Tackle selection for river-ranging smallmouth bass as autumn progresses toward winter. MUSKEGON, Mich. (October 1, 2024) – Pound for pound, smallmouth bass are undeniably one of the hardest fighting freshwater fish in North America. Words like ‘belligerent’ and ‘chippy’ come to mind when describing their demeanor when hooked, hence their popularity with anglers.While in many regions of the country smallies maintain their position as a top attraction throughout the summer months, an unfortunate number of anglers lose interest once other fall attractions kick in. Besides hunting seasons, muskie, walleye, salmon, steelhead and even stripers, redfish and tuna steal a lot of the thunder after Labor Day.However, some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year takes place as water temps begin to slink, triggering a heavy feeding period that may only last a few weeks. This is when a lot of trophy sized fish shed their hard-earned reputation for being difficult to catch.