| A favorite summertime activity for many anglers | | | | bouncing off of the bottom as it flows |
| is attempting to catch Smallmouth Bass in a | | | | downstream, so split shot will have to be added |
| flowing river or stream. Smallmouth can be fished | | | | and/or removed, depending on the current. With a |
| for in much the same way as trout, and there | | | | little practice, telling the difference between |
| are a few things that can be done to help tip the | | | | bottom and bites is simple. Getting snagged is a |
| odds in your favor. I'm going to list those things in | | | | part of this technique, so don't let getting snagged |
| this article so that you can have the pleasure of | | | | a few times frustrate you. As my mentor used |
| catching some Smallmouth bass in the flowing | | | | to tell me, "If you're not getting snagged, you're |
| water of either a river or stream. Smallmouth | | | | not fishing in the right place." This rig and |
| bass are widely regarded as one of the hardest | | | | technique are deadly once you get the hang of it. |
| fighting fish, pound for pound, that swims in | | | | The second thing top keep in mind is that you |
| freshwater and catching a three or four pound | | | | want to be as efficient as possible while fishing for |
| Smallmouth in the flowing water of a river or | | | | Smallmouth Bass in this manner. Employing what's |
| stream is as much fun as can be had with your | | | | called a bait bag is a great way to be more |
| clothes on. | | | | efficient. A bait bag is a small bag that hangs off |
| The first thing to keep in mind is that Smallmouth | | | | of your belt, shirt, or fishing vest and carries your |
| bass love live bait (especially live worms and | | | | live worms while fishing. This way you always |
| crawdads). The most effective way to present | | | | know where your worms are and they are |
| live bait (especially worms) is through the use of | | | | literally "at your fingertips", waiting to be used. |
| gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small | | | | This eliminates all of the wasted time searching |
| hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling a live worm to | | | | for your live worms every time you need to bait |
| be presented outstretched, rather than "threaded" | | | | up. Once you use a bait bag to carry your |
| onto a single hook. The rig is set up like this: begin | | | | worms, you'll wonder how you ever fished |
| by grabbing the end of your line and tying on a | | | | without one. If you move around at all while |
| small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). This prevents | | | | fishing, a bait bag is a must. |
| line twist. Now tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks. | | | | The bottom line is that these simple tips will help |
| These can be tied yourself or purchased "ready | | | | you catch Smallmouth Bass in the flowing water |
| to fish", the choice is yours. Now, split shot | | | | of a river or stream. And as I eluded to earlier, |
| sinkers should be added, above the barrel swivel, | | | | once you catch a 3 or 4 pound Smallmouth is |
| for weight. | | | | flowing water, you'll be hooked. This may become |
| This is the rig, and the goal is to cast it out and | | | | your favorite type of fishing and/or fish to fish |
| let it flow naturally with the current as it flows | | | | for, I know that's what has happened to me. |
| downstream. You want your offering to be | | | | |