Smallmouth Bass

Type: Nontidal
Region: Central
Location: Middle Patuxent River

With Sunday afternoon's warmth, after I finished some yardwork I had to hit our nearby section of the Middle Patuxent River. After scouting and wading for over an hour, and over a mile, with zero fish visible (not even sunnies or fallfish), I did find one healthy smallmouth. It was in a tail of a pool, with a curve, 1 boulder, and good gravel / small slab rock on the bottom. Didn't see any baitfish around, nor bugs, nor crawfish. Don't know what the fish are eating to survive. My small plastic crawfish was appealing enough for it to grab and turn away. The water was very clear, and I could watch the fish follow and then pounce on the lure. Hook-up was in the upper mouth, and release was easy after the photo.

I sure hope with the warming days some more smallies come 'home' again.