Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2022 - 21

slack water pockets, which serve as feeding
areas for Smallmouth Bass. Here, bass can
intercept food without expending excess energy.
Though late fall Allegheny River
Smallmouth Bass will be relating to deep water,
it doesn't necessarily mean they will be holding
in deep water. When actively feeding, bass are
often found along shallow edges such as tailout
sections of large pools, on shallow flats and
points adjacent to deeper water, and against
the bank in a few feet of water. Shallow fish are
usually feeding, so target these areas first with
appropriate presentations.
Frequently, fish are less active and require
plying deeper zones. And, not all fish are doing
the same thing at the same time. The difference
between fishing shallow and fishing deep is a
matter of fish being up against the bank at the
end of your cast or under the boat at the end of
your retrieve.
As noted, weather and water conditions
influence the late fall river bite. It's usually
late October or early November before water
temperatures drop to into the low 50s. Once
the water temperature dips below 40 degrees F,
Smallmouth Bass become lethargic, and though
catchable, catch rates tend to plummet.
Within reason, higher fall flows tend to
further concentrate fish and improve action.
Flow rates on the Allegheny River are up a bit
due to increased discharges from the Allegheny
Reservoir/Kinzua Dam. In my experience, flows
more than 8 feet at the United States Geological
Survey, Franklin, PA, gauge and 7 feet at the
Parker gauge place the river in the blown-out
category. Floating dead eelgrass and leaves can
detract on the Allegheny River and varies by
season and day.
In terms of lure and bait selection, use
bottom-oriented jig-style baits, suspending
hard bodied jerkbaits, and metal blade baits.
Jig-style baits include tube jigs, Ned Rigs,
twister tail grubs, and hair jigs. Full size 3- to
4-inch tube jigs will catch fish, though finessesized
tubes such as Z-Man TRD TubeZ may
provoke more bites on a day-to-day basis. Ned
Rigs consisting of 3-inch finesse worms fished
on light jigheads are excellent options and
account for more Allegheny River Smallmouth
Bass than other options. Grub style offerings
such as the locally produced Galida's Grubz
are classics and continue to excel, particularly
in the Golden Shiner and Top Secret Midge
patterns. And, though not as popular as the
others, hair jigs consisting of bucktail or rabbit
fur are effective.
For more information
Jig weight is sometimes overlooked but important.
Regardless of jig style, 3/16-once jigs are best. If it is
windy or if you are plying deeper water, upping to
¼-ounce jigs may be necessary.
Suspending jerkbaits like Rapala Rip Stop,
Megabass Vision, and Lucky Craft Pointer are
excellent choices for working shallow flats. Bass
holding on such structures tend to be active, willing
to move for bait. Blade baits are necessary for
working deeper water such as 10- to-20-foot holes,
edges of drop-offs, and current seams.
Regardless of lure type, slowly work jig-style baits
along shoreline areas with gentle hops. Slowly work a
jerkbait with lengthy pauses of a few seconds and the
depths with a blade bait with subtle 6-inch pumps.
As good as the late fall fishing is on the Allegheny
River, the resource deserves respect. Smallmouth
Bass are vulnerable, so handle them with care.
Release bass, so they will be there next spring, ready
to provide more sport.
While You Are Here
Visit Allegheny National Forest, Pennsylvania's
only national forest, with more than 500,000 acres.
It spans the western end of the Pennsylvania Wilds
and offers many places to explore:
* Longhouse National Scenic Byway
* Allegheny Reservoir/Kinzua Dam
* Allegheny River (a National Wild and
Scenic River)
* Allegheny National Forest ATV Trails
* Zippo Case Museum
* The Trails at Jakes Rocks
* Kinzua Bridge State Park Visitor Center and
Sky Walk
pawilds.com/landscape/
allegheny-national-forest-surrounds/#!directory/map/ord=rnd
November/December 2022
21
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - November/December 2022
