FAIRMONT, W.Va. — Contenders in this week's Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional could encounter bass in various stages of the spawn on the Monongahela River.
“There will be fish that are still spawning and some that haven’t spawned,” said Tim Mitchem, West Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation president, who frequently fishes the river. “If we get a good warming spell, that spawn might even be over.”
Smallmouth and largemouth bass usually spawn on the riprap and along any wood along the sand flats of the river.
“Guys will just have to be flexible and deal with stuff on the river such as the three locks,” Mitchem said. “There’s a variety of fishing there, so it should be a good tournament as long as the rain holds out.”
Mitchem expects white-and-chartreuse spinnerbaits, green pumpkin Senkos and green pumpkin tube baits will work best along the riprap. Both hollow-body frogs and toad-style soft plastics will trigger strikes in the milfoil. He also suggests trying a pink or white floating worm for spawning fish.
He said he believes it will take a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth bass to win the tournament.
“A big largemouth on the river is a 5-pounder, and good-size smallmouth are 2 to 2 1/2 pounds,” Mitchem said. He suggests the Tygart River is the best area to target smallmouth bass.
River facts
Forage base — shad, minnows, crawfish
River length — 130 miles
Minimum channel depth — 9 feet
Water clarity — 2 to 3 feet of visibility
Structure/cover — milfoil, rock riprap, laydowns
Predicted winning weight — 25 pounds