Game & Fish West

THE RIGHT STUFF

Among bass anglers, small-mouths have a reputation for fighting with a never-say-quit pugnacity. River smallmouths, in particular, are among the hardest fighters, and once you figure out the pattern, it’s possible to catch dozens of fish in a day on many Western rivers. Whether it’s 10-inch fish on light tackle in a scenic creek or 4-pounders on big rivers, smallies provide a great change of pace from trout or lake-bound largemouths.

River smallmouth anglers don’t have to haul tackle boxes the size of bathtubs, either. If you select the right baits, everything you need can fit in an inflatable kayak or even the pouch pockets of your favorite waders. Here’s how to get dialed in this summer.

SMALLMOUTH BIOLOGY

While their mouths are smaller than those of largemouth bass, that does not preclude smallmouths from eating larger forage. For instance, rainbow trout tend to start feeding on baitfish and larger prey when they reach about

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