I’m going fish for smallmouths on Saturday on the Juniata River here in Central, PA. Will they eat gurgle pops on top all day long this time of the year or is that typically an early morning or late evening activity? I remember fishing for largemouth bass with spinning gear, and as I recall, I did the best in the late evening when they came in to chase small fish and minnows on the shoreline.
Bruce
It’ll be at it’s best in the morning and evening, but this time of year you should be able to find some top water activity most of the day. Especially if there is good holding cover nearby (i.e., boulders, deadfalls, overhanging limbs) to give them an ambush point and a sense of security. I’d take a few Clouser minnows and crayfish patterns along just in case, though.
Yes, I have some underwater stuff, too. I was thinking that because of the shorter days in the fall they might feed all day in advance of winter. I’m sure hoping.
Fished last night and the smallies in northern Iowa aren’t ready to do the heavy feeding just yet, although I half expected they would. I fish a fast running, rocky river that has tons of bait fish and crawdads in it. I just don’t see any bass taking anything off the surface…ever. That is why I fish with clousers, buggers and leach flies. Last night caught an 18" walleye (put it back because the water was a little too warm) two fat smallies (always catch and release) in the 14" range and a few other that were smaller than 12". It will get better in the next few weeks though.
I’ve had good luck with a lot of topwater stuff. Little feather, rubber legs - usually seem to get something. Work em wherever there’s some cover near the surface.