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It’s Not Too Early to Stream Fish for Smallmouth Bass (Guest Article)
by Lee McClellan

Hardcore stream smallmouth bass anglers fishing near a road or a bridge in late winter are sometimes met with looks of bewilderment by those driving by. Motorists stop and stare at these anglers, give them puzzled looks and shake their heads in wonder at why anyone would be insane enough to stream fish in late February or early March.

There is a mistaken belief that stream fishing for smallmouth bass doesn’t start until the dogwoods and redbuds bloom in spring. But, if the weather provides a warming trend of air temperatures above 50 degrees for at least three days in late winter, the stream smallmouth fishing season begins in Kentucky.

This pattern starts as early as the second week of February in a year with a mild winter. Usually, the pattern starts during the last week of February or the first week or two of March.

The key to finding smallmouth bass in streams in late February or early March is discovering their winter lairs. When the first real cold weather of the year sets in, stream smallmouth migrate to deep holes with little current. They may migrate several miles in fall to find this kind of water. In the smaller Kentucky smallmouth streams, a winter hole may only be four to six feet deep. They spend the winter in these holes in a semi-dormant state until the first warm front of late winter or early spring.

The warm front draws the smallmouth to feed in the flowing water at the beginning or end of the wintering hole. Stream smallmouth survive in a harsh environment and feeding opportunities are rare in the cold months. The big females, especially, must take advantage of any food offered by nature at this time of the year to nourish the eggs in their bellies.

Smallmouth bass in streams in late winter won’t chase a lure. They are sluggish from the cold and lures must be presented as slowly as possible. A one-eighth ounce olive and orange, brown and orange, black or white hair jig worked slowly along the bottom of the flowing water is deadly on these fish. A small black, smoke or white grub allowed to tumble in the current produces strikes as will a small, in-line white spinner like the Rooster Tail. An overlooked late winter lure in Kentucky streams is a four-inch pumpkin seed with green flake lizard rigged on a lead head. Work the lizard in the same manner as the hair jig.

Late winter in Kentucky usually brings a lot of high and muddy water to our streams. Most bass anglers believe that cold muddy water is the absolute worst, but stream smallmouth may still be caught in water the color of creamed coffee during a late winter warming trend.

Finding the winter holes is still very important for success. Instead of fishing the flowing water at the ends of the pool, fish the slack water at the edges of the pool. Safety pin spinnerbaits in white or charteuse worked slowly through this water produces strikes. Some anglers prefer the small Beetle Spin in this situation. A black and brown hair jig worked slowly in the slack muddy water is also good for these fish.

Safety is very important when fishing water less than 50 degrees. If you slip on a slick rock and get soaked, get out of the water immediately and get back to your vehicle as soon as possible. Bring along an extra set of clothes to replace the wet ones. Hypothermia, the gradual lowering of body temperature, is a real danger in water this cold. Always wear a wader belt to keep water from filling the legs of the waders in the event of a slip and fall.

Late winter smallmouth fishing in streams won’t produce as many fish as spring or summer fishing, but those that bite may be the biggest fish of the year. All it takes is for the water temperature to rise a few degrees to start the stream smallmouth fishing season in the Bluegrass state and cure the winter blues.