I live on the Susquehanna River, one of the best smallmouth rivers in the world. Dont be intimidated by the posts above. Smallmouth fishing from the bank is not impossible, in fact I catch my biggest river smallmouth every year from the bank.
The 1st and most important thing you need to learn is how to read water. Smallmouth in streams and rivers live there life according to stream flow and current. Also, forget everything you have read about smallmouth in lakes and reservours, river bass are completely different creatures.
Anything that forms a current break has the abilily to hold smallmouth, and I do mean anything. From rocks to weeds and even garbage large enough to cause the current to change direction.
There are a few key things to look for when looking for smallmouth in summer. Your most consistant bet for numbers of fish would be to fish riffle areas. For the most part, this is due to the fact that during summer water temps are high and oxygen levels may be low. Riffle areas oxygenate the water and will actually lower water temp a couple of degrees, holding bass through the hottest months.
This is a great way to learn smallmouth fishing. You can pay attention to where and how the smallmouth are relating to eddies, seams and breaks as well as what time of day they use certain areas of a riffle. Normaly but not always, smallmouth will use the riffle itself to feed during lowlight and drop back into the deeper water below a riffle to rest or when they are not active. One exeption would be bigger smallmouth. Large fish, normaly like the extra security that deeper water offers. But remember, deep water is relative to the river you are fishing. Here on my favorite section of the Susquehanna, deep water is eight feet. It could be 3' or less on a shallow river section.
I could write a book on smallmouth fishing!!
To end this before I do write a book, I will leave you with a couple baits that are easy to use and will normaly produce smallmouth during the summer months.
Use lighter line. 10 lb test is all you should need on spinning tackle, I personaly use 6 and 8 most of the time. Heavy line should only be used for fast moving baits such as spinnerbaits and some topwater situations. Unless of coarse the water clarity is bad, then you may get away with heavier line.
Tube baits. YOU MUST HAVE TUBE BAITS AND LEARN TO FISH THEM. Tubes will catch smallmouth anywhere anytime.
Senko style baits.
Fluke style baits.
Grubs, both singe staight grubs and spider grubs.
Spinnerbaits, and buzzbaits.
Small crankbaits.
Topwater poppers, propbaits and walking baits.
This should almost cover anything you come accross in summer. But carry a good variety of differnt weights to cover different current and depth situations effectively. 1/16 through 1/4 oz. heads and bullet weights for tubes and grubs. 1/4 through 1/2 oz spinnerbaits and cranks will work well.
Too make this as short as possible I will offer you my phone # and email address. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. I could go on for hours about smallmouth, but dont want to take up the entire BassinUSA web site.
570 644 5231
[email protected]
I would also look into hiring a guide willing to wade fish. You can learn more in a day on the water then you ever can by reading.