AJ Hauser

@Harold H it's lipstick. Bass are very trendy and as we've seen it is now socially acceptable to... nevermind... Thank you guys for the input here - as always, you did not disappoint. I think my key takeaway here is that I need to put more of an emphasis on finding and following the fish, then I can worry about what they're eatin'! Tight line all around, and thanks again.

@casts_by_fly this sounds extremely similar to what I have experienced, and I tell you what - I haven't ever seen these bass spawning around here either, like you mentioned - or come across leftover signs. Last season we had quite a bit of water, and I didn't even try the creek until the end of May - and the water was 66°. The main river is always muddy or carrying a lot of sediment, but these connected creeks clear up beautifully... until it rains, then they are unfishable until the water calms down and clear up a bit. I have also caught huge carp (2 actually, one on an inline spinner and another on a jig worm last season) and catfish in here at random times, which has seemed odd, but again I think it ties in with what you are describing. Thank you so much for your insight, it is very appreciated and it seems to make quite a bit of sense!

Good morning brothers, I've been doing some research trying to get ready for the year. Yesterday while reading about smallmouth bass in rivers (In-Fisherman) I came across an article that said as the water temps breached 40° they become more active, but they would start to become less "baitfish oriented" and begin looking down for crayfish, etc. This may have less to do with a magic temperature and more to do with the fact that the increase in warmth brings the entire food chain alive, along with the bass. What are your thoughts on this, and have you noticed any seasonal preferences for largemouth bass that might be similar? I know that much of what largemouth eat relies heavily on what's available, but assuming all things are equal - what have you seen on the water? Thanks!

I came back to read more about everyone's bowel movements. Congratulations on your regularity! Seriously though, I have 2 Elevation high protein bars on the way to the lake. Coffee w/ 2% milk at home and on the drive. Then nothing but lots and lots of water until I get home in the afternoon. The protein bars are carried at Aldi and they're not too expensive, plus each one has 30g carbs, 20g protein and 10g fat - so double that if you eat two like me, and you have a pretty good supply of energy for the entire morning without feeling sluggish or bloated. For those of you with sugar sensitivities, make sure to check the label. There are some processed ingredients so I don't eat these everyday... Happy pooping!

@raydomz I appreciate your insight - very interesting, and more importantly, congrats to the big man!! That's a fish! I think you are right though, the more reading I have done lately the more I'm thinking that the smallmouth bass I've encountered are only in my creek when the temps and length of the day are correct and the water is a bit higher. As it warms and the water table drops back off, I think the big fish leave for the main river channel. I wrote a lot of this information up (combining the feedback from this very forum post - so thank you guys again) in an article on targeting smallmouth bass in spring, posted this morning. I am not sure if links are allowed to blogs like this, so if they are not, please let me know and I will remove the link or a mod can. I don't want to cause trouble, but I think a lot of the information combined & refined there would be useful to my fellow smallmouth anglers. Tight lines boys - I'll talk to you soon!

Good idea! I'm old school so when I catch a dink, I eat it like a sardine.

Thank you for the reply @raydomz - much appreciated! You're north of me even! So after reading your response and doing a bit more research, I'm starting to wonder if the bigger smallmouth are "pushing up into" my creeks when the water table is higher, not so much when the water is warming. Maybe it's a combination? I thought they were moving up into the creeks because the water was clear and the warming temps had something to do with spawning, so they felt some sort of prehistoric urge to move up the current... but maybe it has to do with them moving to the sources of the increased flow? So this would mean by me, in April when we get a lot of rain, the smallmouth would move up towards the dams in the smaller rivers, and it could explain why they were up in the creeks that dump into the large rivers around that same time - but then they're gone a month or two after that. Whaddya think??

Good morning brothers. I've got the itch. No, not one that requires a cream or an ointment or a salve... I got bass itches. I'm gearing up to fish here in the Midwest (northern Illinois) and one of the things I've noticed over the past 5 years is that smallmouth bass tend to use some of the creeks for some of the summer. During May and June there is a shallow creek that gets absolutely loaded with smallmouth bass. Some in the 20" range over 3 pounds. It's a blast, but as we get into July and then through the rest of the year... the only thing you'll find in that same creek is a dink here and there. The water gets cleaner & clearer but also much shallower, and the big gals are gone. The only thing I can figure is that said creek dumps into a large nearby river (the Illinois River) and when it gets hot and shallow, they vacate for the deeper, cooler water, even though it's also dirtier and has lower visibility. I'm curious how you guys would approach this since it's only March right now. The water around here is still very cold, but it will be warming soon. Do you think that the creek is filling up with smallmouth bass because they are spawning and then hanging around? Do you think they're just in there to feed and it's not spawn-related? We have another river that is connected but it sits far away from the creek. There are several dams along that river, and I know that guys will fish them at certain times of the year. Do smallmouth "move up" in river systems and make their way to dams early in the season for... reasons? This info is going to help me plan out a starting point so I am on the water chasing bass earlier than ever before, instead of fishing dead water for hours hoping for a random bite. Thanks!

I clicked "like" on that post, but what I really mean is... "dislike." Lol. I hate this state. Agreed - great point! That's the law in Kentucky? I don't suppose you know the rules in Arkansas? I will need to learn those...

Gotcha - thanks for the tips everyone. @Kev-mo I think I'm going to hoof it across some corn fields and hopefully I'll be able to find a clearing so I can see the bottom, and enter if it's rocky. If that's the case I'll work back and forth by those bridges and see if the bottom is stable or if I start to sink... @TOXIC we're moving south to Arkansas next year and I plan to explore the White River by Bull Shoals and other nearby creeks and rivers. Would these areas likely be similar to what you are describing? @MassBass see comment below on lead-poisoning. Thank you for the feedback! @Scott F a wading staff sounds like a great idea. Plus I could smack any dirty hippies I come across along the way! @newapti5 that's scary. I'm by myself so I definitely do NOT want to get swept under. I went out to retrieve a lure the other day and I stepped right off a boulder and went from 3 feet to 5 feet of water in an instant, soaking my backpack and getting water up over the top of my chest waders. I wouldn't say it was dangerous because again, it was mostly big gravel and slow current and I walked it back... but it was just enough to rattle me a bit. I started paying much more attention to where my feet were landing after that - and stayed where I could see the rest of the day. One more question regarding log jams. Last time I was out I made it to a big bend with some sunk trees jammed up and sticking out of the water. I'm talking big trees, not sticks. Just like the bridges I mentioned, this area was all silty with steep bottom and mostly mud - I turned back. Are these areas to be avoided and should I be walking around them on land? Even though the river is public I'm a bit paranoid of trespassing after being threatened with lead-poisoning (AKA bullets AKA "getcher butt offa my property 'fore I choot ya!") in the recent past...

Hey fellas! I hope you are having a great week. So recently I asked you all about waders, and I received some very helpful info. Thank you. I've been able to get out and explore a nearby river - and it has helped me avoid the "dog days" big time. I have a safety concern I need some input on. This river is worth exploring more, because there are pockets with big smallmouth (maybe 5 feet deep) opposite very shallow water, that can be walked instead of kayaked. I have found 3 bridges a few miles down river from where I have been wading. It looks like I can get under them, to the water, but it also looks very muddy. I can see spots shallow enough to walk, but the upper portion of the river has been rocky and shallow... this mud makes me nervous. I'm going to go out tomorrow morning and walk along the shoreline for about a mile and a half, and look for a low area where I can easily walk in, and see if I can visually tell if the 2.25 mile stretch between the bridges is rocky or muddy. If it's muddy as well... I might just leave... 1. How concerned would you be about hidden sinkholes or "quicksand" in muddy rivers? Are they common, or does it take specific conditions for them to form? Last thing I want to do is go under... 2. Why does it seem like mud and silt seems to pile up around bridges? The other access points by bridges that I have been using have loose silt and mud but it's only for a short way, then it turns to rock and sand. As far as current in this river, it's slow. Any input would be very appreciated. I'm honestly much more concerned with being careful and safe than catching fish... but there are probably more big fish... Thanks guys.

Very nice post. I use a similar process when I want to force myself to get better with a certain bait or technique - I think removing everything else before you head out is very smart! Otherwise it's darn near impossible to stick with something when the going gets tough...

Got it - thanks @Big Hands - good to hear from someone that has one. I took a trip the other weekend to check one out in person. To be honest, I was surprised at the size difference between mine (4 foot beam) and the one I was looking at (6 foot beam). For the small waters I'm fishing (strip pits and small to medium-sized lakes), that is probably about max what I would want, which was really surprising to me. That said, when we move to Arkansas and I take it into the river, as long as I have the right motor for it maybe we'll want to go even larger at that point. River fishing is going to be different, that's for sure... Thanks again. This has been very helpful.

Got it - thanks all. @casts_by_fly I will get set up for that - punching is new to me as well. There definitely seem to be areas where they are hanging out, and areas that are dead. I have spent long periods of time working over a stump, only to check it out after nothing strikes and find it's sitting in 2 inches of water... which is... frustrating., You can't tell the first time you roll up on a log sticking out of thick muck though! @TheSwearingAngler @Mike L and @Mobasser it sounds like the right time to throw the frog is all year if it looks froggy. I'll make sure to make some trips out here even in the heat of the summer and see how it goes. You guys have any "favorite frogs" and for any particular reason? I have a Livetarget Frog tied on at the moment because it came in a subscription box and it's super soft. I used to use Sebile Pivot Frogs (killer single hook but kind of heavy w/ external weight) but those were discontinued, and I had a Strike King KVD Sexy Frog (LOL) I liked with a rattle - no rattles anymore - dang it, Kevin! I was looking at the Scum Frog Pro Series because it has rattles attached to the hook, some weight and what looks like a fair amount of "hook"... but I was not a big fan of the original Scum Frog (which is still in my box but I never reach for it). Thanks dudes!

Hey fellas. Hope you are having a great week. I went to a new canal yesterday and quickly realized that the only thing I was going to be able to throw was a weedless topwater. Popped on a frog and started to work the acres and acres... and acres... of cheese-covered shallow water. In terms of clarity it was stained, not filthy, and I was in a smooth-bottom plastic kayak. Nothing else would be able to get through here. I'm by no means an expert frog fisherman, and I'm wondering about timing in an area like this. The water was surprisingly only 70° and I did manage to catch 3 fish and miss a few more on the frog. For those of you that love froggin'... is there a "sweet spot" when you would have to be on the water to fish this spot, or would you fish it all throughout the heat of the summer and into the fall? I'm wondering if I need to explore it a bit more now before the heat gets brutal, or, if I need to spend my limited fishing time elsewhere now, then come back here during the heat of the summer - thoughts? Any insight is very appreciated! Sincerely, -Frog-Noob

Sweet - more research to do - thanks guys!

Thanks boys! This is very helpful. I'm on the Lowe website now, and it looks like the Lowe is lighter for sure (0.072" thickness versus the Grizzly's 0.19") - aluminum is half as thick, maybe? I could see where that would be helpful when fishing in current for sure. My current motor is a 15 HP 2-stroke which will work for the foreseeable future. I have a Minn Kota with 55 lbs of thrust but that wouldn't really get used (destroyed) in rivers, but in the marshes and stuff it would need to come into play. @king fisher the wide open plan on their Aura model looks awesome. You also mentioned a very important element: rowing. The attached pic / bass was caught in a marsh using homemade oars (wheelbarrow handles to duct-taped kayak oars - yes, I am a hillbilly). They sucked, but they helped me move through the area where my trolling motor got destroyed... I have yet to find any type of oar socket attachment that would fit on the Grizzly or Lowe and neither have sockets that I can see by default. Any thoughts on that? @Susky River Rat thank you for the feedback as well - when I move to Arkansas, it's gonna get beat up I think, so I am really hoping I can get something that is going to last for several years, just not sure what the balance is between maneuverability and toughness. It is fun trying to figure that out though. @GRiver the Mod-V looks like a great option and it's slightly thicker than the Lowe - how does a Mod-V compare to a standard jon boat? Can't go as shallow? Livewell is a nice touch. So far these all look to be roughly in the same ballpark for $$$. @Catt for the Alweld is that a 1652 Marsh Invader or some other model? Those look like a good option as well, slightly thicker but still not as heavy as that Grizzly. (I'm having a hard time making sense of their models / sizes on their site.) They have a jet model too it seems... very interesting. Thanks guys - really, really appreciate all of the helpful feedback!

Thanks @TnRiver46 I appreciate the feedback. I do need something that will go pretty shallow... I'm good with a bit more weight for sure, but figured the 16' x 6' wouldn't be a huge increase. That said, if the weight is from the thickness of the aluminum and the welds, that is probably worth figuring out how to deal with. Hopefully we got an owner or two in here that can chime in Thanks!

Hey fellas. I have just about squeezed every drop of life out of my 1978 jon boat... while it has been a great project and worked well for the smaller waters I like to fish, last year it developed a nice fat crack in the underside (aluminum - not on a rivet or seam - just a dead center split). I patched it and I have fished out of it several times this year, but I feel like the clock it ticking... Next year we will be moving to Arkansas and I plan to fish The White River out of... well, whatever I end up with. I was looking at the 1648 because it's affordable, and it's 16' x 6' - which is only slightly larger than my current boat at 14' x 4'. I'm hoping the width makes it more stable for the wife and kids to fish out of, and it's still small enough that I can maneuver it in my marshes and small (electric motor or rowing only) lakes, but I'm also hoping that the welds and aluminum are tougher than what I have now and they can get beat up in that river after the move... Do any of you have any experience with these? I'm also not opposed to buying a used one, but I don't see any in my area and I have been saving for a new boat for years, so buying new is not out of the question. Thanks!

DUDE. I am not a huge spinnerbait guy, but I would throw this without question. This is one of the coolest finishes I've ever seen - would love to try it on a weedless spoon as well... Very nice. Also, @Jeff Zurawski I really appreciate you adding notes on the application of your baits. In the river you fish for those smallies, how much visibility are you talking? Like a foot or less, or 5 feet, etc? I'm very excited to get into the creeks here but we've had so much rain they have been very chocolatey all spring 😕

Noted - thanks!

Nice!

Perfect - thanks @RRocket. I hear Canuckistan has lovely weather this time of year. Your suggestions, and yours as well @casts_by_fly are very much appreciated! Now I need to play with elaztech and bullet weights to get the "perfect" sink rate that I can row and keep a few feet subsurface. Let the experimentation begin. Have a great weekend!

Sweet - thanks guys!

Got it - thanks guys this has been super helpful. Much appreciated!!!