Smallmouth Bass

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Potomac River

Smallmouth bass fishing on the upper Potomac has been good the past few weeks. I've been fishing mostly pumpkin tubes with 1/8 oz jig heads. I tried heavier jig heads, but it is harder to feel the strikes, and fish were swallowing the hook. The lighter jig heads allow better feel with cleaner hook sets.

Small fish keep the action going, but there are plenty of fish in the 2 to 4 lb class. Water clarity was good today but fish were a bit scattered. I found this chunky smallmouth on a hump. The top of the hump was 3 ft deep while the channel is 5-6 ft deep. I caught about 20 smallmouth in 4 hours. All were released.