Floating River Smallies

[ChrisWi]

Ive been fishing a local river lately, we wet wade to different holes and centerpin them with wacky rigs, gulp, hair jigs, anything really under a float. Fun way to cool down and catch some serious fish. Anyone else do this?

[Turkey sandwich]

Wet wading rocks when it's hot. Though, if you're using a float, have you tried picking helgramites?

[bowhunter63]

As much as i can,Great way to fish

[Steveo-1969]

I wade a river for smallies every weekend, but have never fished a bait under a float.  One more thing to add to the possibilities...

[ChrisWi]

Wet wading rocks when it's hot. Though, if you're using a float, have you tried picking helgramites?

I have not, but small black flies work well during those hatches

[Drew03cmc]

Toss some UV Speed Craws, Pit Boss Jr or a Zip N Ziggy.

[Turkey sandwich]

I have not, but small black flies work well during those hatches

The next time out, try picking helgramites. For what you're doing, they're like flipping a switch that makes all of the fish catchable.

[ChrisWi]

The next time out, try picking helgramites. For what you're doing, they're like flipping a switch that makes all of the fish catchable.

I was out again today, didn't see your reply till now. But the wacky rig and a gulp minnow under a float got bit again!

[smalljaw67]

Keep quiet about that method!!!!! Seriously though, that can work really well especially when the fishing is tough, I tie a 1/16oz minnow head jig with a little craft fur and mallard flank and let it drift into holes, it is a shallow water float-n-fly and it works all year long as long as it doesn't freeze over during winter.

[ChrisWi]

Keep quiet about that method!!!!! Seriously though, that can work really well especially when the fishing is tough, I tie a 1/16oz minnow head jig with a little craft fur and mallard flank and let it drift into holes, it is a shallow water float-n-fly and it works all year long as long as it doesn't freeze over during winter.

I tied some up similar to this the other day, few different colors. Gave them a bit of work, no fish yet but I don't see why they wouldn't get bit!

[patred]

I kept a few stocked trout earlier this year on a small river, and they had what looked like small hellgrammites in their belly.  Same river where I caught plenty of smallmouth, so I'm sure they feed on them, too.

 

I read on a forum ... somewhere ... catching smallmouth on a Netbait B Bug.  Cutting off the big flapper, it looks like a small crayfish or a big hellgrammite.  I ordered some earlier this week, so probably trying them next weekend.

 

Pat