Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 18
Shifting Gears
for Fall River
Smallmouth Bass
by Jeff Knapp
photos by the author
F
all may be one of the most enjoyable times to
pursue river Smallmouth Bass. Chilly days and
longer nights light a spark that activates bigger
fish. Quality-sized river Smallmouth Bass over 15 inches
become more common.
It can also be a frustrating time. River bass are on the
move, transitioning from summer areas to areas where
they will eventually winter over. During early fall, where
you found fish yesterday may not be where you find
them today.
When summer water temperatures are warm and
flows are low, river Smallmouth Bass will be holding in
and around current areas at the heads and tails of pools,
within riffle areas, and in rocky runs with a good flow.
These areas hold baitfish, crayfish, and aquatic insects
during the summer.
As water temperatures drop into the low 60s and
upper 50s, these places become less habitable to
Smallmouth Bass. Bass begin gravitating to areas with
less current and more depth, a movement brought on
18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
by weather and river flow. Fall cold snaps that quickly
drop water temperatures can hasten the movement as
do increases in flow that elevate river current. When
river temperatures reach the mid-40s, many fish
are in deep, protected holes where they remain for
the coming winter, making late fall and early winter
river Smallmouth Bass fishing good. The fish are
concentrated in confined areas and tend to return each
fall. But, during early fall, we must search.
Lure selection is important. Horizontal baits, such as
hard jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and soft jerkbaits,
are lures that are worked quickly and cover the water.
Vertical baits, like grubs, Ned Rigs, tube jigs, and hair
jigs, are presentations that are fished in a slower manner.
The first option is to start with a horizontal,
moving bait-one where you can cover the water
quickly. However, early to mid-fall is not always kind
to horizontal baits. Floating leaves can complicate
retrieves. And, there are times when bass simply are not
in the mood to hit a moving bait.
fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 32
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 38
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 40
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 42
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 45
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/201780102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20121112
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com