In a river, the life of a smallmouth bass is one of constant movement. It must be able to contend with the forces, turbulence and constant fluctuations of river currents. In addition, these same factors don’t always allow the bass time for ’pick and choose’ feeding habits. While usually not as large as their lake and pond cousins, the river environments create a powerful bass that knows how to use the forces of a river to it’s advantage.

In summer fishing for small mouth bass, the deepest holes are not always the prime catching spots. The reason that deep-river holes may lack game fish is that they often have silt-covered bottoms with no available feed. Smallmouth bass like well oxygenated water. During the summer months, they are often found in water no more than five feet deep. Fishing the shallow riffles and edges of fast-water areas, behind boulders, around fallen trees and other like structures that cause a current break, will usually yield action. Bridge abutments or islands having a rocky or gravel shoreline structure are also good areas to seek small mouth bass action. 

In New Hampshire, there are a number of rivers that will provide the angler with good bass fishing opportunities. Among them is the Merrimack River. From its beginning, in Franklin, the river courses some 60 miles south to Nashua and continues into Massachusetts. The entire river holds a myriad of fish species in addition to bass. Locally, the Piscataquog River, which includes Glen Lake, from Goffstown to Manchester contains worthy bass populations, as well as other fish species, including trout.

Admittedly, fly-fishing is indeed a fun and challenging way to fish for bass, as the lady angler, mentioned earlier, found out. In addition to terrestrial fly patterns, such as the Cricket, Flying Ant and the Rubber Leg Hopper, various bass and panfish popper flies are effective too. And don’t rule out using various streamer and wet-fly patterns, as well. 

Bob Harris holds a smallmouth bass he caught on a
streamer fly in the Piscataquog river below Danis Park.

But, one needs to be further prepared. Have with you both a floating fly-line, as well as a sink-tip, and a full-sink fly-line on spare reels. You just may have to go sub-surface to get the action you’re looking for.

Going back to the lady fly-fisher mentioned. She was formally a strictly trout and salmon fly-fisher. However, the thrill of catching her unexpected first bass quickly changed her mind, especially after she caught a second bass from the river. "Trout and salmon are lots of fun to catch, but so were these bass. They will be on my list of pursuits now as well," she exclaimed to me.

The fly-fisher who takes heart in catching all species of freshwater fish, yes, even bluegills, crappie, perch, pickerel, northern pike and carp, is a person who will enjoy fly-fishing to the fullest extent. Each fish species provides its own challenges to the angler, even if he or she may specialize in one or two species. The angler who enjoys fishing all species, will enjoy every outing to the fullest.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com