Me and my guides fish four rivers and each offers unique opportunities, staggering natural beauty and fishing to fit whatever anglers are looking for. When inquiries come in, we try to gather information to put anglers in the best water possible. Questions range from the type of species to what time of year is the best to fish. Humorously, my reply is usually, “The best time is when the bass are eating.”
Believe me, there is nothing wrong with wanting a day on the water catching numbers of trophy size bass. The reality, however, is that pinning down such a date is nearly impossible. Factors like weather, strong wind, river levels and the attitude of the bass themselves can factor into even the most productive fishing times of the year. Since most anglers come aboard the boat looking for plenty of action and the chance at hooking into (and landing) a trophy-sized bass, I thought it might be beneficial to share some insight on just what different times of the year has to offer.
Autumn
As Autumn comes into the picture, outdoorsmen and women are pulled in many different directions. For some, fishing gives way to hunting and other cold weather activities and many hang up their angling gear. With daylight becoming shorter and shorter, temperatures fall and leaves start to turn color. The loss of daylight and colder weather triggers bass to feed and get ready for winter. This can and will play into anglers’ hands. As much as I would like to suggest that autumn is an easy time to fish, I know better. October starts mild but will soon turn to cold with little warning. Wind and rain will dislodge leaves. Leaves in the water can make some days quite difficult. All that said, it is still a favorite time to target smallmouth.
By mid-November most morning air temps are at or below the freezing mark. This has little to no impact on the fish but can make the first few hours on the water tough on anglers. Take extra care as the ramp itself can be incredibly slippery. When the ground temperatures are below freezing water from the trailer will freeze instantly on the ramp as the boat trailer comes out of the water. Add November winds, frozen lines and hands, to name a few more hurdles. Regardless of air temperature, bass remain extremely active and willing to take a wide variety of lures. Every year is a little different, some are mild, some welcome old man winter a little too quickly for my liking. Due to current flow, rivers generally remain open well into winter. For those rivers that do freeze over, it is generally weeks after area lakes are covered in ice. For this reason, I stretch my open-water fishing through mid-December. By this time, many river temperatures drop below the mid-30 degree mark and can limit opportunities.
Spring
For some river smallmouth anglers, early spring is a special time of year. From the moment ice breaks free, anglers start their pursuit. Late February and early March, boaters will flock to their favorite access areas. The first boaters to arrive will likely spend time clearing log jams and piles of debris to make way for launching. This is not usually the time for numbers, but anglers are anxious to feel that first bass on the line after weeks or in some cases, months of brutal winter cold. While big number days this time of year are possible, most outings will challenge even the most seasoned anglers. Cold icy mornings and even late winter snow can make time on the water interesting for sure.
As the average daytime temperature rises, river bass become more and more active. Mid-March into April can offer some great fishing opportunities. Spring weather swings can be quite unpredictable, but for many anglers it can be worth it. As the water temps rise into the upper 40’s, bass feed heavily and this can open excellent opportunities for hooking into a true trophy. While current is always a factor with smallmouth, bass will seek surprisingly strong current to forage on minnows. A good many anglers focus 100% of their attention on slack water and soft seams, but this is the time of year to focus on harder current.
This April pre-spawn bite is one of my favorite times to fish. It is also the time of year to hook into the heaviest bass of the year. Trophy seekers should realize April is not without its own fishing challenges. Bass are on the move and spring rain can create high, stained water. Anglers pursuing bass in early spring should be dressed appropriately. Weather can change abruptly; remember it is always cooler on the water than on shore. The idea of cold weather or fishing in foul weather isn’t for everyone.
Once the water temperatures are securely in the 50’s, bass are already in some form of the spawn. When bass are paired up in bedding areas, they are easy targets, and some anglers will take advantage of this vulnerability. While there are regulations to protect bass from anglers targeting beds, anglers who police themselves will help further protect this precious resource. Besides there is plenty of bass outside these spawning areas to focus on.
Come May, many of the bass are once again on the move. As males guard the recently hatched fry, the larger females are moving into areas to rest and feed. As they gain energy they will feed on just about anything. Beyond that, they can be in most any type of water. This can be a bit of a challenge, but as the puzzle pieces come together, May can be a fun time to fish for bass.
Summer
For many anglers, June is “Bass Month.” While not my favorite month (due to the opening week crowds,) the summer months usually offer great fishing opportunities. If catching a lot of bass is important, bass of all sizes are active and willingly chase a wide variety of lures. June through September is an excellent time to introduce people to bass fishing. Between the warmer weather and super-active bite, it is generally more catching than fishing.
For anglers wanting an additional challenge, top water action and the chance at landing a big bass is challenge enough. I would add that catching a bag of large bass is fairly easy to accomplish in spring and fall, but catching trophy sized bass in the summer can be quite satisfying. For this reason alone, summer is the also best time to challenge your angling prowess and learn different lures and techniques. Let’s be honest, anyone can catch a big bass in spring and fall. Catching big fish consistently in the summer months is the pinnacle of bass angling.
Fall, spring and summer offer excellent angling opportunities. I hope this seasonal outline will better help anglers plan their next fishing adventure.
Author Chris Gorsuch is a licensed charter guide in the state of Pennsylvania. He started the Reel River Adventures guide service in ‘07 and spends 225-250 days on the water annually. His home base is on the Susquehanna River. Follow his daily fishing reports on Facebook ‘Reel River Adventures-RRA’ & Instagram @Chris_Gorsuch
