smallmouth sPECTACULAR
TIMING THE BITE
Each of the four seasons provides different fishing opportunities in tributaries , and it ’ s something you can do just about any time of year .
“ There ’ s usually a migration of fish that head up the river to spawn early in the year , and some fish stay there to feed all summer long ,” Stefan says . “ There will still be fish living there in the fall , and I think some fish are just river fish and will find the deepest holes they can find and stay there all winter .”
Stefan says this migration to the rivers and tributaries is a common occurrence on all northern fisheries , from the tributaries flowing into all of the Great Lakes , Lake Champlain , the Upper Mississippi River and the Chippewa Flowage closer to his home in Junction City , Wisconsin .
“ The best tributaries are going to be closest to the biggest populations of smallmouth in the lakes ,” Stefan explains . “ Anything on the east or west ends of Erie or the upper sections of Lake Michigan , those areas have some excellent ones .”
Stefan believes there are always some tributary smallmouths to target , but how he fishes for them changes with the seasons .
“ In the spring , I ’ m focused on fish relating to spawning areas , and they usually want to be out of the current completely ,” he says . “ If you can ’ t find that , you want the lightest current you can find . I look for any slack water they can use to spawn .”
As the seasons move along , things change completely : the faster the current the better .
“ It ’ s the opposite of spring as the strongest water is the best ,” he adds . “ I don ’ t think you can find water that ’ s too fast for a river smallmouth in the summer , but you can find water that ’ s too fast for your trolling motor to keep up .”
Once fall arrives , Stefan focuses on some of the same summer areas but starts moving his way back out toward the lake .
“ I start to look for the deeper holes closer to the lake as some of the fish migrate out ,” he says . “ This can be some of the best fishing all year as the fish get grouped up . You also get some fish that have been untouched all year because they run so far up the rivers and were inaccessible to most fishermen all summer long .”
TARGET-RICH ENVIRONMENTS
Moving quickly , casting reaction baits and targeting shallow cover is the norm for Stefan when targeting smallmouth in tributaries . Current is also understandably a crucial part of his plan .
“ It ’ s always current-based ,” Stefan says . “ It varies by the season , but you ’ re usually looking for the deeper pools and current breaks and eddies . The depth varies a lot by where you ’ re fishing . In some tributaries , a deeper section is 3 or 4 feet deep and some it could be 10 .”
In addition to deeper pools , Stefan pays special attention to how the current is moving and how it changes after contacting the bank or a piece of cover .
“ I watch to see where the current hits and releases off of the bank ,” Stefan explains . “ The places where the current is strongest are what you want
Smallmouth fishing in tributaries is all about casting reaction baits and hitting targets influenced by currents . to look for , either up or downstream of a river bend . You can also use your side imaging to find rocks and laydowns that create underwater eddies and breaks .”
In river fishing , current breaks in any form are always likely places to hold fish , and Stefan treats each equally .
“ One small isolated rock or log is just as important as a huge current break because they ’ ll still hold a fish ,” he says . “ I ’ ll also watch for little cut banks where fish can scoot under and get a break from the current . These can be easy to see because it ’ s usually darker water right on the bank .”
Moving quickly and hitting as many targets as possible is his priority due to his theories on river smallmouth bass . “ I believe a lot of these fish are loners and claim a rock or log for themselves ,” Stefan adds . “ It seems like you ’ re targeting individual fish , so I like to cover as much water as I can . The exception is in the fall when the fish stack up in areas and you can camp out and fish those deeper holes and catch multiple fish .”
42 MAJORLEAGUEFISHING . COM | JUNE-JULY 2021