Tag Archives: Smallmouth Bass

Bass

Fly Fishing for the Bronzeback

Sëkanèpil – Leni Lenape word for Bass

Fog rises off of the low hills surrounding us.
Fog rises off of the low hills surrounding us.

The day was predicted to be a washout, however, if we made it out to the Delaware River early enough there was a chance to engage in a couple hours worth of pre-frontal fishing conditions. Mark and I were up to the challenge; accustomed to waking up for work early, a 5:30AM wake up is not a problem. Especially since in all of summer’s glory, it is already light out by this time!

Spin casting in the distance, on this day Fly Fishing was the way to go.
Spin casting in the distance, on this day Fly Fishing was the way to go.

Arriving on a remote dirt road in the Delaware Water Gap NRA everything about today looked like it would have been a washout. The cloud ceiling was low, the humidity high and a marked chill in the air. The only part of this adventure not cooperating was the barometric pressure, which was rising and not falling, sub optimal for pre-frontal fishing conditions we sought. Looking out at the low hills surrounding the Delaware River there were spirals of mist lifting off of the treetops and little droplets of rain falling. I donned my L.L. Bean Emerger II wading jacket on top, filled it with fly boxes, tied on some 0X tippet and marched (quietly) out to the river.

Look at that evil red eye!
Look at that evil red eye!

Equipment and Tactics

A selection of flies which have proven effective for Smallmouth Bass.
A selection of flies which have proven effective for Smallmouth Bass.

At this point we have written a sizeable amount of material on seeking Bass and other warm water fish. This time I used my 7WT St. Croix Bankrobber, my Sage 4280 reel and some weight forward floating Rio Grand line. Following the advice of Barry Reynolds and John Berryman in, “Beyond Trout a Fly Fishing Guide,” I brought pearl white Zonkers, Woolly Buggers and some crawfish patterns that I purchased at Orvis NYC. The crawfish or mudbug patterns work but probably not as well in the Delaware as Zonkers or Woolly Buggers. The location to seek Smallmouth, very similar to trout is the transition area between fast and slow water where the Bronzebacks are holding to feed. The Smallmouth Bass is a river fish and can tolerate a moderate current though not to the level of a Trout. Pound for pound these are the hardest fighting freshwater fish out there.

When river fishing in the summer, these guys like Woolly Buggers in fast water.
When river fishing in the summer, these guys like Woolly Buggers in fast water.

The Take

Smallmouth Bass like streamers, they do not eat them delicately, they rip through and devour the streamer. I use the Kelly Galloup method for hucking streamers to Trout and apply it back to Bronzebacks. For more information you can check out his book. In New Jersey we do not have the massive Browns he has in Montana, we have Smallmouth in big rivers like the Delware. Anyway, I throw my streamer out on the slow water, fast water transition line near a deep pool. I do this once, I do this twice, the third time as I go to retrieve, the line goes taught as if I just drove my Zonker hook into a floating log.

This guy bent over my 7WT St. Croix Bankrobber.
This guy bent over my 7WT St. Croix Bankrobber.

Just as I hook into the juicy upper lip of this “log,” the fly line rips through my fingers that are maintaining tension. Holy crap, that was not a log that is a fish! The fight was intense; I used most of my effort to prevent the Bronzeback from moving into the fast water, once I got the fish on the reel it was easier to control. As I shortened his leash and moved him in towards my net, he enveiled the last of his evade, escape and survive arsenal. He went air born! By far the best part of aggressive Smallmouth Bass is that they not only fight you below the surface but they engage in aerial combat when you least expect it. I bowed my pole to him and kept the tension, however this Zonker was securely fastened to his upper lip do to the aggressive take. As I netted the fish, it turned out to be a one pounder, I am curious to learn what a four to five pound Smallmouth Bass fights like.

This one was not very big, he still put up a valiant fight.
This one was not very big, he still put up a valiant fight.

Spin Rod Verse Fly Rod

As many of you can tell from the extensive tales of outdoor adventure on this site, I often go fishing with my buddy Mark. Mark is a die-hard spin fisherman, who I can proudly say, now owns a fly rod (that he has not used). He was able to land two Smallies, however this was the day of the fly rod. I landed three Smallies, a Rock Bass and a White Zucker all on various flies. This was a bit of redemption from last summer’s adventures where Mark out fished the fly.

Excellent beer sign, I want this for my basement bar.
Excellent beer sign, I want this for my basement bar.

The Flatbrook Tap House

The rain finally came as a torrential down pour around 12:30, beginning to soak even through my rain jacket. We decided to call it quits, as the rain was about to wash out the entire weekend. However, no trip to these splendidly isolated parts of Sussex County New Jersey is complete without a trip to one of the many glorious roadhouse and watering holes at the park boundaries. On this day we went to The Flatbrook Tap House, a rustic fishing themed establishment on the edge of Stokes State Forest, the banks of the Big Flatbrook and located on 206 North. We had delicious deep friend Calzones and Chicken Parmigian sandwiches. I highly recommend this place to a hungry angler or biker in the area.

Vintage map at the Flatbrook Tap House of Stokes State Forest Circa 1982
Vintage map at the Flatbrook Tap House of Stokes State Forest Circa 1982
Bass

Welcome to Smallmouth Country

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The days are long; the work is light while the air is hot and heavy. Fishing is entering the midsummer doldrums for most cold-water species. The heavy spring flows have since subsided to a trickle with the welcome exception of a midsummer freshet. Trout are hunkered down in springs and at the way bottom of pools uninterested in any fly you may wish to throw. All this while one fish is running hot and heavy in these rivers, the Smallmouth Bass. Taking in the relaxing summer just makes you want to watch old Marlboro commercials and shout, “Welcome to Smallmouth (Flavor) Country!”

(PSA: MKFF does not condone any particular brand of tobacco product or tobacco use in general.)

The fishing rod hangs out the back of the MKFF Chevy.
The fishing rod hangs out the back of the MKFF Chevy.

“Oh the buzzing of the bees in the cigarette trees, by the soda water fountains, By the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings, in the Big Rock Candy Mountain.

They hide in places like these.
They hide in places like these.

In the Big Rock Candy Mountains you never change your socks,
Little streams of alky-hol comes trickling down the rocks.
Oh the shacks all have to tip their hats and the railroad bulls are blind,
There’s a lake of stew and whiskey too,

And you can paddle all around it in a big canoe
In the Big Rock Candy Mountain.”

 Big Rock Candy Mountain

The Species

The Smallmouth Bass has a scientific name of Micropterus dolomieu, micropterus meaning small fin and Dolomieu being a French mineralogist. The fish is native to the Midwestern United States, coming as far east as the St. Lawrence. It has been widely introduced throughout the United States, now inhabiting the Delaware River and its tributaries in New Jersey and New York.

Pulled this out on a fly, traded my fly for a beer to someone floating by.
Pulled this out on a fly, traded my fly for a beer to someone floating by.

The Smallmouth Bass is not as tolerant of fast flows as the Trout whom it may share habitat with. This type of Bass does enjoy gravelly streams with moderate gradients; they tend to inhabit the pools in good oxygen conditions. The preferred water temperature for the species is between 68 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit, they can tolerate up to 90 degrees.

Mark pulled this one out on a Crayfish imitation.
Mark pulled this one out on a Crayfish imitation.

Tools of the Trade

Throughout the summer Smallmouth Bass are prevalent in most New Jersey streams. The most well known places are the Delaware and the Raritan; they can also be located in streams connecting to these rivers. I have even dredged a Smallmouth or two out of the lower Big Flatbrook though they rarely venture up when the water is at summer flow levels.

Smallmouth food, this is what they eat.
Smallmouth food, this is what they eat.

Due to the variety of stream sizes and water conditions that this highly adaptable species will habit there are several fly rod options you can use. I prefer to consistently use floating line as the waters are never high enough at this time of year to warrant sink tip or full sink line.

This is my go to fly, modify color and size for larger rivers.
This is my go to fly, modify color and size for larger rivers.

I have the most luck using Woolly Buggers to prospect for these guys and girls. Green seems to work the best for me, orange is better in streams with more crayfish, sizes six through ten with a gold bead head. The body can be Chenille with some flash or Marabou; they bite it if you fish it correctly. Preferably there will be a little bit of lead wrapped around the hook shaft.

Tactics

Smallmouth living in streams like the Paulinskill have an almost unbelievable biomass. Depending on the season and water temperature, the same runs where the Smallmouth will populate in the summer Trout used to frequent in the spring. Where do all the Trout go? Mostly down into the deep pools with springs, or to inlet streams and areas of high oxygenation.

If you don't have a boat, you will need to explore Smallmouth country on foot.
If you don’t have a boat, you will need to explore Smallmouth country on foot.

The traditional northeast streamer technique, cast across and slightly upstream at the transition area between fast water and slow water. Once the streamer bounces off the bottom a little bit you are doing it right. I then let the line drift taught, hold for a few seconds and start to bring it back in a wet fly style retrieve. If this doesn’t get the Smallmouth going, they probably are not there.

Flavor Country

Smallmouth Bass are one of the treats to look forward to during the dog days of summer. In northwest Jersey farm country, summer is a time of plenty like Big Rock Candy Mountain. The crops are coming up, thunderstorms bring fresh water to the streams, and the trees provide the shade. Find a spot to camp on some land, or rent a little campsite on the Delaware for the weekend.

Summer fields and the kittatinny Ridge.
Summer fields and the kittatinny Ridge.

If you don’t have anything going on this weekend, fire up the old SUV, load your gear and drive out here. We don’t have cigarette trees or streams of alky-hol but we do have fresh air, shade trees and Smallmouth Bass! However, if you do find a good spot, keep it a secret because loose lips, sink fish!

The MKFF staff bush pilot takesoff at Andover Aeroflex.
The MKFF staff bush pilot takesoff at Andover Aeroflex.

 

The Paulinskill River, Trout Fishing

May Trout Rundown

It’s been a tough trout season for NJ anglers this year. After the long winter which kept the rivers cold throughout April & the Furunculosis outbreak at the NJ fish hatchery, we weren’t sure if there would be any season at all.   This year only Rainbow & Brown trout were stocked in our local rivers & in much less numbers. Both species of trout are typically less tolerant of cold water than their cousins the Brook Trout.   Over the past two weeks, the river temps have been slowly rising & the fishing has turned on.   On May 10th, the air temps rose into the 80’s and the weather was predicted to be foggy with showers all day changing into thunderstorms in the evening & night.   These are my favorite types of spring fishing days.   Trout, like all fish, will tend to be more aggressive before a large weather system.  The fog & cloudiness also help with a stealthy approach because you will not project a shadow.   Being a spin fisherman as opposed to a fly fisherman, you need any help you can get on our local rivers.

Holding a Paulinskill Rainbow.
Holding a Paulinskill Rainbow.

The plan was to explore some new spots on the Upper Paulinskil that I found using Google Maps.   I looked for bridges over the river and areas close to the Sussex Branch Hiking Trail where the river was accessible.   After trying 3 spots which did not pan out, the 4th location had a large bend in the river caused by a massive beaver dam.   In the middle of the bend there was a deep hole between 4-5 feet deep.   This type of river structure almost always holds fish and sometimes a true trophy will be at the bottom of the hole.   Using a small blue & white spinner, I managed two stockie bows on the edges of the bend. I fished the deeper section with spinners, jigs and a sinking rapala but no takers.   The action slowed & some thunderstorms rolled in, so I moved on.   The rest of the spots yielded no fish but looked promising for future trips.

Paulinskill Rainbow
Paulinskill Rainbow

After dodging some more thunderstorms, I ended the day at the Musconetcong River near a spot which I was told always holds fish.   As the sun dropped, the spinner was no longer useful so I switched to a black & pink trout magnet jig.     I managed 2 more trout in the evening and missed a few others.

Big Flatbrook Rainbow taken on the fly.
Big Flatbrook Rainbow taken by Chris on the fly.

Total count: 4 rainbow trout, 1 smallmouth, 1 largemouth and a few small sunfish.   So far, the best day of trout fishing I have had this spring in NJ and hopefully it will continue through the month.

Tight Lines,

Mark Beardmore

Frog hangs out in a spring.
Frog hangs out in a spring.