The Definition of Wintering Holes
Monday, 04 November 2024
Wintering holes are sites where a significant portion of the range-wide population of one or more species overwinter annually. In attempting to research the definition for “wintering site”, you might not find much out there as it relates to specific freshwater fish. There is no concrete, precise definition or description that I’ve found as
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
How to Find Smallmouths in Late Fall
Monday, 28 October 2024
The greatest challenge for many late-season anglers, and those first-timers who try, is their inabilities of identifying likely wintering areas (and locating them), and poor usage with electronics.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Suckers for Late Fall Smallmouth
Monday, 21 October 2024
Guides and the most serious late season anglers rely on live bait almost exclusively. Across most fisheries, live minnows work. Folks can fish with only a single rod with live bait rig in-hand, or under a multi-rod, two-pronged approach like I do while continuing to cast and jig with artificials. Two lines in the
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Late Fall Lure Selection
Monday, 14 October 2024
Fall isn’t for covering water. A slow pace is necessary. On a typical day, you might only have time to fish 3 or 4 major areas in totality. Due to feeding windows opening and closing at random, we camp often and frequently revisit the same high percentage spots throughout the day.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Gear Reviews, Smallmouth Bass
Fall Migrations are Condition-Driven
Monday, 07 October 2024
All living creatures respond to seasonal changes. As water temperatures will plunge throughout October month, we must respond accordingly and slide deeper to the depth levels where smallmouths will be.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Bottom Feeders: Smallmouths and Sculpins
Tuesday, 01 October 2024
The invasive Round Goby invasion of the Great Lakes in the 1990’s shaped smallmouth fisheries forever. Their abundance and blanket of the lake bottom transformed what were once pedestrian and average 2-to-3-pound fish into megalodon specimens now surpassing 7-and-8 pounds. Their infinite food supply continues to this day, where gobies fuel the smallmouth’s sustenance,
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
How Late into the Fall is Still Good?
Tuesday, 01 October 2024
“Assuming it’s safe to get out there, how late in the year is smallmouth fishing still potentially good?” asked a Lake Ontario-based angler, at one of the many Facebook smallmouth fishing pages I follow behind the scenes.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Smallmouth Bass
Paddletails for Pre-Turnover Smallmouths
Monday, 16 September 2024
Prior to turnover, paddletails and swimbaits dominate. When this bite peaks, the boat goes through 2 or more packages of tails per day.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass
Horizontally September
Monday, 09 September 2024
As water temperatures gradually cool, the lakes eventually turn over, and smallmouths slide deeper to the point of wintering, the tackle box closes. As these events simultaneously occur, my boat’s tackle selection lessens each week – and the majority of gear and tackle I’ve carried up to this point will no longer be needed.
- Published in Bass Fishing Articles, Short Stories and Timely Tips, Smallmouth Bass