tips on fishing smallmouth on the river

[billmid]

looking for tips on smallmouth on the river like what lures to use and like were to fish

[WarEagle]

Depends on the water, depth, clarity, etc. But I always lead off with a buzzbait. I'd never go without Rebel Craws in a couple of colors, sizes and depths. I'd take a variety of tubes. And some smaller jerk baits, 3.5" Husky Jerk in black/silver. Things that will "match the hatch" as they say. And a popper or two.

I throw buzzbaits across any rocks, trees, stumps lying in or partially in the water. I throw them right to the bank and retrieve them across any pools of water where the current slows and the water gets a bit deeper. I throw the tubes into any structure I can find, especially any rocky edges and boulders. I throw the rebel craws everywhere, but obviously it looks like a craw, throw them where you might find craws. And I like to throw poppers up current and work them down. Smallmouth will set in slower water next to a current and then dart into the current to hit forage that has floated down stream.

But hands down, I catch more BIG smallmouth on buzzbaits.


This is last Friday, wading after work.


20" Smallie, Leverage Buzzbait, Naked Shad.



Good Luck,

WAR

[CreekGeek22]

Nice fish WarEagle! What waters do you fish the most there on the south side?

[JB]

wareagle, ya oughta enter that in the big bass (smallmouth) division

[weedangler]

You always need a craw of some sort when river fishin and what has been working for me is throwing it into the current and the bass will sit outside the current and wait for food flowing threw the current and they will hop in and grab once they see it

[WarEagle]

I was actually fishing Sugar up your way for that smallie. I fish Big Blue, our Sugar, and the White of course down here.

But if I want big smallies, I drive up I-74 and fish in your neck of the woods.

My buddy Alan was wading with me, he hit a nice 18".. on a buzzbait he borrowed from me.


WAR

[Hef]

Chartreuse bladed spinnerbait and burn it.

[billmid]

the water is stained

[Fishing4Soup]

I, personally have not fished a river, but my dad grew up on the Chemung River. He always fished a mister twister grub on a shakey-head. Chatreuse with glitter in it was his lure of choice. All he did was cast it out, let it sink for a while and then gave it a steady retrieve or would hop it back and he caught limits of smallies and walleyes on them.

[nb1226]

Looks like when I go back to the Hoosier state in July or Sept/Oct area I need to hit up Sugar and Big Blue

[WarEagle]

Message me before you come.. We can wade some for sure.


WAR

[nb1226]

Sweet, I will be near Shelbyville when I go there, the fall trip is for hunting, but I can always squeeze in some fishing

[ToPwAt'R GuY]

In higher water i fish spinnerbaits. When the water level drops I use topwater.