Smallmouth movement

[Jhunter1]

Smallmouth in rivers won't be in the same spots now as in the summer and fall. I would imagine many are in that large body of water seeking warmer, calmer flats to spawn. Once water warms up and they are done spawning they will move into faster water in search of bait fish. I would look down stream for areas that are flat and up out of the current fish them slow with something like a whacky worm etc. Later in the season go back to your honey hole.

[thmyorke1]

It would be neat if they did some studies on this for the Raritan after the shad study.

[icebadger]

sometimes smallies can hide in holes at the bottom of bigger pools in rivers,they have amazing swimming skills you would be amazed at their adaptablity. they can swim long ways up stream as well as down stream. i have seen this on the lower rockaway river, they come out of the jersey city res looking for spawning grounds and food supplies. that river has alot of crayfish and hellgramites in it.they also can avoid the comerants as well.they are one tough fish and fight like hell when you catch them.by far my number one fish to fish for.

[Chrisper4694]

not sure about rivers but in lakes and reservoirs they love transition areas this time of year (i.e. where boulders turn to rocks turn to gravel turn to sand etc.)