How To Find Bigger Smallies

[Lane_91200]

Hi I am a beginner bass fisherman and I am having trouble finding bigger bass. I fish in a very small river in southern Wisconsin and catch a good amount of small fish but can't seem to find the bigger bass. It's a very shallow river are they just not in there? Or how do I find them? Any help would be appreciated!

[ChrisWi]

Just keep fishing! May I ask what river Youre fishing? Also from Wisconsin.

[fisherrw]

Try bigger baits. Hudds big worms big crankbaits you will get em. Just be patient

[Lane_91200]

Thanks and I'm fishing the fever river

[Lane_91200]

I can't a lot of fish just can't seem to find any big ones

[webertime]

Deeper holes

Behind current breakers (rocks, logs, etc.)

Undercut banks

In the lower water next to fast water.

 

If the river dumps into a pond/lake, it could be that the larger fish only run up it to spawn and the youngsters stay a few years then move out themselves.  Happens up here on dozens of rivers that dump into Lake Champlain. 

 

Try a shakyhead with a Berkley Pitboss.

[ChrisWi]

Thanks and I'm fishing the fever river

I'm from north eastern Wisconsin, right on the lake. Some big smallies in my local rivers.

[flyfisher]

I fish a few smaller rivers and finding bigger fish is a challenge.  For one, I know the forage base ins't conducive to having lots of larger fish and secondly there are not a ton of places for a large fish to hang out per se.  I focus on all the big fish type spots like the ones mentioned above.  I fish them very thoroughly with multiple types of presentations.  Also another key is stealth.  Big fish in smaller flows don't get big by being out in the open all the time.  I find them to be way more spooky than the little guys.  There is a river i fish that is not more than 50 feet across and most times much less, has yielded me a 2 smallies 18" and many in the 15-18" range.  Now that i know the type of cover and structure they like, I search for those types of situations in other spots and have been rewarded with success.

[Scott F]

Try bigger baits. Hudds big worms big crankbaits you will get em. Just be patient

 

Big crankbaits will work in lakes and big rivers but just dive too deep in small rivers. The majority of fish in small rivers will be smaller. Spring and fall are the prime times for the biggest smallies in the system.

[BigSkyBasser]

Rivers are tough, if you can't visibly see any then potentially experiment with fishing different parts of the river, but most likely they are there somewhere and are just harder to catch. One thing that has always worked for me is switching between two techniques. I'm a finesse fisherman so 9/10 you find me fishing a drop shot. I use this to cover water quickly and find fish. Once you've found a school or piece of structure, switch to a jig. Most pros will swear up and down that a jig will usually catch larger fish on average. Just like above, keep at it and eventually you'll find a pattern that seems to draw bigger bites. 

[Lane_91200]

Thanks everyone for all the help!

[BigSkyBasser]

Go get em! And post pics