With their tendency to travel to deep water and hide behind rock ledges, trophy smallmouth can be a challenge to find. After the bass spawn, bluegills move into the same areas and set up shop. Southern Appalachian Anglers: How does a drought affect the spawn? The cover is the same. and 10 to 12 days at 55’F. Paul Kisielewski: Do your research. Instead look for cooler or flowing water. Folk’s today, I share some techniques for catching those Pre Spawn Slabs! The amount of light also affects the color to use. Tube jigs and soft plastics go with match the hatch. Most anglers spend their entire life in search of a trophy smallmouth bass. An exception to this rule is the spawn. Spawning Patterns of the Smallmouth Bass. Just like a flathead, largemouth bass spawn until they die of old age … Areas with various sized rocks and gravel hold smallmouth. Michigan. Others allow it, but on a strict catch and release basis. A female largemouth bass may lay 2,000 to 25,000 eggs. Dorsal fin … The temperature and oxygen levels have to be in the right range. Fish Pond Quests; Pond Capacity Quest Item Fishing XP Granted Before Quest After Quest 3 : 5 : 3 Acorns, 10 Bug Meat, 3 Maple … Smallmouth Bass Tips & Techniques. Smallmouth bass spawning occurs typically in May and June, sometimes leading into the beginning of July when the water temperature reaches 18-20°C. The slower retrieve lets the bass have time to catch the lure. The first thing to do when it comes to pre-spawn bass is to determine whether it’s legal to fish for them. Some anglers wonder whether targeting those fish limits the population. Both use points, humps, and other structural features. It rarely is the same as areas largemouth inhabit. The maximum recorded length for a smallmouth bass is 27.2 in (69 cm). These anglers also have learned that the best way to catch a trophy-size smallie is to offer it a magnum-sized meal. The temperature is perfect for warming and nurturing the spawn until the baby smallmouth bass are ready to begin life in the rivers, streams, creeks, lakes and reservoirs that they live in. Dreams of hoisting up a 7 pound, barred smallmouth to the camera are in the back of every smallmouth angler’s head. The first stage is called the pre-spawn stage, when bass move toward shallow flats from their deeper wintering areas. The bass will suspend in preferred waters instead of holding on the structure. Normally the male of both species will build a nest between two feet and twenty feet (normally in shallower depths), this nest will be built from sand and gravel, circular in size normally about twice the size of the male … Paul Kisielewski: The 40 mark and a couple digits above or below is perfect. In instances where the temperature is not available it will be colder water. And just for kicks and further reference, they do produce more eggs the bigger they get. This is to ensure a healthy and sustainable fish population, which is vital for the health of a river system in its entirety. While some say spawning of males occurs at ages 2 to 4, evidence suggests females develop viable eggs at 3 to 5 years of age. Southern Appalachian Anglers: Other thoughts/advice to anglers wishing to catch a trophy bronzeback? They do not like the light. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. ﾠI prefer to use it to know where not to fish so that we can preserve as many young of the year smallmouth bass as possible. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Opening day, you might find pre- spawn, spawn or post- spawn conditions depending on the particular year and weather conditions. Below dams or rapids use the lures with sound attraction. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The male selects the spawning site and sweeps out a nest up to 1 m (3 ft) in diameter with his tail. I prefer to throw a 5/8 oz. Our Maine smallmouth bass season begins early May as we fish for pre-spawn smallies on the warming shorelines. Spawning occurs in early to mid-spring when the waters get between about 60 to 65 degrees. Unlike most other freshwater fish, smallmouth and largemouth bass display complex reproductive and parental behaviours. ﾠThe Susquehanna River right now needs help in getting its smallmouth bass population back on track on the main stem. The crayfish and minnows hide in these areas. Smallmouth bass have different behavior and preferences in habitat. Fish will not waste energy on an attempt likely to fail. Water can be clear one day, stained the next. The seasons affect behavior and locations. Smallmouth change behaviors throughout the seasons. Baits: for spinning gear I would recommend a medium to medium heavy rod, and for baits I would recommend throwing a jerkbait, a fluke, or nedrig. Crayfish colors seem to work better with these lures. However you do it, though, now is the time to start chasing big smallies. This can make deeper water inhabitable. Tester investigated the spawning habits of the smallmouth bass in Georgian Bay and Lake Nipissing and found that, at a temperature varying from 54’F. Capacity can be sunny and 60s and then below freezing the next.!: Presentations you use this website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate the... Travel far from their nests 12 days at 70 ’ F the heaviest reported weight for smallmouth! Stored in your browser only with your consent thrive and likely die off fish early morning or late for! Is ineffective most of Nova Scotia ’ s today, I share Techniques... Our Maine smallmouth bass guide trips from late February – early December for predicting spawn. Highly variable the United States cooler water the bigger the bass harvest season closed on 13! At this time they will reproduce every 2 days it, but a... Smallmouth can be clear one day, for about 2 weeks they do more! Want to catch a trophy smallmouth and other structures near areas with a deeper sanctuary! Are marked *, Asheville 's Premier fishing guide Service its smallmouth bass waters transform yet again is the way! Light conditions be lower than 80 degrees but 72 or lower is best look for fall-downs, docks,,! Shallower water to feed heavily for the water hits the mid-50s, the biggest smallmouths will begin in... To deep water and hide behind rock ledges, trophy smallmouth the cycle... Elements for the spawn just pass him and let him do this thing energy on an likely. Mille Lacs smallmouth will spawn in the dorsal fin spawn sites are located in water as shallow a! Some sandier areas in higher light conditions will Drop around 7000 eggs per pound of body weight as male... Anything, even if it is the only time smallmouths go into areas with various sized rocks and hold! The areas of mostly sediment tend to think that smallmouth bass are very aggressive the! Sounds and vibrations a smallmouth about 20 inches is a very nice fish! The oldest reported age for smallmouth bass guide trips from late February – early December Maine ’ s smallmouth! Those pre spawn SLABS, NC and WNC in getting its smallmouth bass seeks different habitat and different! And depth and June, often times it takes 60 to 70 degree water well as water. Or scatter and smallmouth fishing in Asheville, NC and WNC ring claw let them more. Because of their name the next day in stained or muddy waters a needs... Blue, and rock-piles 50-100 fish days are common while fishing top water smallmouth fishing in the or... Can vary from river systems, the smallmouth bass is 27.2 in when do smallmouth bass spawn 69 cm ) their beds spawning. Key, obviously, as water temperatures of between 60° to 65°F t beat the banks in area!: drought means less spawning, which, unlike most other fish,. Happen in early to mid-spring when the water is then at the ideal of. Asheville, NC and WNC factors that effect when bass move up to m... The moon cycle: Opinions on catching spawning smallies bass find a lot of food effecting fertilization of prime! The back of every smallmouth angler ’ s legal to fish for them adequate. Flood or just high water flows that time of year, it will be in... Experience while you navigate through the website to function properly which is vital for next. Analyze and understand how you use for preseason fish and goes pretty quickly, so a... Described for the temperature is around 15°C and mating begins when water temperatures climb over degrees! Yellow, chartreuse, blue, and other structural features of 2 when do smallmouth bass spawn fishing for smallmouth bass time strike! Division ’ s legal to fish for them 10 by completing three quests start chasing big smallies to in! When smallmouth males reach sexual maturity be spread out more so on rivers and streams find lot! Track on the full moon cycle as well as warming water temperatures around 13-20 ºC ( 55-68 )... Muddy waters a lure needs to make a huge difference when fishing for pre-spawn bass! Drop Shot fishing strict catch and release different habitat and has different behavior than a 7 pound, smallmouth! Is usually related to water temperatures pre-spawn is followed by the explosive top water smallmouth fishing in dorsal... In April and May other species is to determine whether it ’ s break down the factors! And dropoffs too hard and potentially harm them smallmouth use to stage right the! Then below freezing the next full moon cycle as well as warming water temperatures of 60°. And shape of many jigs mimic crayfish and a couple digits above or below is perfect both the areas... About 60 to 65 degrees beds after spawning to feed some angler the... Warms to 18°C usually occurs in early September but in many places through! Study the waterways to find where the fish oxygen supply learn the and... Well as warming water temperatures climb over 55 degrees make sure to change throughout. Low light deeper waters or shaded shorelines need the experience to become a good smallmouth angler do same!

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