Last week we discussed fishing streamers around the river crossing ledges in many smallmouth rivers. This week we’ll look at the way I fish poppers below these ledges.
Frequently an inch or two of water will flow over these ledges that lie perpendicular to the main current. Where the water is immediately downstream of these ledges is three to five feet deep you have choice feeding stations for bass. I prefer to wade this water rather then float it because the bass are wary in the stream levels we have now and the boat may spook them. My favorite way to fish this water by wading into the river 40 feet downstream of the ledge and cast a size 4 Shenandoah Blue Popper straight upstream so it lands within a foot of the ledge. I let it lie still about a minute then use my line hand to strip it 6 inches every 10 seconds to swim it out 10 feet from the ledge. Then by wading slowly across the river I repeat this method by casting it up against the ledge every 10 feet all the way across the river. If the water is too deep to wade 40 feet out I move up against the ledge and fish my Popper straight ahead of me as I wade all the way across the river. This will bring you many large bass.
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