Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 35

enough speed to make sporadic
bottom contact.
Holding the rod at a 10 o'clock
angle, swim the hair/twister tail at a
slow pace. Resist the urge to employ
any added action with the rod. Rely
on the quivering of the twister tail
or the breathing of the hair jig to
provide the needed action. Again,
light jigs force you to slow down.
Slowly swimming a jig does
not only get Smallmouth Bass to
respond, but the tactic is less snaggy
than a presentation slowly worked
along the bottom.
Blade baits
Ned Rigs, hair jigs, and twister tail
jigs tend to be most effective when
bass have at least a degree of positive
activity, just enough to move the fish
slightly shallower to where they will
take a susceptible looking bait.
At times, Smallmouth Bass
remain in deeper water, often
nonresponsive to the previously
described baits. If you consistently
yo-yo a lure in front of them, they
will often take it. A blade bait is
most effective.
A 1/2-ounce blade bait can
reach into the 20 foot depths of a
Smallmouth Bass hole, efficiently
hovering right in the face of
lethargic bass. When vertically
jigged with short 6- to 12-inch
upward jerks, then paused for
several seconds a few inches off the
bottom, a blade bait often triggers
even the most inactive bass.
Smallmouth Bass will often gather
along current lines that separate the
current of the main river with that
closer to the bank. These are prime
areas for a blade bait.
Often, bottom structure such as
submerged rocks and ridges will create
ideal current conditions that hold fish.
Once located, a spot not much bigger
than the boat can produce 12 or more
fish. Good spots remain good spots
year after year, if the river is flowing at
the same basic level.
Remember, some of the heaviest
river Smallmouth Bass can be taken
during March and April, especially
with the light hand.
Sid Brown caught this Smallmouth Bass while fishing on the Allegheny
River in the spring.
March/April 2023
35
Brian Mathie caught this Smallmouth Bass while fishing on the Allegheny
River in the spring.
Dave Novak caught this Smallmouth Bass while fishing on the Allegheny
River in the spring.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023

Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 5
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 6
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 12
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 15
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 18
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 20
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 22
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 24
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 26
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 28
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 30
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 31
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 34
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 36
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - 38
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2023 - Cover4
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