Smallmouth Bass Time

Depending on spring weather conditions, early May begins to bring warming temperatures in the rivers of northeast Ohio. The warmer waters will put a halt to the steelhead season as they hurry to finish spawning and make a beeline for Lake Erie. At about that same time the rivers get a push of smallmouth bass. This generally lasts a month or so, and it is at this time that some of the best river smallmouth fishing happens.

Lake run smallmouth will be bigger than the resident smallmouth that inhabit the rivers year round. Residing in Lake Erie allows these fish to grow to trophy size, many exceeding 20” and 4 pounds. Catching these smallies on a fly rod is every bit as fun as landing a steelhead.

Nice 17" lake run smallmouth caught on Rocky River. (click on photo for larger image)

Another benefit to warming waters and the end of steelhead season is the rivers will often become ghost towns. Many steelheaders will not pursue fishing past mid-May. That is fine with me. There is nothing more enjoyable than being on the water early in the morning as the sun begins to rise and having a stretch of water to myself.

 Popular steelhead spot becomes a ghost town during the late spring-early summer. 

Good time to catch a smallie.

Go out and fool a fish!