Smallmouth abound in the New, and its mix of rapids and deep pools allows them to commonly grow to 4 and 5 pounds. Columbia River. About the only exception to the rocky habitat rule is around wooden bridge abutments and all the woody debris that often builds up around them after storms. New for 2021 are several hunter-defined products, such as the Excalibur TwinStrike Crossbow, BowTech Solution and Solution SS Bows, TightSpot Pivot 2.5 Quiver, Ripcord Cage and Code Red X arrowrests, and Black Gold Pro FX and Pro Hunter HD sights. INTERIOR RIVERS If you are looking to hook into some smallmouth bass, the interior rivers of Iowa are your best bet. As far as I know, no one ever caught her, and she's out there yet. BEST SMALLMOUTH BASS TRIP EVER by Bob Jensen In thirty five years of fishing all over the Midwest and much of North America, I’ve had the good fortune to get in on some outstanding fishing action for a wide variety of fish. Not very far from the Mississippi River, the Lower Swiss Valley Creek is … All Rights Reserved. Find both stocked and naturally occurring trout in the breathtaking forests and streams of this part of the state. "Some people fret about otters depleting our stocks, but I have not seen evidence of that. Kids who can't get to a largemouth lake without an adult to drive them there can cycle to urban tributary streams or even the downtowns of cities and towns and find smallmouth. Outstanding fishing is available below Cedar Rapids' two dams, for example, and even the old broken nonfunctional dam at Palisades Kepler State Park produces fast fishing. Iowa’s eastern border river is nationally known for backwater fishing for bass, catfish, panfish, pike and walleye. Renovated in 2012, the 70 acre Lake Pahoja near Bondurant is one of Iowa's premiere fisheries for largemouth bass and bluegill. The river is filled with smallmouth bass with the very best fishing up in the Lansing area. Once you think the fish have stopped biting, just try a different type of lure, you will probably catch some more, then switch again. Pennsylvania is a beautiful place to visit. Anglers can find catfish in practically any freshwater system in the South, but some waters... Several Midwestern states now permit hunters to use centerfire, straight-wall cartridges... A new long-range hunting contender enters the fray. St. Lawrence River (New York) St Lawrence River is a part of one of the largest fisheries in all of the … Both work, but sometimes one technique will be best on a given day. “The counties that I would recommend on the Cedar would be Blackhawk, Bremer, Floyd, and Mitchell — basically all the way up to the Minnesota border. Smallmouth love to be in and around current as it brings them food all day long. "One time I was fishing with a partner on the Mississippi," he said. It is more like a lake you would see in Minnesota or Canada. Nichols credits improving water quality for the upsurge in bass. I have never fished the Missouri River, but a quick phone call to the DNR led me to some invaluable information. I've had success with a wide range of lures. Current is always present as well as minnows and crawdads. Best Smallmouth Rivers There are many good smallmouth hotspots across the country, but we've got maps, fishing tips, and contact info for local guides on ten of the best. Smallies are common in Iowa's Lake Okoboji and Spirit Lake. However, some of these tributaries hold some great bass fishing as well. If you are looking to hook into some smallmouth bass, the interior rivers of Iowa are your best bet. The fish was magnificent, at least 19 inches long, husky and healthy. "My experience is that they hold bass, especially before, during and shortly after the spawn. You can go camping, boating, hiking and more. Most of the comeback can be pegged to better water quality but a 12-inch minimum size for smallmouth bass helped the comeback. But on Monday, October 10 th, on Kabetogama Lake in northern Minnesota, I experienced what was most certainly the best smallmouth bass fishing of my career on the water. With the size of these waters, it is quite obvious that location is once again key, as well as having a boat to navigate the large bodies of water. Although bait is amazingly effective, most serious smallmouth anglers stick with lures. Bring your friends and family along on a fishing adventure of a lifetime on Lake Erie. "I prefer to wade," said Love. When you find where the smallmouth are hiding or eating, throw a variety of baits at them and you will most likely have your best day of fishing action. Many anglers let a fish fondle the lure a bit before setting the hook. Making long casts and downsizing your line will help you adjust to the clear water. DES MOINES RIVER BELOW RED ROCK. Small spinnerbaits, crankbaits, and plastic baits will work excellent in these smaller bodies of water. As you can see there are many options on these natural lakes, so by trying each of these key areas you will be sure to find some groups of eager biting smallmouth bass inhaling your favorite lures. Our rivers received constant inputs of nutrient and sediment that flowed downstream to settle on the rocky bottom that smallies love. The border rivers of the state can offer some great smallmouth bass fishing as well. ©2019 The Iowa Sportsman. If you are search for excellent outdoor activities, PA can most certainly fill your dreams. It may be 125 years old, but the .30-30 Winchester retains its status thanks to modern loads. NATURAL IOWA LAKES These fish are smart and they will see you. It is gorgeous, but a bit intimidating too. Michigan is the top location for smallmouth bass fishing. They don't attract much attention because anglers either don't know they are there or don't target them. Most Iowa towns and cities have either rocky riffles or riprapped banks, or both. Pinicon Ridge Park in Linn County is a popular place for many … What gives Michigan its edge … Bass sometimes cluster around wing dams and other rock that is inaccessible to bank-anglers or waders. It was chalked full of spawning smallmouth and the occasional nice largemouth! Once they see you, your chance of catching them is gone. The best smallmouth bass fishing on this river can be experienced near Sioux City. The DNR has documented that both numbers and sizes are improving there," he said. Iowa Department of Natural Resources fisheries management has helped improve walleye and trout fishing, but smallies did it on their own. In many scenarios you don’t have to be on the main channel, side chutes with current will hold smallmouth bass too. The improving fishery is so new that relatively few Iowa anglers know about it or target that "other bass," the smallmouth. "My top picks for excellent Eastern Iowa fishing would be the Maquoketa in Delaware County, the Cedar in Mitchell County, the Turkey from Eldorado to Elgin, the Volga on both sides of Fayette, the Upper Iowa above Decorah, the Iowa in Hardin County, the Wapsipinicon from Independence to Anamosa, and the Shell Rock in Cerro Gordo and Butler counties," he said. Because they are almost always found near rock they are easy to locate. Lower Swiss Valley Creek. While most of the state would have to make a long drive to get there, trust me, the drive is worth it. Smallmouth will group together and can often be caught in large numbers in a very small area. Kurt Rowland, who operates Whitebreast Adventures guide service -- www.whitebreastadventures.com, (641) 947-2261 -- on Lake Red Rock, discovered smallmouth bass in the Des Moines River below Red Rock Dam nearly 20 years ago. The Cedar River offers quality smallmouth fishing, especially the stretch between the Mitchell Dam (in the city of Mitchell) and the city of Nashua in Floyd County, as there is cleaner than average water. West Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake in Northwest Iowa are the places to go to catch numbers as well as large sizes of smallmouth bass. At other times at both lakes, you must look at the rocky shorelines and points, and always look under those boat docks. Expansion of Woodland Series targets continues fun, realistic way to practice. In Eastern Iowa smallmouth are river fish. Near where Indian Creek flows into the Cedar River downstream from Cedar Rapids, I watched her cruise slowly around an old brush-tangled bridge abutment. That is very true on these smaller rivers. During April bass will normally move from deep pockets of sluggish water overwintering areas to summer habitat in shallower water along rocks. "Anglers don't need a boat to catch them, and often they don't even need to travel much. This includes learning how to read a river, understanding the influence of current on smallmouth location and being able to effectively fish flowing water. Smallmouth bass exist in more than 500 fishing lakes plus many rivers, including the Mississippi and St. Croix. And October is considered “trophy month” for Chequamegon Bay smallmouth bass. A thump with a “zing” to your line can only mean one thing; a smallmouth bass has taken your offering. If you have fished in an interior river in Iowa, you have probably caught a smallmouth bass whether you were trying to or not. Current is everything when you are searching for smallmouth, so keep a keen eye out for it and let the smallmouth tell YOU where they are living. Nichols prefers using scented plastics to target bronzebacks. Small interior streams are not the only place to find these fun fish though. Where riprap lines a bank bass will be tight to the rock-often right beneath anglers feet. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota [132,000 acres] This lake is a hot mess right now. Good news didn't all come from cities. Just like in the interior rivers anglers must dissect what the bass are holding on for that day. When fishing these smaller waters it is important to remember to adjust your bait selection. BEST SMALLMOUTH BASS TRIP EVER. I'm convinced it helps leaving a scent trail in the water.". The secret to consistently catching smallmouth from rivers is being comfortable fishing in current. One summer evening I caught several husky smallies in the current on a black Hula Popper, a lure usually reserved for largemouths on hot evenings in quiet lakes. 11 broadheads new to the expandable-blade market this year — ATA Show. Agricultural run-off declined as no-till farming and Conservation Reserve Program enrollment became widespread on farms. The Upper Iowa, Turkey, Volga, Yellow, Wapsipinicon, Cedar, Shell Rock and Iowa Rivers all have excellent bass populations. Typical baits such as spinnerbaits, topwater baits, crankbaits, and soft plastics work well for smallmouth bass here. All Rights Reserved. Finding these smallmouth bass in natural lakes requires a lot of looking around. The same baits that work well in those lakes to catch the green bass will not be the best choices in these smaller bodies of water. The colder waters of early spring are prime times to use these proven bait rigs for stripers. In the early 1980s, Cedar Rapids opened a new sewer plant to replace an aging, ineffective one. These fish move more than any other fish I’ve ever chased in my life. It was only 15 inches, but it fought harder and longer than a largemouth half again as big. It can be hard to tell when a fish picks up the lure, but on some days this is by far the most effective technique. With headwaters well to the north of the Iowa state line, the Cedar is the largest of what Moeller considers to be the state’s blue ribbon smallmouth streams. Early settlers needed water power, and so sought out swift-flowing stretches of river, especially those that could be dammed to create a mill pond. "I often wade out in the river and cast toward a rocky shoreline," he said. Iowa’s interior rivers are known for growing large-sized fish, and lots of them. That means a rocky bottom, some current and reasonably clear water. The weather can be the most beautiful of the year, boat traffic is minimal, the water is still relatively warm and the fish are putting on the feedbag for the winter. After I'd caught 13 bass and he was fishless he took one of mine and caught a bass on his third cast. No matter where you live in Iowa you are not too far away from a public access to an interior river. Smallmouth are Iowa's urban bass for two reasons. I'd rate Pool 9 the best and Pool 12 the most downriver place for decent bass fishing. New for 2021, Rinehart's 1/3-Scale Moose Archery Targets, The South's Best Waters for Trophy Catfish, Straight-Wall Rifle Cartridges: Deer Hunting Advantages, First Look: Winchester's New 6.8 Western Cartridge, Easton 6.5 Carbon Matrix Arrows Comes in New Size, Go Big, Fast or With the Flow for August Largemouths, The Quintessential Guide to Summer Cranking for Bass, Your Best Chance at a Trophy Bass May Be Right Now, 5 Favorite Fall Hot Spots for Smallmouths, New for 2021: Excalibur Crossbow, BowTech Bows, TightSpot Quiver, Ripcord Rests, Black Gold Sights, New for 2021: Bear Redemption EKO, Legit RTH Compound Bows, New for 2021: Hoyt RX-5, RX-5 Ultra, Ventum 30 and Ventum 33, New for 2021: Rage Broadhead, Nockturnal Nock, Carbon Express Arrows. 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