Wabash River
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Wabash River Fishing Reports
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Reports from all past years within a 60-day time frame
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Tubes
Structure
Boulders
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Ice
Technique
Tubes
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Crawfish
Water Temperature
48°
Flipping tube into a laydown in Indiana in early winter is almost a guarantee for hand to hand combat with a quality smallmouth. The 3.5” coffee tube is the perfect size and I don’t know why but the green pumpkin purple is the color that they love all year long. The stupid tube jig in 1/8 oz is the perfect weight for a slower fall. I like to target big laydown ms in shallow water that are close to wintering holes.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Ice
Technique
Soft Jerkbaits
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
38°
Broke out the FREE RIG to try on the river for winter smallies. Targeted submerged laydowns in slack water. I was impressed with how effective this was. It was a little hard to feel the bite as the line is slack but the biggest fish of the day came on this rig. Cast it right where you want it to sink. The weight drops straight down immediately, the fluke glides downs slowly. I think there is definitely something to be said for scented baits and smallmouth bass. I hope y’all are fishing, catching and living that #HookLife.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Ice
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
38°
Target the current seam and slack water just pass the deepest pilings. The fish will set up there and wait for bait to pass by. Find the jerk cadence they are looking for. 2-3 second pause between jerks. #HookLife
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Ice
Technique
Ned Rigs
Structure
Laydowns
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
38°
On this river if you can find the winter hole you’re on the right track. Next try to locate submerged wood in slack water. The smallies will gravitate towards wood or darker rock in winter as it will hold heat better. The scented jerk shade floats tail up, the pointed head in the bulletz helps come through wood with ease. I like 15lb main line to a 12lb leader because you may have to horse them a little bit as you are fishing near lay downs. Put it on bottom right next to the deepest part of the laydown and let it sit there. They will come and suck it in. The feel of the bite can be almost non existent. If you feel anything different set the hook. #HookLife
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Winter
Technique
Soft Jerkbaits
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
44°
Targeting Pilings with significant calm water adjacent to them. Shad were holding in the calm water. The best fish were on the backside (down current) of the pilings waiting for Shad to swim past. I was “free rigging” the flukes. The weight falls fast and allows the fluke to glide down. You slowly twitch the bait until it meets the weight. Give it a pop and repeat. The fish were eating it on the drop. The Free rig uses a free sliding closed eye sinker in front of a worm hook. I like a 1/4oz sinker and a 3/0 or 4/0 hook depending on bait size. Today I was throwing 4” jerk shad and. 3/0 hook. Using the right rod is critical to feel the bite and get a solid hookset. A 7’ medium / fast action rod is is the lowest in power/taper I would go. A 2500-3000 size reel with 12-15lb braid and a 10lb leader works well for this technique.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Soft Swimbaits (Sm/Md)
Structure
River Channels
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
48°
Right now (March) is a great time to start throwing small Swimbaits. The water temps are in the high 40’s and the smallmouth are starting to roam the river channels in search of food. I find the highest concentration of active fish on the slack water current seam just pass major structure like pilings and log jambs. The Berkley Hollow belly rigged on the Oukast money swimbait head has great action and an incredible body roll to it. Throwing it on med power fast action rod with light braid to a fluorocarbon leader helps in being stealthy but allows for rock solid hooksets. Happy catching!!
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Finesse Jigs
Structure
Pilings
Forage
Crawfish
Crawfish are starting to get active. Target the eddy's behind pilings. The bass are in deep water looking up at the bank for crawfish entering the water. Cast shallow and work towards the deep water. Slow drags util you hit a rock, then a slight pop, then let us sit for a few seconds and repeat. The bite can be very light so a sensitive rod and braid to leader connection helps a lot. I like. 7’ med/ fast or extra fast spinning rod for this. 12lb braid to a 10lb fluorocarbon leader is my preferred setup. Good luck out there.
Species
Smallmouth BassSeason
Spring (Pre-Spawn)
Technique
Hard Jerkbaits
Structure
Rock Pile
Forage
Shad
Water Temperature
48°
Smallimouth are currently feeding around hard cover. The baitfish and shad are up shallow. The fish are past the drop looking up and aggressively feeding. Looks for rip rap bank or isolated rock cover in slack water with deep water adjacent to it. The Lucky craft pointer series has a great dart and rolling action. It suspends perfectly. The small size of the 78 imitates the small baitfish they are feeding on very well.
