A Primer on East Grand Bass Fishing

Tips From Veteran Bass Guide and Science Teacher Andy Latvis (2009)

Micropterus dolomieui – To some known as the tiger of the sunfish family!

Bronzeback, smallie, redeye, whatever you call it, the fight from what scientists call Micropterus dolomieui, and we call smallmouth bass, pound for pound, ranks very high amongst game fish. The smallmouth, which is actually in the sunfish family, is renowned for its pole bending and aerial action. It can be found throughout the United States and North into Canada.

A smallmouth is well adapted for ambush, possessing a stout body and camouflaged with a pattern of vertical bars and stripes. They are also counter shaded to keep predators from spying them from above.

East Grand Lake, located in eastern Maine, is a beautiful and productive smallie hatchery. The lake bottom naturally supports reproduction with a myriad of points, flats, and drop-offs, and yes, clear H2O loaded with structure in the form of rocks and boulders.

I have the pleasure to fish this lake pretty hard from April to September, and with my limited literary skills, would like to summarize a typical open water season on East Grand in pursuit of the smallies!

I generally think in terms of stages, these being: a) pre-spawn, b) spawn, c) post- spawn, and d) summer patterns. Let’s elaborate; during our usual April ice-outs, the dense ice cold water sinks, displacing deeper H2O, and the result is a spring water turnover. True fishermen anxiously await this natural occurrence because this kicks the fishing season into a higher gear. As the H2O temperature climbs above 50°, smallmouths are staying in deeper water, usually handy to spawning grounds. The fishing can be a little slow, but many of the largest females are caught while gorging on baitfish before the arduous task of spawn begins.

As June arrives and the temperature of the water nears the high 50°, the males (redeyes) will fan out a bed. These are almost always next to a landmark, like a submerged log or boulder. On a calm sunny morning, you will readily find these beds in gravel/sand mix back in coves where the warmer H2O is. This is sight fishing time, and a good pair of polarized glasses and a wide brimmed hat is a must. As for the ethics involved of fishing spawning bass, I have no problem with it as long as a couple of simple rules are followed. They are: 1) don’t overplay fish—get them in and quickly release them, 2) release them near the bed from which he came, this causes less stress and more production of eggs, 3) use flies with barbless hooks, and 4) catch and release. Remember, spawning bass are not eating, they are defending and protecting. Almost any lure or bushy fly that can be slowly, I repeat, slowly worked through these bedding areas will produce hook-ups. I prefer highly visible offerings so that I know when that un-seen bass has it. Usually around a week later, the bass fry hatch out. The male will remain until the fry start to scatter, his paternal instincts are tested to the max, and it gets to be too much of a hassle. Remember, if you notice a lot of abandoned beds, those fish are nearby, usually in a little deeper water. Smallmouths use the same bedding location year after year until they pass on. Prime spots will be taken up next year with a new tenant. Your bigger bass are usually found in the deeper, harder to spot beds in 8-10 feet of water, I have had days where, after staring through H2O all day at these beds, I see them when I close my eyes at night.

As we enter the post-spawn section of the season, bass are readily taken with cranks and spinner baits, as well as top water lures. This time of year is when you can really pile up the numbers, and with nice size bass.

As the water continues warming up, the bass react by finding deeper, cooler H2O. Try deeper crankbaits, tube jigs, and of course, your Texas or Carolina style rigged worms. With East Grand water clarity, I prefer Lo Vis line and natural colored baits. Smallmouths are very fond of crayfish, and crayfish like areas with lots of rocks to hide. A tube jig or Brush Hawg twitched along the bottom is a great imitation of these small crustaceans.

Your biggest bass tend to feed in low light conditions, which means an early departure from Rideout’s 200 foot dock. The last couple of hours of daylight are also hard to beat.

Fishing is just what it is “Fishing!” and as July turns into August, the bass are hard into warm H2O patterns and are seeking shade and cooler water. Pounding the bottom of rocky areas in 15-30 feet of water is the norm. Often, a slower presentation is needed due to the sluggishness of the bass in this warm H2O. August can test an angler’s patience, but trying a few different colors of above mentioned soft baits and giving different presentations can help August anglers put some beauties or beasts into the boat.

I have to admit that come September, I am usually dragging homespun streamers for salmon. But bass enthusiasts are readily delighted as the temperature of the water cools down and bass are moving back into shallower haunts, eating what they can before settling in for another Maine winter.

On a final note, most people are surprised to hear that the nice bass they just caught could be ten years old or better due to our slow growing conditions. Take pictures and let the big ones go. These are the genetic carriers of superior genes and are the best breeders. Enjoy the scenery! Take a kid fishing! Tight lines!