Smallmouth Bass Fishing - other Fish Impact 2024
flg2010 reply :
So August Smallmouth Fishing on the Wallkill River, a bit better then last August but nothing above 13 inches still. I caught more then 10 fish from shore.. the biggest Smallmouth pictured below, for 13 inches it seems very skinny.
However. I did manage to see several odd looking fish in the deeper pools 15 feet from shore as I balanced on some rocks. I fished from a pier and caught one. Around 10 inches.. very plump. What is it? They seem to be in the same places I used to see Smallmouth last year and they are very aggressive.. are they impacting the Smallmouth?
I might try some new places next weekend. Fishing seems much less viable then the trips I used to take back in '03 well before I moved up here.
soflabasser reply :
First fish is a rock bass and the bottom fish is a smallmouth bass.
Chance_Taker4 reply :
That smallmouth is longer than shown as well the mouth sticks out past the tape measure. But it doesn't look in too bad of shape.
rsagebrush reply :
I be fine with that a most of the time. Still I am always looking for a big boy and a lot of times find them. Still catching those breaks up the monotony.
flg2010 reply :
Honestly I am trying for a state record fish (Smallmouth). And.. to make it more interesting I am trying for that in the Wallkill. Mostly because I have never seen so many Smallmouth bass anywhere else. There should be a record fish somewhere here.
Having caught tiny rock bass before this rock bass looked odd to me, and I suspect the population of them which seems high is impacting the Smallmouth.
I have seen very large Smallmouth in the Wallkill, jumping, hunting in packs...usually in very deep pools. To access them I have had to balance myself on rocks and have fallen in several times over the last year. The Wallkill is not very deep and a canoe or Kyack won't help me get at the fish I need to.
Turtle135 reply :
I have always heard that Rock Bass are an indication of good water quality (and they go together with smallmouth bass just like largemouth and bluegills compliment each other).
J Francho reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 3:45 AM, flg2010 said:And.. to make it more interesting I am trying for that in the Wallkill.
I chuckled a bit. You will not find a river smallmouth bigger than what's swimming around Erie. River smallmouth expend too much energy in current to get to the size that lake bound fish do. Yes, you will find some 4 pounders, and maybe a five, but nothing approaching 8 and a half pounds.
As far as the rock bass, they occupy roughly the same niche as smallmouth, though when the rockies are big, so are the smallies. Speaking of rockies and records, the rock bass record is ripe for the picking. I threw back one that would have eclipsed the record. Had no idea it was just under 2 lbs.
Subaqua Adinterim reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 4:27 AM, J Francho said:River smallmouth expend too much energy in current to get to the size that lake bound fish do. Yes, you will find some 4 pounders, and maybe a five, but nothing approaching 8 and a half pounds.
Absolutely. I catch many smallmouth in some ADK rivers and streams that are all trim and fit, i.e. thinner. Maybe because they are in constant training holding in the current, they are in such good fighting shape and for their size put up quite a tussle. Especially fun on ultralight tackle.
There are some tribs coming off some of the finger lakes that you may catch some larger SMs (3#s or more) in the spring, but those are fish that are venturing in from the lake, not permanent stream dwellers.
Also, the Saint Lawrence river has some very sizeable SMB as evidenced by the most recent pro tourney there; however, because of it's size (bigger than almost all lakes) , I consider it to have characteristics that are more like a lake.
J Francho reply :
I agree, "The Larry" might have something close swimming around. I've seen a 7+ pulled out Keuka at a tournament. That fish was actually eclipsed by an 8-5 largemouth - FROM THE SAME BAG!! Keuka is one of those Finger Lakes with a good forage base, and big smallmouth, so maybe there too. The eastern shore of Lake Ontario, Chaumont Bay is producing some larger than usual smallmouth as well. Not quite Erie, but close.
Chance_Taker4 reply :
On 8/1/2017 at 4:27 AM, J Francho said:
I chuckled a bit. You will not find a river smallmouth bigger than what's swimming around Erie. River smallmouth expend too much energy in current to get to the size that lake bound fish do. Yes, you will find some 4 pounders, and maybe a five, but nothing approaching 8 and a half pounds.
As far as the rock bass, they occupy roughly the same niche as smallmouth, though when the rockies are big, so are the smallies. Speaking of rockies and records, the rock bass record is ripe for the picking. I threw back one that would have eclipsed the record. Had no idea it was just under 2 lbs.
Fishing Erie and St Clair as well as their river systems (Detroit River, Maumee River and Ottawa River) this is the truest statement ever. Erie Smallmouth are monsters compared to river smallies but the biggest smallies I ever caught came from Torch Lake and the Grand Traverse Bay up in Traverse City, MI
Turkey sandwich reply :
Giant river fish just have too much working against them, in most places. There are some exceptions (St. Lawrence might be the best example). Anything over 4lbs in a river is an absolute monster.
flg2010 reply :
On 8/2/2017 at 4:19 AM, Chance_Taker4 said:Fishing Erie and St Clair as well as their river systems (Detroit River, Maumee River and Ottawa River) this is the truest statement ever. Erie Smallmouth are monsters compared to river smallies but the biggest smallies I ever caught came from Torch Lake and the Grand Traverse Bay up in Traverse City, MI
Well, I actually never caught Rock Bass ever before fishing Wallkill. Now that I know what they are I am catching 9 and 10 inch ones routinely.. as in every trip almost. When the water is a little clear I can see slightly bigger ones if I wade out.
I might spend a lifetime and not catch a really big Smallmouth here but I will hold out hope.
What makes this fun is the difficulty.. this is not a stocked lake or pond. However I still think these other fish are competing.. I see super large Rock Bass, large sunfish.. one sunfish was over a pound! I have yet to catch a carp but I see people pulling 10+ pounders out.
J Francho reply :
Keep at it. River smallmouth fishing is uniquely satisfying.
This is from my first trip to Erie. Also happens to be my personal best smallie.
roadwarrior reply :
Nice fish, GREAT PIC!
flg2010 reply :
On 8/8/2017 at 9:47 PM, J Francho said:Keep at it. River smallmouth fishing is uniquely satisfying.
This is from my first trip to Erie. Also happens to be my personal best smallie.
That has to be near the state record... wow....
J Francho reply :
Not even close. 5-12. My partner that day caught a 6-0.
Further North reply :
Smallies out of lakes are fun...but river smallies are the best bass in WI. No contest.
gimruis reply :
I have found that the river smallmouth fight more too. I hook into a 13 incher and I swear its 19 until I see it. Not that the lake smallmouth don't fight either, but the river ones HAVE to be stronger when there current around otherwise they die.
Bluebasser86 reply :
River smallies are always thinner. They have to be athletes, fighting the current from the time they're born until the day they die. Makes them strong, but also prevents them from getting as big.
Further North reply :
On 8/8/2017 at 9:47 PM, J Francho said:Keep at it. River smallmouth fishing is uniquely satisfying.
This is from my first trip to Erie. Also happens to be my personal best smallie.
Looked at that pic and thought, "Keys won't work like that chucking flies." 
J Francho reply :
Drop shot in 40 FOW. Water temps were 38°. November fishing on Erie. 
Spankey reply :
If you know that bigger than 13" smallies are to be had there you have to just stick with it. Go at it hard, never give up. I'd like to know what you are fishing with. Do you have the means to get to where the bigger fish are? I'm thinking trying to fish drawing reaction strikes by the bigger ones.
flg2010 reply :
On 8/27/2017 at 7:56 PM, Spankey said:If you know that bigger than 13" smallies are to be had there you have to just stick with it. Go at it hard, never give up. I'd like to know what you are fishing with. Do you have the means to get to where the bigger fish are? I'm thinking trying to fish drawing reaction strikes by the bigger ones.
Usually 2 rods -
Rod 1: California rigged Keitech custom worm (3 inch or 3.5 inch), one ball bearing weight. 12 lb test Cajun red mono line.
Rod 2: Earthworms rigged the same as above. 12 lb test Cajun red mono line.
I managed to land a 16 inch smallmouth today on Rod 1.
Spankey reply :
On 8/28/2017 at 6:40 AM, flg2010 said:
Usually 2 rods -
Rod 1: California rigged Keitech custom worm (3 inch or 3.5 inch), one ball bearing weight. 12 lb test Cajun red mono line.
Rod 2: Earthworms rigged the same as above. 12 lb test Cajun red mono line.
I managed to land a 16 inch smallmouth today on Rod 1.
A 16" Smallie is a respectable fish in my book. And not knowing a thing about your river or where it is, there is bigger than that there.
It it would be nice to catch 22"-23" river Smallies on each cast or outing. I know in my case it not going to happen.
16" today. Tomorrow your working toward 17". Maybe you'll get a 20"er. Milestones toward progression I guess.
I know in my case, I have to work hard at it. I try to give them different looks. Not to quote old Mike Ike but I never give up.
I'm certainly no KVD either. I just have an addiction for Smallie fishing. I do ok.
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 8/28/2017 at 6:40 AM, flg2010 said:Rod 1: California rigged Keitech custom worm (3 inch or 3.5 inch), one ball bearing weight. 12 lb test Cajun red mono line.
I give up. What is a "California rig"?
J Francho reply :
Umbrella rig?
flg2010 reply :
lol stupid me should have been "Carolina" was on my iphone and it auto corrected when I miss-typed.
Turkey sandwich reply :
If the goal is bigger river smallies, I may also suggest learning how to fish football head jigs in rivers. They just tend to be a really productive bait that can be worked at lots of different depths, anywhere you've got mid-sized rock and gravel. I also think there's something to patterning big fish, too. Remember, the biggest, most dominant predators in a system are going to be in the best possible positions to feed that also satisfy their comfort (water temp, oxygen, and current). For example, shallow weeds, in or on the edge of current, later in the day up until right after dusk, or as water temp begins to fall (think late summer - mid autumn pattern) can be a fantastic pattern for big fish because everything is present - food, easy ambush opportunities, more comfortable water temperatures, and a ton of heavily oxygenated water. Coincidentally, similar areas with nearby slower current or slack water tend to produce a lot of "surprise!" musky and pike along our rivers here in PA.
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