Summer is one of the most exciting times for smallmouth bass fishing on the streams and small rivers in New York State. Rocky rivers with babbling small waterfalls and bubbling rapids make for excellent summer fishing.
If you've ever fished a New York river or stream that is entirely calm, you probably haven't had much luck. Now, put yourself 20-50 feet before or after a ripping current and you'll have the time of your life. Smallmouth bass need crave oxygen, as do their dinners. Small bait fish consistently get caught in the rip of streams and get shot out into deeper water where smallmouth should be awaiting the easy meal. Throw on a spinner and cast WITH the moving water. This should cause your spinner to flutter and look far more realistic.
Here's one of my favorite combos:
Another great method is to bait up with crawfish that you find hiding under rocks nearby. Throw these near rocks that are above the waterline and just let them fall. If there's a smallmouth anywhere within 10feet, it should immediate attack knowing the familiar sound.
If you're casting into any open waters with a lure, use something with a shine! Sunny days provide perfect smallmouth fishing. These fish constantly have their eyes looking at the top of the water and above to spot falling bugs. Cast into shallows on the edge of a shelf. If you hit the right spot, you'll literally see the bass swimming towards your lure from the shallows and jump at it before it hits the water!
Even more important, the rivers and streams of New York are beautiful. Here's a shot from a recent trip that I took with my GoPro (pick one up here -
GoPro HD HERO2 Outdoor Edition (Google Affiliate Ad)).
