When smallmouth rivers get low and the large bass become wary I find that I catch more large bass if I wade upstream so I can fish upstream. A gauge by which you can evaluate your efficiency in this tactic is if you do not send out telltale waves as you wade forward. If I see these small waves radiating out around me, experience has shown that there is only a small chance that I’ll catch any large bass. My best way to correct this is to slow down.
The greatest challenge one confronts when fishing upstream is detecting the strike and setting the hook.
When fishing poppers and deer hair surface detecting the strike is easy because you can see the bass take the bug. In order to set the hook with surface bugs just swim them slowly along the surface by stripping them with your line hand then you are tight when the strike comes and you can easily set the hook.
When fishing nymphs and streamers upstream it is imperative that you strip them back downstream slightly faster than the current is pushing them because this is the only way you can feel the strike. Once you feel the strike set the hook firmly by lifting the rod sharply while simultaneously stripping the line firmly with your line hand.
These basic tactics will help you catch many large bass in the low rivers at this time of the year.
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