Sizzling Summer Smallies

Sizzling Summer Smallies

By Todd Reed

The hottest days of August can provide an Iowa angler the hottest smallmouth action of the year. Smallmouth bass are sometimes the forgotten bass of Iowa. While some anglers would choose to fish for only smallmouth bass for the rest of their lives, me included, most anglers catch the largemouth bass when angling across the state. These two species of black bass are very different, mostly due to their feeding habits and location of where they live. While the water is at its peak temperature for the year, now is the time to focus in on some fantastic smallmouth bass fishing.

Largemouth bass are prevalent in just about every lake and river in the state. The lakes are full of them, and so is the Mississippi River, but there are many smallmouth scattered throughout the state that provide anglers with great catches of these energetic fish. Locating where they live is the first thing to focus in on. Any interior river in the state has smallmouth bass, the Mississippi River is full of them as well (Pool 12 and north), also West Okoboji Lake and Spirit Lake. There are great choices in just about any part of the state when you include those smaller interior rivers.

The hot summer months are a perfect time to locate and catch smallmouth bass. Each of three previously mentioned types of water are very different. Baits, locations, and food sources all come into the equation, one which I hope you can solve by the end of reading this.

INTERIOR RIVERS: I had the chance to fish the Wapsipinicon River while growing up. It is much like any other interior river and would be considered medium size for the state. I have fished many others in my life and they all fish very similar to each other. Interior rivers are all about the current, it is constantly flowing and the fish have to live in it. There are low, or no flow areas but for the most part smallies living in interior rivers will be in the current and feeding. During these hot days of August you will want to find the areas where the current is greatest. This often occurs around bridges or large turns where the river narrows. Looking at any real pictures of an interior river, it won’t be hard to locate these areas quickly in your corner of the state. Fishing those areas will increase your chances of hooking into smallmouth bass immensely. Smallies have a couple choices when eating in small rivers; minnows and crawdads. Baits that work well this time of year include; jig and twister tail, large tube jigs, crankbaits and topwater baits. I used to wade the Wapsi with two poles, a jigging pole and a topwater/crankbait pole. Topwater baits can work great all day long on river systems, however I would switch to a small crankbait offering if that wasn’t working. Keep your bait offerings on the small side while in the smaller rivers, you will catch more fish, and don’t worry…the big ones will bite too!

IOWA LAKES: West Okoboji Lake is by far your best chance to hook into an Iowa giant. Smallmouth bass grow big in this natural lake, and also supports a large population. Close by is Spirit Lake, which also has a huge population of smallies. Both lakes are wise choices if you are looking to “up” your smallmouth catches this year. The top baits for these lake bass definitely differ, as they are more crawdad based in their food selections. A 3 or 4 inch tube is like dynamite on both lakes. When the fish won’t hit one of those, then a stickbait is your next best choice. If the wind is light, no weight is ideal. When wind is present add just enough weight so you can feel your bait sinking. Too much weight on your baits and these clear water smallies will ignore it. Another key bait early and late in the day is a pop-r or spook style of bait. These two topwater baits give smallies an easy target under the low-light times of the day and are my favorite way to catch these bronze beauties. It is important to keep your distance, especially at West Okoboji Lake, smallmouth will spook easily, so making long casts will help you catch more fish.

MISSISSIPPI RIVER: The “Mighty Mississippi” River is a smallmouth factory. Pools, 9, 10, 11, and 12 all have a good number of smallmouth bass in them, Pool 9 near Lansing, being the best. Just like the smaller rivers scattered throughout the state, it is all about the current while looking for smallmouth bass. However, on the Mississippi there are dozens upon dozens of different flows of current. The main channel of course will always provide current, however some side sloughs will have much more current that will draw the smallies to that area. Figuring out what speed of current with the levels of water is an ongoing task of trial and error. Topwater baits are a great lure once again, smallies just love them! Fishing tubes, or plastic craw baits around rocky, or weedy banks with current will keep you busy reeling in smallmouth bass on the big river. One thing that anglers must pay close attention to at the Mississippi are weed lined sloughs. Smallies will live in those weeds and attack baits that cruise by them. Another key bait for river smallies is a swim jig. This is like a typical jig, but has a much smaller profile and is reeled in like a spinnerbait. It works fantastic around the weeds and the smallies eat them up. While fishing in any current, it is important to keep your baits going in the same direction as the current, this will fool the smallmouth into thinking it is a natural food source.

Smallmouth bass might be the most ferocious fish in freshwater, the fights that they put up can be incredible at times. During the month of August you will be sure to see some areal stunts by the bass you hook up as well. These fish love to take flight when hooked trying to toss your bait in mid-air. They are a thing of beauty and worth every second you have to track some down. I hope this has given you some ideas to try. Remember to practice catch and release on these marvels of nature.