Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 19

The Ned Rig excels when fishing slower, deeper water.
A moving bait is still my first choice during early fall
outings. Unless the flows are up, bass tend to use pool
tailouts well into mid-fall. A suspending jerkbait excels
at triggering strikes from bass. During the summer, I
give an aggressive jerk, pause, and retrieve with such a
lure. As the water cools, softer jerks and longer pauses
are in order. Likewise, a soft jerkbait can be mildly
twitched across pool tailouts and along rocky banks. I
prefer to fish a fluke unweighted and allow it to slowly
sink between twitches, a movement river Smallmouth
Bass often can't resist.
Spinnerbaits and bladed jigs come into their own
when flows are up, with fish pushed tight to the bank.
Bottom-oriented vertical jigs are necessary when
bass are not willing to chase moving baits, behavior
common as water temperatures continue to fall. Soft
swimbait, such as Keitech's Swing Impact, Reaction
Innovation's Skinny Dipper, and Galida's Grubz, are
wonderful hybrids that can function as both moving
baits and bottom baits depending on how you work
them and type of water you are fishing. When you are
casting along a rocky bank with moderate current, the
bait may be worked back in protected pockets with a
steady swimming retrieve, relying on the movement of
the boot tail or curl tail to evoke strikes. When fishing
deeper, slower water, it can be hopped along the bottom
in classic jig manner.
The slower, deeper pools that river Smallmouth
Bass begin using with greater frequency during the fall
months may be plied with bottom baits like tube jigs,
Ned Rigs, and hair jigs. While one certain profile may
excel on a particular day, a more significant factor is
weight. Jig sizes of 1/8, 3/16, and ¼-ounce are common.
Usually, the lightest jig for the depth you are fishing is
best. For depths of 4- to 10-feet, I use a 3/16-ounce jig.
This size provides the best fall rate and does not hang in
the rocks as much as a ¼-ounce jig.
Early to mid-fall provides fun challenges and fine
fishing for river Smallmouth Bass. It serves as a prelude
to what is often the best action yet to come in late fall.
September/October 2022
19

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022

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