Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. event professional, Alex Redwine, talks fishing the transition interval
MUSKEGON, MI (June 25, 2025) – On most waters, smallmouth bass have both transitioned from post-spawn into summer time conduct – or are already in summer time mode. Smallmouth bass will spawn in water temperatures between 58 and 70 levels – and water temps are steadily rising, particularly with current heat spells.
What higher approach to determine a program for monitoring transition interval smallies than speak to a professional angler, on this case, Whitewater Fishing B.A.S.S. event professional, Alex Redwine.
Having spent the final week fishing Lake St. Clair, Redwine was thrown into precisely this example: The place are the bass now that they completed up the spawn? Many anglers are dealing with the identical scenario, so we quizzed him on current and present on-the-water expertise preventing the nice struggle.
“This a part of June can at all times be a difficult time of 12 months. Smallies are simply getting off their beds they usually get much less grouped up as they begin shifting to their summertime spots,” stated Redwine.
“There may be a number of leftover fish, however 90% of them are carried out spawning. They’re in transition and aren’t 100% feeding up but as a result of the summer time water temperatures in a whole lot of circumstances haven’t arrived.”
On St. Clair, Redwine discovered shallow water temps round 69-70 levels and out slightly deeper, within the 62- to 64-degree vary. He felt just like the deeper water needed to heat up extra earlier than the fish would actually begin feeding, in addition to the shallower waters warming up slightly bit extra to get them to begin pulling out.
The place to look? Redwine labored each shallower and in-between depths searching for fish, in addition to hitting transition spots like factors the place fish will usually group up.
He additionally found a mayfly hatch, one thing he urges anglers to look at for in late June throughout the Higher Midwest. “After the spawn, the fish are fairly skinny and desirous to feed up, so if yow will discover the place the mayflies are hatching, you’ll be able to intercept them feeding on the carcasses, even when they haven’t moved solely deep to feed up on baitfish.”
Prime Shows
“Throughout this transition interval, the very first thing I’ll do is throw a 3- to 4-inch swimbait – like a Keitech – one thing I can cowl a whole lot of water with. The fish might be actually unfold out throughout this era however nonetheless aggressive, so it is a good bait for placing the fuel on the trolling motor.”
Redwine says that masking actual property with a swimbait permits him to search out out the place fish may be beginning to group up.
Then, if he positive aspects confidence in an space, Redwine will put the swimbait rod down and decide up a Ned Rig or dropshot rod and actually dial into an space.
Dialing into gear, Redwine throws swimbaits and Ned Rigs on a 7-foot medium-power, fast-action rod with a 2500 or 3000 measurement reel and 10- or 15-pound braid relying on how rocky and snagging the terrain is – which he terminates to both an 8- or 10-pound fluoro chief.
“On St. Clair, the bass will spawn wherever from 3 to 10 ft of water – and the depth within the center is eighteen to twenty ft – so I caught most of my fish focusing on that 9- to 14-foot vary as a result of there have been nonetheless some fish that weren’t totally out deep.”
For anglers caught on this predicament proper now, Redwine suggests mapping the place you assume the smallmouth spawned after which draw out paths from there – first stops for the place the fish will transfer post-spawn, like a secondary level popping out of a pocket or creek.
“Clearly, you must intercept them on that path from their spawning web site to deeper waters,” famous Redwine. “It may well take a whole lot of wanting round.”
Smallie Summer time Mode
Redwine says when the water temp in shallower and mid-depths reaches about 75 levels is when smallmouth bass have transitioned to summer time mode and head deeper collectively. That’s when he’ll begin fishing deeper, relying closely on his electronics, and fishing 4 fundamental methods – Ned Rig, shakey head, FFS minnow, or topwater.
“And never solely is it a water temperature factor that pushes the bass out deeper,” famous Redwine. “They’re following baitfish which are leaving shallower spots and taking over residence over deeper water. Observe the meals, discover the fish.”
Redwine added that not all his deeper water summer time smallie fishing is in no man’s land. A number of occasions he’s searching for the shade of deeper banks close to shore the place the fish will congregate.
“By way of shows, my summertime smallie confidence bait is a shaky head. Looks as if when the fishing will get more durable, I can at all times depend on it to place fish within the boat. The opposite factor is fishing topwaters over the bait excessive within the water column. When the bass actually need to feed up after the spawn you are able to do some critical injury with a popper or strolling bait.”
Keep Snug
To comply with—and catch—smallies all the open-water season, an angler should be ready for chilly, snow, rain, after which warmth. Redwine says he begins off within the early spring within the Nice Lakes Professional Insulated Go well with which provides him “glorious vary of motion” and “isn’t cumbersome for the way heat it’s.”
Then, as spring wears on, he’s by no means with out his Nice Lakes Professional swimsuit in case of routine moist, cool, and drizzly climate.
“I’ve put that stuff away for the season, however have been dwelling in my Whitewater Rays Efficiency Hoodie with the built-in gaiter that protects my face and neck—in addition to the remainder of me from UV whereas being within the solar all day. For a similar purpose, I’m sporting the Prevail Pants to guard my legs. And it’s all tremendous breathable and funky.”
Wanting Forward
At the moment on break from B.A.S.S., however two occasions in August, Redwine has been fishing “a whole lot of native stuff” and has his fingers crossed to qualify for the 2026 Bassmaster Basic. Whitewater continues to root for the younger gunslinger and thanks him for sharing a number of tricks to catch extra smallmouth bass on this time of post-spawn to summer time transition.
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