The Smallmouth Spawn- How Is It Different Than Largemouth in Our River Systems?
There is no argument that the spawning season begins much earlier for Largemouth Bass often times in or region than Smallmouth.
There are a number of factors that cause this but the number one factor is the influences of weather patterns to our north that drive water down our river systems during the spring as the northern region “thaws” from winter. High water which typically is much colder than the normal river temperatures also play a key role in delaying a Smallmouth spawn in a river system.
While both Smallmouth and Largemouth have preferred conditions, it is not uncommon for both to settle on the spawning period based on lunar patterns such as the March full moon over water temperatures though much of the fishing community has been sold on water temps being the sole real factor.
This however doesn’t explain how New River Valley Smallies have little issue with spawning earlier than most other river systems in the region. New River Smallies will and often spawn before the the accepted temperature range along the watershed especially closer you get to the dams within the river system. Smallmouth in the New appear to be conditioned by the colder water temps throughout spring has generated by the pulling or pushing of water through the river via the dam systems.
Preferred Water Temperature and Water Clarity for Spawning:
Smallmouth Bass:
Water Temperature: Smallmouth bass generally prefer cooler water temperatures for spawning compared to largemouth bass. They typically spawn in water temperatures ranging from 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C). Cooler temperatures are often associated with springtime, and smallmouth bass may begin spawning when water temperatures reach the lower end of this range.
Water Clarity: Smallmouth bass tend to prefer clearer water for spawning. They are often found in rivers with good water clarity and gravel or rocky substrates. Clearer water allows smallmouth bass to more easily locate suitable nesting sites and defend their nests from predators.
Largemouth Bass:
Water Temperature: Largemouth bass are more tolerant of warmer water temperatures compared to smallmouth bass. They typically spawn in water temperatures ranging from 62 to 68°F (17 to 20°C). Largemouth bass may begin spawning when water temperatures are slightly warmer than those preferred by smallmouth bass.
Water Clarity: Largemouth bass can tolerate a wider range of water clarity compared to smallmouth bass. While they may prefer clearer water when available, largemouth bass are often found in rivers with varying levels of clarity, including stained or murky water. They may utilize areas with vegetation or woody cover for spawning, which can provide protection and cover from predators.
Smallmouth Bass Spawn:
Behaviors:
Smallmouth as stated above typically spawn in slightly cooler water temperatures compared to Largemouth bass. They prefer water temperatures ranging from 55 to 65°F (13 to 18°C) but we are seeing smallies spawn in recent years closer to 53 degrees.
Smallmouth bass are often more selective about their spawning locations, favoring areas with clean, gravelly substrate and moderate current flow. They tend to spawn in shallower water compared to Largemouth bass, typically in depths of 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters). This water can either be on the bank areas, shell bed flats or in the middle river near rocks if water levels are low and temps in the preferred range.
Locations:
Smallmouth bass often spawn in riffles, gravel bars, and rocky areas with good water flow. They prefer spawning sites with clean, well-oxygenated water and avoid areas with silt or mud substrate.
In river systems, smallmouth bass may spawn along the edges of current breaks, behind rocks or boulders, and in areas with submerged vegetation where they can build their nests.
Guarding and Protection:
Male smallmouth bass typically construct nests by clearing away debris and gravel with their tails, creating depressions in the riverbed where the female can deposit her eggs.
Once the eggs are fertilized and deposited in the nest, the male smallmouth bass vigorously defends the nest from intruders, including other fish and predators. The male aggressively patrols the area around the nest and may attack anything that comes too close. These males become almost driven and highly motivated as protectors.
Largemouth Bass Spawn:
Behaviors:
Largemouth bass as stated above spawn in slightly warmer water temperatures compared to Smallmouth bass, typically in the range of 62 to 68°F (17 to 20°C).
Largemouth bass are less selective about their spawning locations compared to Smallmouth bass. They can tolerate a wider range of habitat conditions and are more adaptable in their choice of spawning sites.
Locations:
Largemouth bass often spawn in shallow, protected areas with vegetation, such as backwater bays, coves, creeks and flooded brush along the riverbank. They may also spawn in submerged vegetation beds or around woody cover like fallen trees or stumps.
In river systems, Largemouth bass may seek out areas with slower current flow and softer substrate, such as sand, mud, or leaf litter, where they can build their nests.
Guarding and Protection:
Male Largemouth bass also construct nests by clearing away debris and vegetation, creating circular depressions in the riverbed.
Unlike Smallmouth bass, male Largemouth bass do not exhibit as aggressive guarding behavior. While they may defend their nests to some extent, they are generally less territorial and may abandon the nest if disturbed or threatened.
Nesting Habitat Preferences:
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass typically prefer nesting habitats with clean, gravelly substrates and moderate current flow. They often spawn in areas with rocky bottoms, riffles, and gravel bars in river systems. Smallmouth bass may build their nests in shallower water compared to largemouth bass, typically in depths of 1 to 4 feet (0.3 to 1.2 meters).
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are less selective about nesting habitats compared to Smallmouth bass. They can utilize a variety of habitats for spawning, including shallow, protected areas with vegetation, flooded brush, or submerged vegetation beds. Largemouth bass may also spawn in areas with softer substrates such as sand, mud, or leaf litter in river systems.
Reproductive Traits:
Smallmouth Bass:
Smallmouth bass tend to produce fewer eggs compared to Largemouth bass. A typical Smallmouth bass female may lay anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 eggs per spawn, depending on her size and age. The male Smallmouth bass guards the nest and protects the eggs until they hatch, usually within one to two weeks.
Largemouth Bass:
Largemouth bass are known for producing larger clutches of eggs compared to Smallmouth bass. A typical Largemouth bass female may lay anywhere from 2,000 to 20,000 eggs per spawn, again depending on her size and age. After spawning, the male Largemouth bass may provide some parental care but is generally less involved in guarding the nest compared to male Smallmouth bass.
Fundamentally anglers are most interested in how to target Smallmouth and Largemouth during the spawning period though many anglers choose not to target actual bass on the nests or beds. There is a balance that is required here especially with fish care if you are in fact “bed fishing”. The form of fishing tends to be more prevalent in the Largemouth fishing community than the Smallmouth. Some argue this is largely due to the fact it is often harder to locate and to target river smallies during their spawn compared to their cousins. That being said though when yiu locate Smallmouth during the spawn it is certainly game on in terms of the “fight” and you will witness the hyper active nature of smallies when you come across or in reality over top of them during spawn in a kayak for example.
During the spawning period, Smallmouth bass and Largemouth may exhibit different behaviors and habitat preferences in river systems. Anglers can adjust their bait presentations to effectively target each species based on these differences.
Here's how anglers can target Smallmouth and Largemouth bass differently during the spawn in terms of bait presentations:
Targeting Smallmouth Bass:
Crankbaits and Jerkbaits: Smallmouth bass are often more active and aggressive during the spawn, making crankbaits and jerkbaits effective lures for triggering reaction strikes. Anglers can use medium-diving or shallow-diving crankbaits to cover water quickly and target Smallmouth bass in various depths and habitats. Jerkbaits can be worked with a twitch-and-pause retrieve to mimic wounded baitfish, enticing Smallmouth bass to strike.
Soft Plastic Baits: Soft plastic baits, such as creature baits, crayfish imitations, and swimbaits, can be effective for targeting Smallmouth bass during the spawn. Anglers can rig soft plastics on Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, or jigheads and target areas with cover and structure, such as rocky banks, submerged rocks, and riffles. Slow dragging, hopping, and swimming presentations can be effective for enticing spawning Smallmouth bass.
Spinnerbaits: Spinnerbaits with Colorado or willowleaf blades can be effective for targeting Smallmouth bass in river systems during the spawn. Anglers can cast spinnerbaits along the edges of current breaks, behind rocks or boulders, and in areas with submerged vegetation where Smallmouth bass may be spawning. Varying retrieve speeds and angles can help trigger strikes from aggressive Smallmouth bass.
Targeting Largemouth Bass:
Soft Plastic Baits: Soft plastic baits, such as creature baits, worms, and lizards, are versatile lures for targeting Largemouth bass during the spawn. Anglers can rig soft plastics on Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, or weightless rigs and target areas with vegetation, flooded brush, and submerged structure in river systems. Slow presentations, including dragging, hopping, and dead-sticking, can be effective for enticing spawning Largemouth bass.
Jigs and Texas Rigs: Jigs and Texas-rigged soft plastics are effective for targeting Largemouth bass in heavy cover and structure during the spawn. Anglers can flip or pitch jigs and Texas rigs into areas with submerged vegetation, laydowns, and woody cover, where largemouth bass may be spawning. Slow, methodical presentations and precise casts are key for enticing strikes from spawning Largemouth bass.
Topwater Lures: Topwater lures, such as buzzbaits, poppers, and frogs, can be effective for targeting Largemouth bass in shallow, weedy areas during the spawn. Anglers can work topwater lures along the surface of the water, creating commotion and noise to attract Largemouth bass. Targeting areas with emergent vegetation, overhanging trees, and shallow flats can increase the chances of enticing strikes from spawning Largemouth bass.
In summary, anglers can target Smallmouth bass and Largemouth differently during the spawn in river systems by adjusting their bait presentations to match the behaviors and habitat preferences of each species. Because the entire river system is not spawning at once you are going to find various bass in differing points of transition in terms of pre-spawn to full spawn. Weather systems can also push spawning bass off nests and from guarding positions. High water events become a real threat to the recruitment class of the spawn for Smallmouth during these periods and fry can either simply be killed due to the elements of water temperatures falling or to predation if adults are pushed away due to conditions.
Presentations above cover a wide spectrum of course because not every bass spawns at the same time. One of the best periods in my experience is not bed fishing but transition fishing as the males are roaming to locate areas for the creation of nests. They become easily enticed during this period because of the opportunistic nature but also because they know they will soon not be roaming very far from the nests they are about to create.
I believe some of the best baits during the this time period for Smallmouth hail from Japan and the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM). The Japanese are the experts in finesse fishing tactics that can easily be applied to Smallmouth Bass fishing here in the region. We will be covering many of these coming up in the newsletter and in the new featured Premium Level for Subscribers where we match many of the JDM and our own custom market here in the States with the techniques and tactics that chaser for smallies should be utilizing throughout the year to increase catch rates.
Experimenting with a variety of lures and techniques can help anglers determine the most effective strategies for targeting spawning bass in river systems but also utilizing baits that many are not. Smallmouth like any other fish specie can become highly conditioned to baits especially sounds and vibration patterns in the water column over time. This could be why so many have reported not getting as many Chatterbait or Whopper Plopper bites some three to five years after a design has hit the mainstream mass market of production. Finding new tactics and presentations is a big part of chasing Smallmouth.
A few baits that we are going to feature which are more chances than not your smallies have yet to see coming up include:
Reference Resource:
https://dgifwebtest.gooutdoorsvirginia.com/wp-content/uploads/smallmouth-bass-rivers-report.pdf
Facebook Groups:
Smallmouth Army:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1322144201945490
Smallie Chaser River Bassin:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/885248796934955
Smallie Chaser River Bassin is listed on the TourneyX fishing app.