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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass are one of West Virginia's premier gamefish, known for their aggressive fighting ability.

These opportunistic predators thrive in oxygenated coolwater streams with gravel bottoms, utilizing riffles, runs, and deep pools depending on seasonal needs.

Scientific Name: Micropterus dolomieu

Physical Characteristics:
  • Known for their bronze coloration, dark vertical bars, and aggressive fighting ability.
  • In West Virginia, they can exceed 20 inches and 5 pounds, with an average lifespan of about 15 years.

What to know

Habitat Distribution

  • Originally native only to the upper portions of the Big Sandy, Clinch, Holston, Powell, and Tug watersheds in southwest Virginia, smallmouth have been successfully introduced throughout coolwater portions of most of West Virginia's river systems.

Key Locations

  • Key waters include the New River (famous for producing more citation smallmouth than any other Virginia water), South Branch Potomac, Shenandoah River, Gauley River, Cheat River system, Greenbrier River, and various sections of larger tributaries.
  • The New River's Trough section, South Branch Potomac's catch-and-release areas, and Shenandoah River's ledge systems are particularly productive.

Specific Spots

  • They prefer areas with riparian cover, fallen trees, rock ledges, and grass beds for ambush feeding.
  • Target structure-rich areas including current seams, eddies behind large rocks, gravel bars, undercut banks, sycamore-lined shorelines, water willow beds, submerged ledges, and areas with fallen timber.

Smallmouth Bass FAQ

Answers from onWater's species guide.

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

Effective lures include tubes, soft plastic swimbaits, spinnerbaits, small crankbaits (particularly effective in June-July with light line), buzzbaits, Whopper Plopper 90s, Zara Spooks, and Heddon Tiny Torpedos for topwater action.

What flies work for Smallmouth Bass in West Virginia?

Productive fly patterns include Clouser Minnows (chartreuse/white, olive/white, brown/white), Half & Half streamers, Murray's Hellgrammites, Woolly Buggers, surface poppers like Boogle Bugs, and crayfish patterns like Chuck Kraft's Clawdad.

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

The best smallmouth fishing in West Virginia occurs from late spring through fall, with the 'Roaring 40s' period (water temperatures 40-50°F) providing exceptional early season action as fish bulk up pre-spawn.

How do you catch Smallmouth Bass in West Virginia?

Carolina rigs and deep-running crankbaits excel in deeper pools. Target structure-rich areas including current seams, eddies behind large rocks, gravel bars, undercut banks, sycamore-lined shorelines, water willow beds, submerged ledges, and areas with fallen timber.

What do Smallmouth Bass eat?

These opportunistic predators consume a diverse diet that changes with age and season. Juveniles feed heavily on benthic macroinvertebrates, while adults prefer crayfish, small fish (shiners, darters, dace, sunfish), hellgrammites, and seasonal terrestrial insects like cicadas, grasshoppers, and Japanese beetles.

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