Cool off with hot smallmouth action
Slightly above South Carolina’s “Famously Hot” capital city of Columbia, the Broad River flows along, providing cool water where smallmouth bass thrive.
August is a great month to fish here. No matter how hot the weather is, this water runs cool enough for a nice reprieve from the heat, even if you just dip your toes in.
Mike McSwain of Broad River Smallmouth dips his toes, and more, often. But it’s the fish he’s really after.
“These fish eat, all summer long. They are eating machines,” said McSwain (843-763-3805).
One of his favorite things about fishing here this time of year is how receptive smallmouth are to whatever he decides to cast.
“Some days, they are a little more picky than others. But in a typical day of fishing here during the summer, we catch them on just about every lure a bass angler could want to throw,” he said.
“Topwater isn’t only for mornings here. But morning is definitely a great time for surface lures. Poppers, walk-the-dog plugs, prop lures like the Berkley Choppo, they are all good choices in the early morning hours,” he said.
McSwain fishes from a canoe with a trolling motor. So he’s able to cover a lot of water without too much trouble. He also has access to private landings up and down the river. This allows him to fish long drifts or short drifts from one landing to another, or to motor up from one landing, fishing along the way, then drift back down, continuing to fish as the current takes him back to his starting point.
“The shoals, which keep the water churning, are great places for smallmouth to stack up and ambush prey. They’ll hide behind rocks, in front of rocks, in the slack water pools between rocks, and even in the current seams,” he said.
Topwater lures are also good in these shoals. Soft plastic creature baits too. And inline spinners, like the Mepps Aglia and Black Fury are other great choices.
“It’s really difficult to find bad places to cast on this river,” said McSwain. “I suggest anglers cast upriver at about a 45-degree angle. This allows you to work your lure back before the current pushes it too far down the river. It offers a natural presentation, and the smallmouth respond well to it.”
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