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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass in Virginia are native only to the upper portions of the Big Sandy, Clinch, Holston, Powell, and Tug watersheds in the southwest portion of the state.

However, introductions have established thriving populations throughout coolwater portions of most of Virginia, making them one of the state's premier gamefish.

Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu

Also known as bronzebacks

Physical Characteristics:
  • These bronze-colored fighters can exceed 20 inches in length and 5 pounds in weight, with a typical lifespan of about 15 years.
  • Virginia's smallmouth are distinguished by their elongate, laterally compressed bodies, dark bars radiating from the eye, and bronze to brown coloration that varies based on diet, habitat, and watershed.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Native only to the upper portions of the Big Sandy, Clinch, Holston, Powell, and Tug watersheds in the southwest portion of the state.
  • However, introductions have established thriving populations throughout coolwater portions of most of Virginia.

Key Locations

  • Prime Virginia waters include the James, Rappahannock, Potomac, New, Shenandoah (North Fork, South Fork, and mainstem), Rivanna, Maury, Clinch, and North Fork Holston rivers.
  • The New River is particularly renowned, producing more citation-size smallmouth (over 20 inches) than any other Virginia water body.

Specific Spots

  • They prefer rocky, pebble-lined bottoms and congregate around structure like fallen trees, rock ledges, deeper eddies behind boulders, and grass beds.
  • Males construct nests on gravelly substrates in 2-4 feet of water during spawning.

Smallmouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

What are the best lures and bait for Smallmouth Bass in Virginia?

Productive lures include 3-inch swimbaits on 1/16-1/8 ounce jigheads, soft plastic tubes, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, topwater poppers like Tiny Torpedos, and crawfish-colored jigs. Fall fishing: suspending jerkbaits and crawfish imitations.

What flies work for Smallmouth Bass in Virginia?

Top fly patterns include Double Barrel Poppers, Boogle Bugs (especially chartreuse), Dave Whitlock's Hair Frogs, Clouser Minnows (chartreuse/white, olive/white, brown/white), Swimming Jimmys, Murdich Minnows, hellgrammite patterns, and crayfish imitations like Whitlock's Near Nuff Crayfish.

When is the best time to fish for Smallmouth Bass in Virginia?

Spring (April-June) offers the best smallmouth fishing in Virginia, particularly the pre-spawn period. Summer (July-September) provides excellent topwater action, especially during dawn and dusk periods, with mid-September through mid-October being exceptional as oxygen levels rise and fish feed actively before...

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass in Virginia?

Focus on structure: cast toward banks with fallen trees, rocky ledges, shade lines, and deeper holes. Fish the slack water immediately below rapids and riffles where multiple fish often stack up.

What do Smallmouth Bass eat?

Smallmouth are opportunistic predators that consume benthic macroinvertebrates as juveniles before transitioning to fish, crayfish, frogs, and even small mammals as adults.

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