Pools of Smallmouth Magic
By Andrew Ragas A wise river rat once tipped me off with confidential information. His findings were so sensitive and accurate that if his intel was leaked, the river's fragile smallmouth fishery and secrets could be exposed and put into peril. I was instructed to mark my calendar and prepare for this mass river migration at the start of early fall. The river rat then told me when to fish, and where to float my boat in order to reach this magical, untapped smallmouth bass pool. He pleaded for my confidentiality and promise to keep location hush-hush. I followed the wise man's orders to never tell or bring anyone with me, and reciprocated secrets of my own with him in return. Grateful for the river rat's knowledge, I have since observed the same phenomenon he described, and its patterns, taking place on several other river smallmouth bass fisheries throughout my region. Luckily for him, every river has its pools of smallmouth magic. And every notable river smallmouth fishery experiences this same mass congregation of staging fish, and frenzy of incredible fishing. As late summer transitions into early fall, river smallmouth fishing patterns and locations change. Fish that w