Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 40
Cold Water River
Smallmouth
by Jeff Knapp
A Texas rigged tube is much less prone to snags than one rigged on
a classic insert.
40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * March/April 2014
photos by the author
A look at my fishing logs over the past several years reveals
a pattern. My top day of the year in terms of high numbers
of big river Smallmouth Bass happens in early spring,
most commonly in mid to late March. Though the water
temperature hovers around 40-degrees F, combining the
use of finesse baits, in concert with warming weather
patterns, can equate into a red letter day.
In regard to weather pattern, two or three days
of sunny weather with highs in the 50s will quickly
push water temperatures from the mid 30s up to the
40-degree F mark. While 40-degrees F is still frigid,
the quick bump of a few degrees is enough to awaken
a lethargic bass population. The fish become quite
catchable but require a non-aggressive approach in
terms of baits and how they are fished.
Jig-style baits are the bread-and-butter tools for taking
cold water river Smallmouth Bass. Tube jigs, grubs and
hair jigs can all be productive. Within these choices,
there are refinements one can make to up the likelihood
of being bitten by a cold water Smallmouth Bass.
Traditionally, tube jigs are fished with a tapered
jighead that is inserted into the hollow body of the
tube. The open jighead is exposed. While this makes
for a good situation in regard to hookups, it's also quite
snaggy. To get a bite under early spring conditions, it's
often necessary to fish the bait ultra-slow with finesse.
And, the areas you're going to target are rocky with just
a hint of current. Add these factors up, and you'll find
the classic tube to be hung up a lot.
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 31
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 54
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 56
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 57
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - Cover4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2014 - CT4
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