Fishing between the rockfish and hardware river tributaries, this stretch produces citation smallmouth 5 lbs. Bass also retreat to these humps to escape fishing pressure, because the offshore spots are harder to find and fish. Dans book how to fish river smallmouth is instructive and entertaining. Theres always the possibility of catching a big smallmouth, but its the beauty of the river that will bring you back time after time. Smallmouth bass fishing on the shenandoah and james river is nothing short of amazing. The northwests smallmouth triangle page 2 of 2 american. I consider that a good day on the schuylkill river with a bonus of a 18 or 19 inch smallie, nice walleye or even a healthy musky. Little tennessee river is one of the most beautiful rivers in north carolina and is one of the best rivers in the state for smallmouth bass fishing. The north anna battlefield park borders the river about 34 of a mile upstream of the takeout point. The river had once boasted a wonderful fish population, but it was heavily overfished by professional fishermen and settlers in the first part of the twentieth century. Most fishers regard the ronde as a rainbow trout and steelhead river. Current breaks, rapids, boulders, river bends, grass lines and timber are all smallmouth hangouts on rivers.
I know this isnt the best river for it, but does anyone know of decent areas for it in trout waters. Species brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, kentucky spotted bass, walleye, muskie, catfish, carp. Jan 10, 2017 live bait fishing for smallmouth bass on lake james nc. The entire river has a 15 inch minimum length, 1 fish limit on smallmouth bass, making for excellent smallie fishing. By jonathan lepera clausen has found that at times a jerkbait is the perfect wait to catch the last of the remaining larger smallmouth from shallower water before they shift into their fall patterns. In summer smallmouth are feeding primarily on crayfish. When we went, just a few weeks ago, i caught a few on tubes, but most of the fish came on topwater plugs. The quality of the bass fishing in the upper river, however, is currently better than ever, specifically the. Once water temperatures fall below 50 degrees, usually by midnovember, the fishing slows drastically. As the watercools, smallmouth become more dependent on minnow type forage. Fishing guide service in the philadelphia and bucks county area delaware river striped bass fishing, delaware river small mouth bass fishing, delaware river large mouth bass fishing, bucks county fishing guide, river fishing guide, fishing reports for delaware river, striped bass fishing at trenton, philadelphia striped bass fishing, stripers, smallies, jet boat, fishing.
What makes laurel river lake so good for smallmouth bass. With also a guide to the top 102 rivers in united states and canada, river smallmouth fishing is filled with graphs and photographs. I extended the net handle to be 8 long as my old body moves slowly. Ncs top smallmouth rivers the four most commonly discussed smallmouth bass fisheries are discussed. Fishing guide service in chattanooga tennessee specializing in trophy catfish crappie rockfish striper and bluegill. Ive had many pleasant days on small rivers and streams despite catching few fish. The dupage river is one of the most overlooked smallmouth bass fisheries in northern illinois. Scenic upper juniata river full of smallmouth bass outdoors. Obviously everyone here thoroughly enjoys this pastime, and through varying degrees. The secret to consistently catching smallmouth from rivers is being comfortable fishing in current. North toe river, nolichucky river a smallmouth fishing haven. Everything you need to know to catch river smallies skip to main content. This book tells you everything there is to know to catch smallmouth bass in any type of river, anywhere in north america. The big androscogan in the dixfield section can be fun to fish.
Secret streams for smallmouth bass fishing the gazette. Lake james nc smallmouth bass fishing 11 25 15 youtube. A well kept secret, lake james is a spectacular largemouth and smallmouth fishery. Its some of the best smallmouth fishing in the state, based on the numbers and sizes of fish. The river has 20 miles of trout water, including a 5. Finding and catching smallmouths trout fishing articles. John williams, southeastern fishery biologist for the kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources, holds up the results of a smallmouth bass fishing trip this past january on laurel river lake. Eleven point river wilderness lures anglers, family paddlers.
Episode 12 fishing the eleven point river duration. We are not in the business of teaching specific holes on the river. If the idea of hooking a plump trout in the wilds of the deep ozarks appeals to you, head south. West virginia smallmouth fishing guides, resources, and more. I know its way to high now, but want to do some reconnaissance now in preparation for later once the flow subsides. Jul 26, 2012 theres nothing like drifting down the river in a canoe or kayak, fishing for smallmouth and enjoying the serenity of the river. Brian sloss thrives on introducing new anglers to his favorite river. The eleven point river is one of the most diverse and beautiful.
If you are a serious angler, then you probably already know about the great fishing on. Ncs top smallmouth rivers fishing fly shop, maps and. It will be my first time to the eleven point and im not really sure where to begin. In the state of michigan were blessed with infinite fishing possibilities such as salmon, trout and steelhead, which are everywhere in our state. Although smallmouth bass never comes up in the song, just the mere mention of an olivecolored crustacean stimulates an auto response in this yankee that goes like this. Check out some results from our recent trips on these waters.
From may through september, the lower river is dynamic smallmouth country. The pigeon river is considered by many anglers to be the premier smallmouth river in tennessee. The best scores 3340 came from the upper and lower new river, the staunton river, the clinch river, and the middle fork holston river. Smallmouth on the james and shenandoah rivers albemarle. While an occasional three or fourpounder is taken, most will. Lake james fishing guide bass fishing and mountain views. We offer guide trips daily during the spring, summer and fall. Enjoy a day on the ottertail river fly fishing for smallmouth bass, and numerous other freshwater fish species. How i fish a stretch of river for summer smallmouth duration. Although there are not as many deep portions as the fox river or kankakee, nor as popular, there are still plenty of places that hold smallies. The river is popular with anglers fishing for smallmouth bass and. Eleven point smallies late august eleven point river.
River smallies are perhaps the most aggressive of all black bass, and the size of a bait does not matter to the smaller specimens. Gaining knowledge of the area you intend to fish beforehand will help you catch more and larger fish. Ive had days in the summer months doing all day floats that produce 25 to 50 fish a day. For those who like excitement with their worldclass fishing for smallmouth bass, few rivers, if any, are better than the new. The entire juniata river has been a wellknown smallmouth hotspot for generations. Smallmouth bass fishing wisconsin river top water action. Rivers are home to some of the best smallmouth bass fishing on the planet. The great stream smallmouth fishing continues well into fall. Enjoy fishing for smallmouth be trying one of these four most productive streams. Its most fishable area starts in the new river state park near jefferson and then flows northward for more than 50 miles.
Jan 29, 2011 want to go after some big trophy trout, fishing at the base of mt. Messed up the fishing but the information the vdgif biologist gained on the fish count and sizes was well worth it. Whether youre just starting out or are an experienced smallmouth fly angler, here are 3 things to think about to increase your odds if your success rate isnt what you expect it to be. Southern smallmouth new river, virginia 5409222732 mike coley new river smallmouth. Interestingly, west discovered three things, only the second of which he was expecting. The james river is a true trophy smallmouth fishery. Are you guilty of the 5 most common smallmouth fly fishing mistakes. I fish for all kinds of fish depending on the season and the ability to get on the river. For a real smallmouth fishing adventure, call ryan or brian at eleven point canoe rental, 417 7786597, and ask for a guided trip in their drift boat.
First, no matter how large a lure he went to, sub 12inch river smallmouth would still occasionally hit it. The first day was smallmouth water, and the second day was trout. I know ive been guiding from a raft for nearly two decades. Mar 11, 2018 smallmouth fishing lake james, nc 2018 4reeloutdoors. Here is a list of must haves for the eleven point river. Smallmouth bass daily limit is two and must be 14 inches or longer to keep.
The plan called for a float of about four miles the first day and a 12mile float the next day. During the past 30 years, i have been a full time guide in northeast wisconsin. Samples of the lower river section yield fewer smallmouth bass than the upper section, but fish of similar size. If you want to map the river, then we are not the guide service for you. In my area northern wisconsin, river smallmouth will feed primarily on river shiners, chubs or perch. River smallie fishing river smallmouth bass fishing.
The water remains up a bit and there is a stain to the river. Gapen howto fish river smallmouth book gapen fishing. Fishing the eleven point national scenic river is a very popular recreation. So, this article is aimed at helping you do just that. Catching citation smallmouth bass on the new river the. Although 100 fish days are common on the james, anglers have the opportunity to hook into a 5 pound smallouth on this worldclass river. The river holds a healthy population of wild rainbow trout, wild brook trout and big brown trout that are always a blast catching. Many class i to iv rapids daunt the new throughout its course. The s m bass are fantastic at holding the lure tightly then releasing it boat side. Targeting late fall smallmouth use these tricks and techniques from clausen, cousvis, and vandam to help you put more fish in the boat. The eleven point river offers a different approach to rainbow fishing in the ozarks. Its a terrific book about two of my favorite things smallmouth fishing and rivers.
Fly fishing for smallmouth bass on the upper james river. If you ever wanted to catch that illusive west virginias smallmouth bass, you are in the right place. It originates in western north carolina and ends as it flows into the french broad river downstream from. When fishing nolin river lake, remember that all kentucky department of fish and wildlife resources fishing regulations are. I grew up fishing the dupage river from north of plainfield to minooka. Eleven point river fishing report by the ozark anglers forum. Wisconsin river smallmouth are liking the top water baits this time of year. Smallmouth fly fish tennessee tennessee fly fishing. In order to simplify things i have broken the information down into specific areas of the river so that each section can be addressed on its own. What type of fish becomes the main forage base will depend on your geographic location. Youll be fishing out of a clackacraft headhunter skiff drift boat during your float so come and join us for a day of fishing and enjoy the beauty and fishing of the upper mississippi river. If you dont snag the bottom occassionally, you are probably not deep enough.
Other species of note are smallmouth bass, goggleeye, chain pickerel, and walleye. Stream smallmouth bass love early fall kentuckyangling news. I have done a trout trip and a couple of smallmouth trips. A complete guide to river fishing the best lures, strategies to get bigger fish, to fly fishing and much more. Much of my time is spent fishing the menominee river which is one of the top smallmouth destinations in north america. Our guided fishing trips focus on teaching our clients the techniques needed to pursue big, mature smallmouths. Ironically, river smallmouths rarely inhabit the type of muddy creek hole described in the song. Are you guilty of the 5 most common smallmouth fly fishing. Finding and catching smallmouths written by tom rosenbauer the easiest way to find smallmouth bass is to ask at a local fly shop. Smallmouth are such intense fighters they will fight you all the way to the boat and then some. Experience world class smallmouth fishing 6 pound smallmouth common. River smallmouth fishing is the most complete book about smallmouth ive ever seen.
Fishing smallmouth river bass by darl black havalon knives. How to fly fish the 11 point river eleven point fly fishing. Musky fishing on the french broad river nc march2015. I have fallen in love with the smallmouth, and the james river. Is a hard fighting never give up river smallmouth bass on the holston proper near kingsport tennessee what you want. These waters have been personally fished and endorsed by tim holschlag. If you have never fished for river smallmouth you have to put it on your bucket list. Little tennessee river smallmouth bass, trout, walleye. The new river is home to some amazing smallmouth bass fishing.
New and james river fishing guides rock on charters llc. May 06, 20 due to all the rain weve been getting, no much work i can do for the next few days, so am trying to get tuesday free to go smallmouth fishing. Lakes can be tough to during the dog says of summer but the river bass are very active. That was the plan at least, and we even managed to follow it for about two whole hours before all hell broke loose. Greatest smallmouth fisheries in america flw fishing. Starting today, looks like we are going to have a few days of ideal fishing weather so we are going to be out on the columbia river fishing every day we can.
Morgan butler has an impressive record of catching citation bass on the new river. Some of its water is hard to get to by bigger boats but if you fish out of a kayak or canoe you can go after the giants that swim in its current. In this book, smallmouth expert tim holschlag focuses on what many feel is the most exciting smallmouth fishing available stream and small river fishing. Weve had a few windy and wet days here in the pacnw that has been putting a damper on the smallmouth bass fishing. Our lake james fishing guides specialize in largemouth bass fishing trips as well as smallmouth fishing trips for making an unforgettable day on the lake. I live 10 minutes from the best new river smallmouth bass fishing in virginia. We are pleased to offer three unbeatable canadian trips. We talk to him about how he breaks down the new river.
The 17 miles from thomasville to greer spring offer excellent fishing for smallmouth bass and. The gasconade holds the title of one of the most crooked rivers in the world. South toe river fly fishing just north of asheville, the south toe river is formed from a number of branches and streams falling down from mount mitchell and pisgah national forest. If you enjoy wading small streams the sandy river near farmington produces some fine smallmouth fishing. Fishing from rafts, drift boats, and skiffs has unique challenges. Sep, 20 many of the streams featured in the series contain good smallmouth bass populations. Eleven point river fly box fishing on the eleven point river. Years of combined knowledge and a hardcore approach from our guides is what sets the standard for the others to follow, come see the difference of professional fishing guides.
River users should study the river map and be alert for private property or scenic easement signs located along the river course to avoid trespass. River bass fishing, river fishing lures, stream smallmouth. South toe river fishing fly fishing wild trout fishing saa. I had planned on some smallmouth fishing but i recently got into fly fishing and want to try my hand at trout fi. Bank fishing a river is a great way to catch a lot of smallmouth bass and have heaps of fun. Will countys smallmouth bass secret the dupage river. Legal smallmouth bass over 15 made up 16 percent of last years fall sample. Since hart says that the last mile of the trip is a waste of time for fishing based on poor smallmouth habitat, access through the park. The median score for quality sized smallmouth bass in all 16 rivers in 2008 was 25. Catching smallmouth on the schuylkill river smallie angler. Sight fishing river smallmouth hiwassee river wading duration. The new river gorge national river offers over 50 miles of worldclass smallmouth bass river fishing.
Lake james fishing guide smallmouth bass lake james fishing. The river gets a bit wild during highwater periods, with waters rated from medium to difficult, but the mulberry receives high marks from the fishing public. Its big water, so use bigger baits and a bigger rod. When the bite is on, 50 to 100 fish days are common. Croix in washington county is a secret among local smallmouth chasers. Dec 29, 2011 people are always asking me about the best places to find river smallmouth. Tim holschlags new book river smallmouth fishing was selected as a finalist for foreword magazines book of the year award foreword magazine offers a unique awards program that brings together the voices of readers, librarians and booksellers to select the top categories and the winning titles.
Smallmouth on the james river hunting and fishing guide. Streamer fishing the eleven point is definitely worth trying with a sink tip, when the trout are feeling more agressive. Streams in southwestern wisconsin offer excellent fishing for smallmouth bass. You can use a canoe or johnboat to get into fresh, untapped stretches, but plan on wet wading at least part of the day to keep the heat at bay. One good fishing float is the eightanda half mile run from the state highway 23 bridge known as turner bend to a place known as miltons ford. Heres what to expect as you float down this scenic river in 2020. We would camp along the river, fly fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish, catching our dinner along the way. When the sun bears down relentlessly, few types of fishing offer more soothing relief than casting to river smallmouth. The bank is a great place to start fishing for smallmouth. Guided new river smallmouth fishing frequently asked questions. Full day smallmouth float trip smallmouth float fishing on the new river. The trout has been ok, but the smallmouth are loving the stained water. It presents specific location and pattern, but without overkill on specific, brand name baits which can be common in major publishing magazines which can leave the reader wondering if they are reading an infomercial.
Eleven point trout like bigger nymphs, generally size 814. Books on smallmouth bass smallmouth bass fishing bass. There is one fish that stands out for summer fun and its the smallmouth bass. Southern smallmouth new river, virginia 5409222732. Float trips on the james river or shenandoah river usually last around 8 hours and include lunch and drinks.
Smallmouth fishing at 142, narrows eleven point river. River fishing trips gatlinburg, pigeon forge, knoxville. Im thinking about going to the narrows, its been over a year since ive been to that access, and it was in the winter. Like most smallmouth anglers, mike would prefer to fish in the states premier waters, the larger mississippi river tributaries like the turkey, volga, little turkey, upper iowa, maquoketa and. I was fishing on merrill creek reservoir with fred matero under bluebird skies, and knew about an extensive shelflike point extending for a quartermile from shore before sinking to 20 feet deep. The new river is probably the best known, if not the most productive, smallmouth river in nc. Fishing the new river for smallmouths everything smallmouth. Snake river smallies surge up the grande ronde in late springsome say fish come to spawn in warmer water while others say they come to feed on the outmigrating anadromous smolts. Pictured tom hardee holding a fish that vdgif had shocked up while we were there. Theres nothing like spending your day with a knowledgeable guide, team rock on is the regions top musky outfitter. Targeting late fall smallmouth the ultimate bass fishing. The rivers we fish from the most are the holston river, french broad river, pigeon river, little pigeon river, and the nolichucky river.
Delaware river, pennsylvania this big border water has about 40 miles of great smallmouth fishing between callicoon, n. Stream smallmouth fishing and river bass fishing in general nourishes the soul and calms the nerves, taking the angler away from the pressures of every day life. Late fall smallmouth strategies welcome to james gang. The eleven points graveled path is an ideal spawning ground for smallmouth bass. James river smallmouth s bait store, beaverdam, virginia. Jesse james piontek, lure crafter at james gang fishing company in the past few years, my good buddy, kevin martinek, and i have learned a successful strategy to help put some very nice smallmouth bass in the boat in the late fall period.
Mar 05, 2018 since the higher water has receded to fishable levels, i have been getting some guide trips in. The eleven point s graveled path is an ideal spawning ground for smallmouth bass. Smallmouth on the james river hunting and fishing guide in. But if i had my choice i would fish smallmouth year round.
This includes learning how to read a river, understanding the influence of current on smallmouth location and being able. Smallmouth streams follow, while the largemouth rivers will be revealed in the next issue of bassmaster. These lakes offer superb, uncrowded shallow water fly and spin fishing at great prices. Trout fishing starts at the confluence of the greer spring branch and the. The eleven point river, a federally protected wild and scenic river administered by the us forest service, is another of our world class floating streams that also offer world class trout fishing. Enjoy world class smallmouth bass and trout fishing on the new river in west virginia.
No one has more hours guiding fly fishermen on the eleven point river, so jump in. The piscataquias river in the howland produces great catches and feeds into the penobscot. You can find big schools of smallies all weighing between 3 and 5 pounds. Hey all, a couple buds and i are planning a float in late august and im wondering about the smallmouth fishing. These trips take place further downstream from whitton access to arkansas. In addition to trout, the eleven point river also boasts a startling variety of fish, with smallmouth bass and rock bass or goggle eye being most prized upstream. River smallies are a very accessible fishing recourse in our state and for the most part overlooked. What do you consider a good day for schuylkill river smallmouth bass fishing. The smallmouth on the left weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, the largest williams ever caught. Fishing for smallmouth and adjusting to the constant changing river conditions and rapids can be very challenging.