Smallmouth Bass Fishing From a Canoe in a River
 

River Fishing For Smallmouth Bass

When river fishing for smallmouth bass, I have a standard approach I use for a new river. 

Start Paddling Upstream.

Yes I said upstream!  If you float downstream, you are likely to get very far away in a hurry, without getting a good feel for the river.  After exploring upstream, you can then check downstream. Troll a small floating Rapala if possible, weighted down  with a small split shot about 1.5 ft ahead. If there is too much current or if it is too shallow and rocky, you may not be able to troll. You may find some good spots on the way to your destination. If you have 2 poles, try trolling a different bait on the 2nd pole, provided it won't twist your line too much.

Identify "Likely" Spots

Likely spots include

• Any place where there is an eddy (dead spot), back current , behind large rocks, or below falls. This is the fish's perspective: They, like us, strive to do the minimum amount of work for their supper.  They would rather sit in a dead spot near the edge of the current and wait for the nearby current to bring supper to them.
   

• A shaded spot. They also like to hide in the cool darkness provided by large rocks, weeds, or submerged trees & logs. They just sit and wait for unsuspecting prey. Since Smallmouth Bass prey upon crayfish, and crayfish like rocks, bass will also be in rocky locations.
   

• A spot where fish bite while you are trolling. I have found certain "unlikely looking" stretches of a river to consistently produce by trolling through them.  Often times these will be quiet deep stretches of a river with possibly some underwater structure like rocks or logs.

Fishing Techniques

     Here are some of my favorite methods:

• Cast small #0, or #1 Mepp's Spinners into or in front of the dead spots.
   

• Cast sinking 1.5 inch Rapalas and "twitch" them in, reeling in the slack.  Also try a weighted down floating rapala.
   

• Try a jig with a twister tail.  I like a chartreuse or pearl colored tail with a chartreuse jig, but in some places I have found a bright orange jig with orange tail to work well.
   

• Try night crawlers or leeches on a hook with split shot or with a bobber.  I always try this type of live bait before leaving an area.  In some cases it is the only bait that will produce.
   

• Try other baits like small spoons, spinner baits, etc.  I fished one naturally turbid river where the best bait was a small blue and silver imitation Little Cleo made by Viking Tackle (now out of business) that I bought at a local gas station.  Every river has its lure!

      Keep checking up river as far as you have time or desire.

Fish Your Way Downriver to the Landing

OK, now only spend your time again stopping at places that produced fish when you fished your way up.  If the current is not too extreme you can also troll your way down river.

Fish Downriver From The Landing

You will do the same thing you did as you fished upriver except you now have a feel for what is a "good" spot and you also know what is a "good" bait.

Try to avoid going to far!  If you find a hot hole about 2 miles down and you fish it till dark, you may have a very interesting time paddling back home against the current! I've been there ;)