or move far for a meal. Flies that are productive are Clouser Minnow with heavy eyes in brown/ orange, chartreuse/chartreuse yellow, olive/tan, as well as the Clouser Darter. Besides water temperatures, day to day weather can also play a role in smallmouth activity. A couple of warm sunny days can warm the water temperature up a few degrees and get the smallies into a more active mood.
Late fall or cold-water period is when the water temperatures are 48 to 45 degrees (below 45 degrees and fishing with a fly rod is not very productive), this time of year you usually won’t run into very many fishermen on the river. Smallmouth bass metabolism is very low and they tend to hang right on the bottom in slack water. This time of the season is when it pays to know the movements of the smallmouth on your river or stream, because not all areas this time of year will hold fish. You want to make sure that you are fishing during the warmest part of the day usually between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Once you set up on a holding area for smallies, this is when you want to use a full sinking line usually a type 3 and a 1/30 to1/24 oz Clouser Minnow. Make your cast up and across the current (you may have to throw a few mends to get the fly to swing down to the bottom) and into the holding water. Using short strips basically dragging the fly through the water, you won’t feel a hard strike more like resistance (like you picked up a leaf) so set the hook. This late season you won’t catch numbers of smallies, but the ones you do will be big fish.
Fishing during the fall or cold-water season is my favorite time to fish for smallmouth bass, the days are starting to cool and the scenery is starting to change making for some beautiful days on the water. It is also the time of year where you can catch some trophy smallies.
Fishing during the fall or cold-water season is my favorite time to fish for smallmouth bass, the days are starting to cool and the scenery is starting to change making for some beautiful days on the water. It is also the time of year where you can catch some trophy smallies.
