Finding smallmouth bass this summer may be easier than you think!
I was fortunate enough, last summer, to have been invited to a small lake north of Huntsville by, Kevin Swinscoe. The lake, which can only be accessed by surrounding land owners, shimmered enticingly as I approached Kevin’s dock and waiting motor boat.
Before we left in the boat, Kevin introduced me to the equipment we were going to use:
1. A six weight fly rod and reel rigged with a Messinger Frog (photo top)
2. A ‘standard issue’ spincasting rod with a Berkley Sabertail Grub (green)
I took a quick look up to the driveway where my car was parked. My own equipment was there occupying the entire back seat. If you listened carefully enough, you could have heard my favorite blue Rapala cringe, as Kevin said,
“You won’t need your equipment.”
When Kevin started the boat and we drove away from the dock, I hoped he was right about his assessment of my equipment.
Kevin’s plan was simple and effective. We would start at one end of the small lake and allow the wind to drift us down one side of the contoured shore. The motor was only used to make minor course corrections.
As we started our silent drifting, Kevin, reminded me to cast into the ‘pockets’ of weeds and shore structures that were prevalent along the lake’s banks. This proved key to our success as bass began to annihilate the top-water Messinger frog on Kevin’s fly rod. The smallmouth bass were also hungry for my sub-surface offering of the frog-like Berkley grub.
One of my favorite times to fish for smallmouth bass is during the golden moment after a supper BBQ and the sun begins to set. Usually retreating with the sun is the wind. A small wind factor can help the angler to make some pinpoint casts while casting for pocket smallmouth.
At this time of the evening (at least in my experience – and Kevin’s) bass move into shallow water and occupy weed, dock and structure pockets along the shore.
Pockets are formed when any portion of weed beds and shore structures collide and create open ambush points for bass to sit, and wait, for incoming prey. I realize that what I am saying should be obvious to most, but I have included some photos in this post to help illustrate what I mean. I have put red fish icons in some of the places I would call pockets for bass. The splash seen in the middle photo (photo right) is from one of the bass that hammered Kevin’s frog fly.
Pay attention special attention where rocks, boulders, and trees interface with the water from the shoreline. These create fantastic ambush points – especially when in close proximity to docks. You don’t need a boat to capitalize on bass pockets. Find the nearest dock that has weeds on either side of it. Fish the pocket where the weeds meet the dock in deeper water.
After the smell of the BBQ is whisked away by the light evening breeze into the setting sun, look for smallmouth pockets along the shore of your favorite lake. Turn off your fish finder and forget fancy presentations. As Kevin says,
“You won’t need it…”
