Finding Smallmouth Bass in Reservoirs

Finding Smallmouth Bass in Reservoirs

Spring
Reservoirs produce some excellent structure for smallmouth during the
spring. Reservoirs usually have lots of creek arms or coves. These
areas warm faster and the bass come out of their deep water hang
outs to the warm water of the creek arms. Shallow reservoirs usually
are loaded with timber and you will typically find more largemouth bass
than smallmouth bass in these waters.

Wood appeals more to largemouth than smallmouth. Find some areas
with a rocky bottom and you will have more success with smallmouth
bass. As the water warms from 50 to 60 degrees, you should be
fishing for smallmouth bass in shallow water around some type of
cover. Once the temperature reaches 60 degrees, most bass are
spawning and they are harder to catch, but you can still take plenty of
fish off the beds.

Summer
As the water warms, smallmouth will move deeper. If there aren't any
deep areas with a rocky bottom, you might want to try some deep
areas with wood. Reservoirs usually have a lot of wood and the
smallmouth will use the deep areas with wood as a last resort. If they
have the option, they would rather be around rocky points that drop off
into deeper water. Some other areas to target are submerged
roadbeds, steep-sloping banks and secondary drop-offs. These areas
will all produce smallmouth in the summer.

Fall/Winter
Just like in natural lakes, bass will come into shallower water during the
fall. Look for bass in similar areas than you found them during the
spring. Shallower reservoirs will turn over quicker than deep
reservoirs, so fish the shallow reservoirs in the early fall and the deep
reservoirs in late fall. The bass will find deep areas and remain
dormant for the winter.

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