Fishing For Creek Smallies

[WillBass24]

So I just started fishing for smallmouth and I really haven't done that great. I've used the yum craw bugs, the zman grubz, and some different little spinners. Does anyone have any ideas on what I could use for do a little better and what colors I could use. I fish in semi dirty water.

[Ozark_Basser]

Fish eddies, current breaks, heads of shoals, or pretty much any area of slack water adjacent to current.

Hula grubs, smallie beavers, and the Ned rig are hard to beat as far as numbers go.

A little more information on where you are from and where you are fishing would also be helpful.

[WillBass24]

Ok well I'm from Eastern Missouri and I normally fish the meremac and the roubidiox creek

[Ozark_Basser]

Do you generally wade fish or float?

[WillBass24]

I do both but mostly float

[Racerx]

I generally use either Rebel Wee Craws or marabou jigs in creeks.

[Ozark_Basser]

I do a lot of floating as well. In the summer, shade is key where I fish, especially if the conditions are bluebird skies and little wind, which is pretty common in the summer. I have my best success when I get out on the creek before everyone else as well. I'm talking if the sun rises at 6, be out there at 5:30 or earlier. That period of time of low light before sunrise can be dynamite. You also get first dibs on spots down the river. Don't be afraid to throw big gaudy baits either. If you look at my last trip I took in the thread I started http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/150478-quest-for-the-4-lb-creek-smallie/page-7you'll see some nice creek fish all caught on a 5 1/2" gold/black floating jerkbait. My best five was probably around 17-18 lbs before noon....in a creek!!! That's not typical, but it goes to show you don't have to throw shakeyheads on 4 lb test to catch creek smallies.

I would also advise you visit http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/They have subforums of the waters you fish.

[WillBass24]

Ok cool that's man and hey Racerx what cools do u normally use

[Drew03cmc]

I prefer throwing soft craws, but enjoy a good spring and and fall crankbait bite.

[Bill Poch]

2 3/4" tube with 1/8oz tube head in anything green.

[FryDog62]

I fish a small river that is a tributary to the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota.  It has semi-stained water that is almost chocolate colored at times.  I had mixed success over the past few years until this year my catch rate went up 3X.  I learned I had to slow way down and put something in front of their face they will see and react to.  I stopped throwing faster moving baits and went almost exclusively to wacky worming.  Using a 1/16-1/8 oz VMC wacky jig with the single weed guard wire.  You need just enough sink rate to not get swept away in the current...but not too much to go straight down and snag.  I went to an almost white Senko that really shows up in the water - Yamamoto (956) Blue Pearl/Silver.  My avatar is a picture of 4 smallies between 17-20 inches all caught on that worm and the water was pretty murky.  Give it a try ~

[the reel ess]

I generally use either Rebel Wee Craws or marabou jigs in creeks.

The Wee Craw takes no prisoners.

[Racerx]

Ok cool that's man and hey Racerx what cools do u normally use

Define "cools". Dunno what you mean.