Grass

The aquatic grass growth in smallmouth rivers can become very thick late in the season.  These areas provide food, cover and shade to the bass, and thus can give with outstanding fishing.  I do well by fishing along the edges of these grass beds and in the open bays which form within the grassbeds.

Frequently the central part of the river becomes so solid with aquatic grass that the main flow of the current is shunted out to the side of the river where the large oak trees shade the stream bottom and there is more open water.  A ten foot wide open current along these shaded banks running 200 feet down the river is often alive with feeding bass.  I’ve frequently spent hours fishing these grassbeds and having great success with the Shenandoah Blue Popper size 4.