Smallmouth Season Is Heating Up

In northeast Ohio we are about a month into Spring and the trees are showing their initial burst of green fuzz. This lime-green growth will morph into a deep green color that will carry us through September.

Lime-green fuzz on the trees as die-hard steelheaders try to catch one more as the season winds down

Similar to calendar seasons, fishing seasons come and go, especially in our river systems. Steelhead season is just about done. Die-hard steelhead fishermen are still hunting the riffles and pools for any remaining chrome. They all hope to catch “just one more” before it’s over. As steelhead season winds down the rivers in northeast Ohio get a lake-run of smallmouth bass. This run can last through mid-June. It’s this period of time where some really large smallies can be caught before they make their way back to Lake Erie. It’s also a fun time of the year because you have a chance to catch a nice size smallie and a steelhead on the same day.

Smallmouth season is heating up.

It’s also about this time when the rivers get less crowded. It seems as though most of the steelheaders do not hunt for smallies, so there’s no need to rush to a spot. A fisherman can have miles of river to his or her own. I know there have been times I’ll fish for smallies and not run into another fisherman all day. Talk about solitude.

So, for bass fishermen, get your gear and head out. For the die-hard steelhead fishermen, see you in October.

Go out and fool a fish!