Most years smallmouth bass on pool 9 are seriously focused on spawning by May 18. Water temp in Pool 9 is usually 65-71 degrees in both the River mainstem and myriad backwaters at this time.

Not so in 2026! Surface water temps have seen wild fluctuation
over the past 6-8 weeks. There were a couple of times when the north end of dark bottomed backwaters had 62 degree water in early April. But passage of cold fronts that dropped ambient temps into the low 30s also cause a rapid drop in surface temp in shallow water, resulting in warmer temps in deeper backwaters than on the shallow flats, especially in the morning.

With traditional spawning time for SMB about a week away, water temps on the River mainstem were many brown bass spawn have yet to break 60 degrees. Meanwhile, temps in backwaters around woody cover where other populations of SMB spawn are at or near prime 65 degree ‘launch time’ right now.

Fish are always on the move in a river system. Forage base is the primary drive for all species once spawning time passes. Forage base movement is driven by a number of factors, with flow rate, water temp and oxygen levels all contributing to forage base movement.

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking perch that are following their preferred benthic macroinvertebrate forage base or walleyes & pike that like to feed on the River’s jumbo perch…if schools of shad or river shiners aren’t both more plentiful and vulnerable.

Flow rate/current are major drivers of forage base location at the bottom end of the food chain. In low current areas, prevailing wind can be a factor, too.

All fish are opportunists, easing towards the most plentiful, easiest forage base throughout the year. Shad, river shiners and perch have already spawned, with young-of-year progeny now a favorite target of species further up the food chain.

Bluegills & crappies have yet to drop their eggs. Their progeny won’t be meal du jour for species up the food chain until mid-to late June.

WHOA! I just realized the 4th cup of morning coffee took me down a rabbit hole far removed from surface temp riving smallmouth bass pre-spawn location, activity and forage base preference if you wanted to go out and catch some this afternoon.

It takes me at least an hour to figure out preferred target location and behavior every single day. Often this quest reveals
the wisdom of targeting a more willing species.

Being on the River pretty much every day I can take you where the fish were yesterday and probe where they’re likely to be today or maybe tomorrow.

But even a finger on the pulse of the River on a daily basis is like an a-fib heart rhythm: irregularly irregular.

Today I’m gonna go find and catch a few smallmouth bass. Just where, when & how this will happen will not be realized sitting behind this desktop computer.

Responsibilities that interfere with my life priorities will diminish now that the plumber is putting tools back in his truck. Apologies for burdening you with the rambling of a troubled mind. I’m goin’ fishin’. Life is good.