River Smallmouth After Prolonged Rain.

[Sun Fish]

I'm trying to figure out where to take my dad fishing tomorrow. I was originally thinking about heading to the Delaware to go for smallmouth but now thinking it may be wiser to just hit one of my local lakes for largemouth.  I spend way more time fishing for largies than I do smallies.  I'm here in North East PA and Tropical Storm Andrea has dumped 2-4 inches of rain on us non stop the past two days.  The rain is supposed to let up tonight and I figured the Delaware River will be very high and muddy tomorrow as a result.  Will the smallmouth bite be really tough or really great given all this rain?  Should I just opt to hit a lake for largemouth for a better chance of putting him on fish?

[Crestliner2008]

If you are aware of their locations in the river system, then it's just a matter of getting them to hit. A vibrating jig and/or spinnerbait are good choices. You want to focus more on the "attraction" qualities of any lure, vs. the "triggering" qualities. Notice I said "more", not "only". The suggestions I've made not only have the former, but the later as well. But you still have to put it where they are, which is your primary task.

[Scott F]

If the river is normally pretty clear and now it's muddy, it will be tough. Smallies are most often sight feeders and when they have to adjust to suddenly dirty water they are hard to catch. All that rain will also make the river very fast and potentially dangerous.  They may not be in the spots they used to be in. They will be tucked up in whatever slack water areas they can find that will probably be tight to the shore. 

  If you are a boater, switch to a lake.

[tytay89]

Chocolate milk is never good, but slightly stained is another story.... the second day after a real hard downpour as the water lowers has been considerably the best times I've had on rivers& creeks. U can get close almsot on top of em...when the waters normal clarity I always have to move much slower n even more quiter

[JayKumar]

If the water's up and dirty I would steer clear of the Delaware unless you know EXACTLY where they are and how to catch 'em.  Also would stay off any high river unless you know it!

[jhoffman]

I would just go to wallenpaupak and try for a cabelas fish

[jm37817]

Been having same problems here on the Ohio. The smallies are holding very tight to cover. I mean very tight, you have to literally drop your lure on them. It's tough fishing but you can still catch them if the conditions are not too dangerous to be out on the water. Spinnerbaits and small jigs are the rule here but I have been having great success with a weighted wacky rig with some loud rattles if the water is muddy. I also attach a screw in spinner to one end for flash. Hope this helps.

[Capt.Bob]

Tough bite and if it's dirty AND RISING,,,,,,,I'd find somewhere else to fish, hard to get a bite going in muddy water but rising I would wait till it starts dropping, and expect it to get better after a few days dropping!!