The winter was perfect for the condition of the rivers and the smallmouth. We had very little real high water and the temps didn’t drop into the sub zeros for very long. With that said we started getting out on the river a little earlier this year and fulfilled our winter dreams of football size smallies. Early April the clarity was good enough to fly fish and fish were able to be caught on white cone head Zonkers and crystal flash minnows. On light tackle we did well with the traditional tube jigs and pig and jigs.
Three quarters threw April the rains blew out the rivers and we had peak levels of 12’ on the Potomac and 8’ on the Doah. This happened just after the big fish nested. Hopefully it doesn’t cause a complete loss in the year class. The secondary spawn should fill in the loss of young and takes place early to mid May. What to expect for post spawn and early summer….The numbers should start climbing as soon as the river levels drop and expect allot of fish in the 15” to 16” range. You can start fishing a more horizontal presentation at that time Grubs, Supper Flukes, and Jerk Baits. On the fly your Clousers, Buggers, Zonkers, and minnow imitations will work.
