Summer Smallmouth Fishing in North Carolina

July & August are prime months to target smallmouth bass in the rivers around western NC.

July and August are usually the hottest months in North Carolina. These hotter months means lower water levels on the French Broad and Nolichucky Rivers. Lower water levels force the smallmouth bass to push off the banks into more oxygenated holding areas in the middle of the river. Smallmouth will be on the banks early morning, but once the sun gets overhead then it’s time to back off the banks. I run a wide variety of baits this time of year which can be anything from a buzzbait to a soft plastic jerkbait. Smallmouth can be all over a certain bait one day and then turn their nose up to it the next. The key to success this time of year is to keep changing baits until you figure out a pattern. Another tip is if the fish won’t hit a crawdad pattern then you might as well go home.

Most anglers do not enjoy fishing off colored water, but this is the norm on the French Broad. We rarely get days where the water is crystal clear so you just have to adapt using baits that have sound and vibration. It’s hard to beat tossing a 1/4 ounce spinnerbait in dirty water.

Pictures are worth a thousand words so check out some of our best catches from July and August 2021. Enjoy!

Outlook for September & October 2021

September can be provide some cooler nights which drops the water temperatures below 70 degrees. This can provide some excellent smallmouth fishing for spin fishermen and fly anglers. The biggest smallmouth we caught last year came on September 11th. Check it out below:

The bigger smallmouth know it’s time to start feeding aggressively before winter so they normally start mid September and will continue well into November. Here are some other big fish we’ve caught in September.

October is one of my favorite months of the year to guide because it’s prime time for trout and smallmouth. The creeks are running cold and the trout are happily eating again and the bigger rivers are stocked full of trout. The river smallmouth are fattening up before winter and life is good for a fishing guide.
We offer guided wade fishing or float trips for stocked trout which is a fantastic time to catch one of the biggest trout of your life. The state stocks some good size fish on our rivers and trout fishing will be red hot the first week of October till the end of May. Our wild trout streams fish really well in October if you are looking to get off the beaten path so keep that in mind.
Smallmouth fishing on the French Broad River can be lights out in October if water conditions cooperate. If you are interested in catching some good sized smallmouth October is a hard month to beat. Below are some great trout and smallmouth we’ve caught and released in October.

We look forward to seeing you on the water! Western North Carolina is a truly special place to fish for trout or smallmouth. Contact us today to experience some great fishing here in the mountains of North Carolina.