River Smallmouth Seasonal Playbook
What to Throw for Smallmouth Bass (Susquehanna River Seasonal Playbook)
If you're fishing the North Branch of the Susquehanna River, what you throw—and where you throw it—changes throughout the year.
This guide breaks down exactly what I use on the water during each season, based on years of guiding and fishing this river system.
If you follow this, you’ll be throwing the right bait in the right place at the right time.
The One Bait I Always Have Tied On
If there’s one bait I throw year-round on the North Branch Susquehanna, it’s a sled jig.
It works in cold water, warm water, high water, and low water. You can drag it, swim it, or fish it like a finesse bait depending on conditions.
If you’re unsure what to throw—start with a sled jig.
Early Spring (March – Early April)
Water Temps: 40–50°F
In early spring, smallmouth are slow and holding in protected water near wintering areas. Focus on rocky pools, slower current, and steep banks.
This is a bottom-oriented bite—keep your bait in contact with the bottom and slow everything down.
What to Throw
- Sled jigs (go-to bait)
- Rubber jigs (great for cold water profiles)
- Pill heads (finesse bottom presentations)
- Easy Three Jig (MaxScent + finesse combo)
- Swim Lock Jig (locks plastics in place in current)
- Ned rigs (1/16 oz)
- Jerkbaits
How to Fish It
- Drag baits slowly along the bottom
- Focus on maintaining bottom contact
- Fish slow current seams and protected water
Rubber jigs and sled jigs excel here because they imitate crawfish and stay in the strike zone longer. Easy Three and Swim Lock jigs are perfect for locking in soft plastics like MaxScent and keeping your bait pinned in current.
Shop Sled Jigs
Shop Rubber Jigs
Shop Pill Heads
Shop Easy Three Jig
Shop Swim Lock Jig
Pre-Spawn / Spawn (Late April – May)
Water Temps: Mid 50s
As water temperatures rise, smallmouth begin transitioning toward spawning zones. Fish stage in slower water near islands and current breaks.
This is one of the best times of year to target bigger fish.
What to Throw
- Sled jigs (bottom and swim)
- Rubber jigs (bigger profile for staging fish)
- Susky 7 (reaction bait for covering water)
- Squarebill crankbaits
- Swimbaits
How to Fish It
- Cover water to locate staging fish
- Focus on transition areas
- Increase retrieve speed
- Mix bottom dragging with swimming presentations
Rubber jigs shine here for bigger fish, while the Susky 7 is a great way to trigger reaction bites when covering water.
Shop Sled Jigs
Shop Rubber Jigs
Shop Susky 7
Summer (June – Early September)
Water Temps: 70+°F
Fish move to fast, oxygenated water. Target current seams and boulder fields.
What to Throw
- Sled jigs (swimming in current)
- Swim Lock Jig (perfect for current + plastics)
- Susky 7 (reaction bait for aggressive fish)
- Topwater
- Spinnerbaits
- Crankbaits
The sled jig becomes a power bait here, while the Swim Lock jig excels at holding plastics in place in current. The Susky 7 is ideal for triggering aggressive summer fish.
Shop Sled Jigs
Shop Swim Lock Jig
Shop Susky 7
Fall (Late September – November)
Fall fishing mirrors spring patterns. Fish move back to slower water and structure.
What to Throw
- Sled jigs (drag or slow swim)
- Weedless Football Ned (clean bottom presentation)
- Ned rigs
- Jerkbaits
- Cranks (Lipped and Lipless)
The Weedless Football Ned is perfect for fishing rocky bottoms cleanly while maintaining bottom contact.
Shop Sled Jigs
Shop Weedless Football Ned
Winter (December – March)
Fish hold in deep, slow water and require slow presentations.
What to Throw
- Sled jigs (dragged and deadsticked)
- Easy Three Jig (MaxScent cold water killer)
- Swim Lock Jig (keeps plastics pinned in current)
- Hair jigs
- Blade baits
In cold water, soft plastics like MaxScent excel when rigged on Easy Three or Swim Lock jigs. The sled jig remains one of the most reliable options when fished slowly along the bottom.
Shop Sled Jigs
Shop Easy Three Jig
Shop Swim Lock Jig
Not Sure Where to Start?
If you're looking for a simple way to get started, check out the sample pack. It’s built around the exact baits I rely on throughout the year on the Susquehanna.