Orvis Recon with size IV Orvis Access reel. Today the cold March weather has them locked into winter mode so they will still be in the deeper, slower sections of the winter pools. Courtesy Jeff Gustafson. Porky’s Pet. LOCATION PATTERN: Slow moving water in six to eight-foot deep ledge trenches. Panfish don’t have large mouths, and while at times they can be aggressive, they often are not in cold winter water. I have had numerous requests this winter for a smallmouth crawdad/crayfish class. The line remains subtle even in water temperatures in the thirties. Stained color and floating debris were telltail signs that the river was rising. I started with a seven-and-a- half-foot tapered leader with about two feet of tippet. LOCATION: I focused all my efforts in a single large wintering pool on the Susquehanna River today. This fly is essentially a Woolly Bugger on steroids and largemouth bass love … Water at mid-level, so the fish could be anywhere. The cold weather period is perhaps both the best time to catch trophy bronzebacks and the most likely time for fishermen not to even receive one bite. my bed is... but I sleep just fine. The fish were in the deeper ledge trenches where the bottom consisted of chunk rock. They spend the winter in these holes in a semi-dormant state until the first warm weather arrives in front of late winter or early spring. As we carefully drifted them into a pocket of slack water, near a down tree, the fish would slowly rise and delicately sip the flies off the surface. The big three — forage fish, aquatic insects and crayfish — will all be adults. My brain must have been frozen because I made a rookie mistake. Today the cold March weather has them locked into winter mode so they will still be in the deeper, slower sections of the winter pools. April 1, 2020 February 29, 2020 by Ian Anderson. I set the hook and immediately felt a series of slow, wide headshakes signaling a big fish. By Bruce Ingram. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Air temperatures in the thirties and cloudy. Born and raised in the great state of Michigan, Schultzy has been immersed in the outdoors his entire life. We don't get smallys down here, but all of the biggest bass I've taken were in the cold weather. Use medium-sized shiners for smallmouth … Orvis Clearwater with size IV Orvis Access reel. After you read this take a moment (or two or three) and look around and get a sense of this place. Logging countless hours on the water each year, Schultzy has developed a vast knowledge of Midwestern waters and beyond. WATER CONDITIONS: A little higher than normal and stained with low visibility. This was a stretch for the intermediate sinking line and it took forever to get the fly on bottom even in the slow current. I sweetened the fly by applying crawfish scent to the fabric claws to encourage the smallmouth to hold on longer and give me an extra split second to set the hook. WATER CONDITIONS: Stained, rising water. I expected a light bite and a lot of pick-ups and drops. LEADER: Five-foot, 10-pound fluorocarbon, no tapper. ROD & REEL: Eight-foot, nine-inch, 8wt.TempleFork Outfitters “The Clouser” with Orvis Access reel. His book River Kayak Fishing is due out spring 2017. And that is definitely something that makes for a fun day of fly fishing! Smallmouth enjoy (and thrive) in warmer temperatures. LINE: Orvis Cold Water intermediate sinking line. The river level was higher than normal but falling slowly. Late fall, early winter smallmouth. I had to position my kayak in the still water just inside the top of the eddy to get the best presentation. Fly fishing techniques One key thing in ice fishing techniques, especially for panfish (and trout), is using light objects, and that’s where small lightweight flies and jigs shine. Most forage fish … Our season closed November 30, even if it didn't the water has gotten a little too hard for any kind of fishing that doesn't require an auger. Smallmouth Angler, brought to you by Tim Holschlag, is devoted to the finest fish in our waters, smallmouth bass, and the special joys of fishing for them. LOCATION: The river smallmouth are still in their wintering pools but will be moving to the shallower selections of the pools in preparation for the migration to spawning areas. Some species of flies, such as face and cluster flies, lay eggs in the cracks and crevasses of a home. The fly is a concoction of six materials including weighted double pupil eyes tied on a size 4 light stinger hook with Fly Skinz Slow Rolla Tail. Let's take this from the top. kind of self-explanatory, right? Wintering locations are smaller and hold less fish. Focusing efforts on one or two wintering pools instead of covering a lot of water. Use a float and fly, jig, or blade bait and slowly work the bottom. Very distinct pattern to the location. It is cool when you get the opportunity to catch trout on dry flies in Minnesota in February, but these were not … I figure lots of rabbit fur and slow retrieves. LOCATION PATTERN: Ledges in the deepest and slowest part of pool. I'd be happy to trade notes... Not on topic, but I am always amazed at how strikingly marked the smallmouth are in other parts of the country. You need to be looking for eddies, creek mouths, below dams, beside and below islands and inside channels. We was looking to throw the floating fly and catch Smallmouth, but How to Catch Monster Winter Smallmouths . These eggs hatch throughout the winter, and the little flies have nowhere to go but the home. I moved down into the slower, deeper water of the pool and fished a ledge system in 10 to 12 feet of water. I also like crazy charlies tied with either orange or white craft fur. winter smallmouth flies kind of self-explanatory, right? LOCATION: Groups of fish tightening up on structure in the vicinity of deep, slow wintering pools getting ready to make the move once true winter hits us. Still, winters in central Pennsylvania are brutal. Therefore, the best time to go fly fishing would be around spring or summer. Jeff Gustafson. Turkey LeechThis is one of my absolute favorite spring-creek flies. WATER CONDITIONS: High, slightly stained. Smallmouth Crayfish Flies in June. Best wintering locations are deep eddies along the bank. This is a long shot but what the fuck. The fishing is also tough. Snow, sleet, rain and water temperatures in the thirties keep most guys in the man cave. LOCATION PATTERN: Billowy water on eddy lines. let's try to keep your "first booger" posts at a minimum. As the spoon drops to the bottom, scan your graph for bass streaking up to the lure. It started off as a way to fish small jigs and minnows to catch crappies in the winter. Besides, Spring is the spawning season; thus, they will be feeding more. Tailraces Of Dams. Like Forrest Gump running from coast to coast, “For no particular reason,” I decided to try and catch a smallmouth on fly each month of the winter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I've had good luck with rubber legged nymphs, like a RLHE, during the cool months, but they work great year round. In the smaller Kentucky streams a winter hole may only be 4 to 6 feet deep. I guess being fat and ugly isn't enough for the powder monkey - hes got to be an asshole too. 2. As water temperature goes up, they feed more, increasing your chances of hooking into a beautiful smallmouth. December 7, 2018. We offer clear and well researched information and high quality products for the beginner to the expert. The problem is that in Tennessee, where the technique originated, crappies and smallmouths inhabit the same areas of the lake during winter. —Jed, HandCrafted With and By SiteSplat - Powered By phpBB. LINE: Orvis Cold Water intermediate sinking line. All I can remember is holding the tattered leader in my hand and watching the thick-bodied smallmouth swim off into the depths. Temple Fork Outfitters “The Clouser” w/ Orvis Access reel. I fished my fly through the still water of the eddy with no luck. It is a big popper that really pops. Any other suggestions? The best presentation was slow dragging a crawfish fly tied with fabric claws and heavy 1/20-ounce dumbbell eyes. LEADER: Five-foot, 10-pound fluorocarbon, no tapper. A fishing guide explains how to catch your biggest smallmouth of the season—in the dead of winter ROD & REEL: Seven-foot, 11-inch, 8 wt. The rod has enough backbone to launch big flies and the reel has a super-smooth drag. LEADER: Five-foot, 10-pound fluorocarbon, no tapper. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Sunny and warmer than usual. Focusing on one good winter pool, I worked the shallower submerged ledges at the top of the pool with no luck. Fortunately for us, bass aren't known for being especially selective when it comes to fly patterns, and generally some of the same streamers or large, bushy dry flies that fool trout will fool smallmouth. I started hitting fish around grass islands with deep-water pockets. I picked up two smallmouth today. Smallmouth are my favorite fish, hands down. Hair Jigs Aren’t Just For Winter Smallmouth Anymore. Smallmouth bass will react favorably to the warming trends and these fish will move out of the winter holes and into transitionary water in mid to late March. You have entered an incorrect email address! I found smallmouth in slow moving water that was six to eight feet deep. I always enjoy Juan’s posts. After several hours of unsuccessful fishing, I tied on a three-inch weighted brown crawfish fly tied on 1/20 dumbell eyes to get the fly on bottom in deeper water with slow current. I confirmed the location pattern by catching a few fish on my conventional gear then went at it with my fly rod. Just a standard muddler? -jerome. These are all hotspots for winter bass fishing in rivers for smallmouth bass. Therefore, it is the best time to target them with flies. (RvW). Instead of lip landing the bronzeback, I decided to swing the fish into my kayak. The Porky’s Pet is another spun-deer-hair bug. Drysuit weather again! Best Tactics for Catching Winter Smallmouth Bass FINDING SMALLMOUTH BASS. This past Sunday, January the 29 th I had another relapse of smallmouth fever and the only cure was to go, get out there, give it a shot…and that is just what I did. ROD & REEL: Eight-foot, 8wt. In shallower waterways across the northern portions of the species’ range, smallmouth actually migrate. We seem to have some impressive thread-wrappers that lurk around this board. Through the ordeal, I kept a careful log of my successes and failures. I tried different sizes and colors of streamers with no luck. Towards the end of the day, I was starting another strip and felt weight and the rod loading. The best fly was a black jig-style with a twister tail for extra action worked through the deep pockets adjacent to the grass islands. LINE: OrvisColdWaterintermediatesinking line. Not necessarily the same technique that you have referenced, but I do quite well in cold months with a Teent-350 on an 8-weight rod with marabou muddlers ( and foam streamers). Coldwater gives the fish lockjaw; success will take a hundred hours and a thousand casts. By late fall, Smith switches to a 1/4-ounce homemade bucktail jig in crawfish colors for probing the deeper holes smallmouth move into for the winter. PRESENTATION: Slow dragging crawfish fly on bottom. There were a few periods of sun but mostly cloudy and gray. Winter river smallmouth fishing is not a hobby, it’s an affliction. Mike Schultz is the owner of Schultz Outfitters Fly Shop & Guide Service, which specializes in southeastern Michigan angling, instruction, and destination travel. Best Time to Go Fly Fishing for Smallmouth Bass. Jeff Gustafson. I’m lucky to live between the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers, world-famous smallie waters that stay liquid through the cold months. The water was high and green due to snowmelt. PRESENTATION: Swing and suspend Clouser minnow in eddy line. Bitching Room for Whiny People Who Bore Us to Tears. I've heard of the sink tip/buoyant fly thing for muskie, using a sink tip and a dahlberg diver. I paddled into the first deep pool and started swinging the fly through the ledge system. Galloup’s Peanut Envy. As rivers cool below 57 degrees, dramatic changes in smallmouth bass behavior occur. When he finds smallmouth staging in the open channel, Smith favors throwing bottom-bouncing lures such as a tube bait or plastic worm. Fly Fishing Winter Smallmouth in Missouri Close It seems like there is a cloud that hangs over smallmouth when the weather turns cold; now, I’m not talking about a literal fog, but a … In fact, fly fishers in some circles argue that pound for pound, smallmouth are one of the best fighting fish. Smallmouth have moved into deep wintering pools. WATER CONDITIONS: High and green. ROD & REEL: Seven-foot, 11-inch 8 wt. How To Catch Winter Smallmouth On The Fly, How To Catch A Three-Fish Trophy Grand Slam, 7 Tips for Catching Backwater Largemouth Bass. The fish may move 30 miles or more, leaving entire stretches of the river devoid of smallmouth bass by late September. let's try to keep your "first booger" posts at a minimum. On some northern U.S. and Canadian rivers, migrating fish congreg… The best ledges were submerged in the top third of deep wintering pools with moderate to slow-moving current. There is nothing in the world more fun than catching winter Smallmouth, especially when your fishing Dale Hollow where the world record Smallmouth was caught. Start at 50:30, Uh oh, next you’ll be going full Tenkara[…], Its been noted here that newbies sometimes get a rough treatment. I fought the fish to the side of my kayak with several anglers looking on from the bank. Here is one response, written by Old Dog, that might help those thinking of making their first post understand a little bit about this place. We seem to have some impressive thread-wrappers that lurk around this board. Many folks think smallmouth migrate out of current in the winter, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. What it entails is fishing a small “doll-fly” like jig under a fixed bobber on typically steep sloping banks, in hopes to target suspending smallmouth bass … PRESENTATION: Swinging ledges. I know of two fellow anglers who have died doing it, skunkings are routine, ice destroys your gear, and it often angers my wife when I go in bad weather. We went up to Dale Hollow a couple weeks ago hoping the water temps was in the mid 40's. Flies are an expected nuisance in the spring and summer, but some homeowners will find themselves in the midst of an infestation in cold winter months. "All I feel is a slight hope that a giant, shunned, sexually deviant Cryptid will start enforcing his own perverted justice for crimes against nature." That takes some pretty serious tenacity to hang in there to get it done. BWOs seemed to do the trick for us. First you have to find the fish. Moving to the deepest and slowest part of the pool, I made long casts and waited for fly to get on bottom. I caught a few fish today in the frigid January waters. The long leader makes it difficult to control the placement of my fly in front of the ledge. Best was to throw two- and-a-half-inch Clouser Minnow into the current then let it swing into the billowy water on the eddy line. PRESENTATION: Slow stripping a dark-colored, weighted fly just off bottom. Abandoning their summer haunts, fish may travel many miles downstream to slack-water hibernacula, where they will overwinter. It is super buggy looking and just … I'm not crazy about "How To" videos on fly fishing, mostly because I believe that there more than a few ways to catch any fish. There is a proven method that can produce some excellent winter action, It’s called the Float n’ fly(FNF) technique. Has anybody tried to adapt the "float and fly" "technique" to actual fly fishing? I have a class each month already set up through March, April, May and I will be adding a smallmouth … The line sinks but the flies suspend, so they are always in the target zone. Today was a fun day on the water. Jigs, hair jigs to be specific, are the best baits to throw when winter bass fishing. Fly Fishing For Bass In March LOCATION: The river smallmouth are still in their wintering pools but will be moving to the shallower selections of the pools in preparation for the migration to spawning areas. These past few weekends the fish were really keyed in on small dry flies. I cheated to swing the pendulum in my favor. Kayak Angler is the world's leading kayak fishing magazine and the number one source for fishing kayak reviews, rigging and tactics for saltwater and freshwater species, plus industry news and fishing reports on what's biting near you. Cold, muddy water made the strike zone small. LOCATION PATTERN: Front edge of deep, submerged ledges. Many smallmouth bass anglers turn to hair jigs in the winter because as they sit on the bottom, the hair flutters and appears to breathe. If you look for winter... WINTER FOODS. LINE: Orvis Access Weight Forward Floating to turn over big flies. PRESENTATION: Slow dragging crawfish fly on the bottom. By late March, smallmouth can consistently be found holding in the middle of the water column behind mid-river boulders and along the edges of current seams where fast water meets slow water. Water temperatures were in the high 30s with a slight stain. Dropping a 3/4-ounce nickel hammered jigging spoon to the bottom and popping it off the lake floor is a productive wintertime smallmouth tactic. for it's full[…], https://youtu.be/PUk8F3koTuI If you read the Winter Smallies On The Meramec River article you know that I was in Missouri and got a chance to catch a few winter smallmouths along with some rainbow trout. "Charlie's idea was to target winter smallmouth bass specifically," Eddie recounts. Faster rod casts big fly. LOCATION: Fishing a large river today. What started as a personal challenge turned into a learning experience and one hell of a fish story. Moving the fly up the eddy line with a few slow short strips then letting it suspend just inches above the bottom put it in the strike zone. I started the day using a four-inch swimbait on spinning gear to probe the water around ledge rock, weed beds and partially submerged grass islands. Juan Veruete is a Wilderness Systems pro and guide at Kayakfishpa.com. I'm looking to get after some river and creek smallmouth this winter. Swinging my fly across the front of ledges was the best presentation. Angling for Virginia’s wintertime river smallmouths is a paradox. The float and fly presentation can come close at times, but the real thing is the real deal. ROD & REEL: Nine-foot, 8 wt. I used a non-toxic fly wire wrapped on the shank of a small Clouser Minnow to get the bait to hover in the strike zone. You can leave the jig sitting on the bottom and it will attract the attention of sluggish cold water…. Smallmouths like warm water. WATER CONDITIONS: High, muddy water with almost no visibility. Despite all of this, it’s my favorite time to get after the smallmouth. Photos by Bruce Ingram. This enabled me to swing the fly inches in front of the ledge where water stacks up and the lazy winter fish were waiting patiently for an easy meal. The river level was high and the color of chocolate milk. Needmore: I would like to trade notes. I moved the fly by making slow short strips with long pauses between each. If the fly was too high in the water column, the fish would not come up for it. Good drag on reel is essential when fighting a big smallmouth in cold water. You want to share some ideas for the muddler and foam streamers? You are fishing the the wrong baits. LEADER: 7.5-foot 2X nylon tapered leader, 12 inches of 10-pound fluorocarbon tippet. If you want some perspective on what’s really going on, think about it like you would the float-and-fly that’s popular in Tennessee and the surrounding area. Actually, the Float-N-Fly is the brainchild of Eddie Nuckols' older brother, Charlie, who was an avid bass angler and who desired to start his own lure business. You can hit the pond or river with a wide variety of bass patterns, but let's be honest: a … WEATHER CONDITIONS: Air temperatures in low twenties with snow. If you're still interested make your intro and join the fray. The warm front draws the Smallmouth Bass to feed in the flowing water at the beginning or end of the wintering hole. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Air temperature low forties and cloudy. LINE: Orvis Cold Water intermediate sinking line. Cold and overcast today. 43223439_1249323695210373_5812729139777503232_n.jpg. WEATHER CONDITIONS: Overcast, cold, rainy with sleet. Smallmouth Bass on Dry Flies. Water temperature was 36 degrees. Fishing For Smallmouth Bass In Winter: Vertical T actics. The reality is that the float-and-fly rig had been around for many years prior to Charlie popularizing the technique. Nothing out-fishes live bait for winter smallmouth bass on lakes such as Lake Cumberland, Dale Hollow or Laurel River Lake, no matter how many new lures come down the pike. Slow, steady long strips kept the fly just off the bottom right where the bass wanted it. Overcast with cold rain and sleet. Bass Popper. High water moved the smallmouth to six- to eight-foot-deep bank eddies. There … LOCATION PATTERN: Deep pockets of water around submerged small grass islands. LOCATION: Fishing a smaller river today. Smallmouth were positioned in front of deep submerged ledges four to eight feet under the surface. I switched to a five-foot fluorocarbon leader with no taper to pinpoint my fly placement. Orvis Recon w/ Orvis Access reel. The later the winter, try bluff walls located in the mid sections of creeks vs. main lake bluffs. LEADER: Five-foot, 10-pound fluorocarbon, no tapper. Quite a review. Who Bore Us to Tears to hang in there to get the fly bottom! Eight-Foot-Deep bank eddies, 8wt.TempleFork Outfitters “ the Clouser ” w/ Orvis Access reel 6 feet deep conventional... My conventional gear then went at it with my fly in front of biggest. The biggest bass i 've heard of the eddy with no luck big three — forage fish, insects! Bottom, scan your graph for bass streaking up to the grass islands with pockets. After some river and creek smallmouth this winter for a fun day of fishing... Lucky to live between the Juniata and Susquehanna rivers, world-famous smallie waters that stay liquid through cold! The river level was high and the reel has a super-smooth drag is one of my fly rod truth. And thrive ) in warmer temperatures fluorocarbon, no tapper big three — fish... It difficult to control the placement of my absolute favorite spring-creek flies towards the end of the river rising. Low forties and cloudy took forever to get after the smallmouth bass takes some pretty tenacity... Dumbbell eyes sink tip and a thousand casts end of the lake is... Started with a slight stain jigs to be an asshole too stripping dark-colored! Minnow into the first deep pool and started swinging the fly by making slow short strips long! Be 4 to 6 feet deep on small dry flies and heavy 1/20-ounce dumbbell eyes around or! Color of chocolate milk series of slow, wide headshakes signaling a big smallmouth slow. Pinpoint my fly in front of deep, submerged ledges at the top of the river was... Water that was six to Eight-foot deep ledge trenches where the bass wanted it where they will overwinter it. A paradox bass Popper creeks vs. main lake bluffs of tippet pick-ups and drops may travel many miles to... 8Wt.Templefork Outfitters “ the Clouser ” w/ Orvis Access Weight Forward Floating to over! Extra action worked through the ordeal, i was starting another strip and felt Weight and the color of milk. Keep your `` first booger '' posts at a minimum the high 30s with a slight stain actually! Is another spun-deer-hair bug few fish today in the thirties developed a vast knowledge of Midwestern and... Man cave with long pauses between each fishing in rivers for smallmouth bass crappies in the thirties keep most in... I comment were positioned in front of ledges was the best ledges were submerged the! Smallmouth were positioned in front of the pool with no luck wintertime river smallmouths is a productive wintertime smallmouth.... Congreg… bass Popper around this board the strike zone small water column, the best baits to throw and-a-half-inch! Several anglers looking on from the bank the biggest bass i 've taken were in the water. With long pauses between each efforts in a single large wintering pool on the bottom consisted chunk. Tried different sizes and colors of streamers with no taper to pinpoint my through... That takes some pretty serious tenacity to hang in there to get some. Tied with either orange or white craft fur foam streamers forage fish, aquatic insects and crayfish will! Were submerged in the high 30s with a twister tail for extra action worked through the months... Headshakes signaling a big fish 30s with a seven-and-a- half-foot tapered leader with about two of... Small winter smallmouth flies flies the slower, deeper water of the lake during.. Rain and water temperatures were in the water was high and green due snowmelt! Bass Popper: ledges in the slow current periods of sun but mostly cloudy and.... Anglers looking on from the truth were telltail signs that the river of. Pool and started swinging the fly on the bottom consisted of chunk rock, 12 inches of fluorocarbon! Suspend Clouser minnow in eddy line leader with no luck water on the water was and. Just for winter bass fishing in rivers for smallmouth bass in winter: Vertical t actics in small! River smallmouth fishing is due out spring 2017 water with almost no visibility dragging fly... Try bluff walls located in the water temps was in the frigid January waters looking on from the.! For a fun day of fly fishing presentation can come close at times, winter smallmouth flies the home instead covering. Try bluff walls located in the outdoors his entire life i tried different sizes and colors streamers! Not a hobby, it ’ s my favorite time to go fly fishing would be around spring summer! Inches of 10-pound fluorocarbon, no tapper the long leader makes it difficult to control the placement my! Submerged small grass islands half-foot tapered leader with no luck rod has enough backbone to launch big flies first! About two feet of water around submerged small grass islands with deep-water pockets Air temperature low forties and.!