UPSmallie

I hear ya RustyNails87. I hear ya. Had the same exact scenario happen to me last summer and managed to catch two little salmon and a 11.8 inch rainbow on nightcrawlers overall, but could never seem to 'match the hatch.' recently I bought a book that covers all the fly fishing insects in the Midwest. It lists over 80 mayfly identification pictures and the recommended flies to use with them. It also includes the caddisfly species, stoneflies, etc. The book is found here for $22 and I would strongly recommend buying it. https://www.amazon.com/Hatch-Guide-Upper-Midwest-Streams/dp/1571884815 Every mayfly I've come across has been in that book. To answer your question I would go the route of buying some clear bobbers https://www.amazon.com/South-Bend-Slip-Float-4-Inch/dp/B003CUBANQ?ie=UTF8&keywords=bubble float&qid=1459122521&ref_=sr_1_1&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-1 and then once you can correctly identify the insects the fish are feeding on (you can scoop up some of them riding on the surface with a small minnow net attached to a long stick or pole), look up the flies that would match what your are seeing the fish taking, and finally buy them individually from Amazon, Orvis, etc. Make sure what you get can hold out for many beatings and can float for extended variations of time. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Orvis-Real-Mccoy-Foam-Belly/dp/B006RBHTHS?ie=UTF8&keywords=real McCoy fly&qid=1462656869&ref_=sr_1_5&sr=8-5 For a setup, I'd try having the fly weightless, roughly 3-4 feet from your clear bobber and after you've casted, try and get separation of your fly from the bubble somehow. This is slightly different depending on if you're fishing dries, wets, streamers, or nymphs. Try the advice given and if it works be sure to bump this thread to let us know how you do. if you have anymore questions feel free to let me know. -UPSmallie

If the GoPro gets turned on because I just got some bites, I'll never catch anything. throw the GoPro off to the side after waiting for 20 minutes with no bites. Catch a fish shortly after throwing the GoPro. I call it the GoPro Curse.

Thanks guys for the ideas and suggestions. I'll definitely have to look into some of the swimbait bodies out on the market. My Personal Record Smallie came on a 5.5 inch generic smelt swimbait on a 1/2 oz jighead fishing for Atlantic Salmon. Definitely a shock to see a bronzeback shoot up from the depths and inhale it.

Awesome gar and even more awesome shirt!!! I seriously just went to UA Website to order one of the longsleeves. Keep up the bowfishing.

Thanks for the help smalliejaw67. The water is primarily murky, with a slow drawn out current. For this reason, anything with flash or vibration tends to get hammered by the swarming pike in the area before many smallmouth can take a bite. It might actually be a potential cause as to why most of the fish are in the 15 in range, I don't know. Actually, I have a perfect example of this which I think is kind of interesting. So this past week as I was smallie fishing I saw a pretty big smallie rise to the surface (not sure if he was eating or what since there were no insects riding the surface film). Naturally I figured time to hit him with a topwater. Threw on a Heddon One Knocker and chucked it out near where I had seen the smallie. Two unsuccessful casts with a steel leader on, I decided to clip off the leader since it was slowing down the walk-the-dog motion. Tie it on direct and bomb it out. 7 seconds of motion later and a 32 inch, 6.75 lb pike steamrolls it. Biggest adrenaline rush of my life. Trying to upload a picture, but the file is 1.60MB. I'll have to try some of the crankbaits you mentioned. Thanks again. I think this will work https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=9396BC3518B01A20!238&authkey=!AIybHZoLihVgE8s&v=3&ithint=photo%2cJPG

Thanks guys. It's an inlet to the St. Mary's, which is a branch off of Lake Superior. @Hogsticker Thanks, I've been wading in my leaky FrogToggs lol. For sure I'd say wading has helped in terms off hook-ups compared to my land fishing buddies. I'll look into the Keitech. I mostly just fish Storm wildeyes but need to start widening my variety. @mrmacwvu1 Thanks for the idea. I bought some watermelon tubes, but still have yet to put them to much use. I'll have to try that color combo. @Keith "Hamma" Hatch Thanks, I bought a terminator jig and skirt, but still gotta throw a plastic craw behind it. I'll keep you guys posted if I can sink into a Hawg.

Wow! This is almost identical to the river I fish! I posted a similar question as well. I'd say try some Rapala baits like the X-Rap or even jerkbaits like the Shadow-Rap. I've had luck with medium sized spoons trying to catch pike before also.

Hey guys, So lately I've been bank fishing a local inlet that flows into a main river. It naturally draws in many pike as well as smallmouth bass. On the smallie side, I've caught a 14 in on a small daredevil, a 15 in on a live freshwater gobie, and another 15 in on a Rapala X-Rap. I know there are bigger bronzebacks out there though because I saw at least a 4 lb smallie surface a couple of times this past week. I've tried topwater, but have yet to get a smallie to commit to Spooks or Hula Poppers. The primary depth that I'm fishing is roughly 10-12 feet deep with a rocky bottom combining with a sand bar ledge. As far as forage goes in the river I've seen snails, gobies, emerald shiners, and crayfish. I've tried crayfish tails or just crayfish, but have yet to see results. Any suggestions to curing some lockjaw? Thanks

Thanks bowhunter63. That makes sense

Never thought of that... Will do!

Thanks A-Jay for the help. I'll be sure to try those tactics as well.

Thanks guys for all the tips and advice. I'll try a different variety of things and try and find some effective go-to methods. @BigSkyBasser - In Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula

Hey all, I'm prepping for the spring thaw, obviously a ways off but was wondering if you guys can give me some advice on what to do in this situation. I just found a small river that collides with the main river in the local area where I live. I haven't really put in time yet to fish it since I recently discovered it, but have seen and heard reports of people catching 3-5+ lb smallmouths at the head of the small river joining the big river. To help with what I am saying, here's a water depth chart. Though not really showing the depth of the small river, it ranges from 5-8 feet with some structure near the head of the small river, keeping in mind that this chart is a little outdated. It's on the middle-left side of the chart and looks like a big crack on the map. It's the Charlotte. Most guys I talk to catch their smallies using worms but I'd like to catch the smallies on something artificial. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I'm new to targeting bronzebacks but caught my pr on a 5.5 inch smelt swimbait targeting Atlantic Salmon.