Creek smallie migration

[Drowning A Worm]

Creek smallies were a new find for me this last year, but they just randomly left the river late-summer. Water temps were still in the 70s so I'm not sure why they left. Looking for info on the migration patterns.

[gall]

That's funny you mention that cause it's the exact opposite here for me spawn and early summer most of them are in the criks and then move out to the river and come back during pre spawn not sure why though my guess for. My area deeper cooler waters in the river 

[Scott F]

Smallmouth migrations vary depending on the river system. If the oxygen levels and food supply stay healthy, they may not move at all. Rivers that have dams will restrict their ability to migrate. Late summer, as the days get shorter and water temps start to drop can start the move toward their wintering area. In the spring, as the days get longer and the water warms, they will move to toward their spawning sites. they often spawn in creeks where the water levels will not fluctuate as much after the spring rains.

[smr913]

I fish a small tributary of the Cumberland River in Nashville about 15-20 miles from the mouth. Fishing is hot up until later in the fall and then they all but disappeared. Usually picks up when temps are in the 60s. Which this year should be around now. I just haven't had the chance to dust off the kayak yet to test it out. 

[TheRodFather]

I'm in the same boat.  I had a bona fide honey hole in the spring through early fall, then the bite just literally stopped.  I went there a few weeks ago, and again two days ago and nothing going on yet even though it's warming up fast.

 

I know the river pretty well, more of a creek really, and I am having a hard time with where they could have gone, everything is fairly shallow for a mile or so above and below the spot.  And the river it feeds into is a looooong way down, hard to imagine they moved that far, if they even could with the water level in some places.

 

I guess I really should just get a kayak and start searching.

[clayton86]

I fish a Lake Ontario tributary that's absolutely killer on smallies. Got out yesterday first time this season since last week we had ice. Water last week was 35* in the section I paddled but yesterday it was 46*. I was crushing smallies on lipless cranks. They stay all summer though the bite does slow tremendously and you gotta really look for em but they are there. 

[Drowning A Worm]

10 hours ago, clayton86 said:

I fish a Lake Ontario tributary that's absolutely killer on smallies. Got out yesterday first time this season since last week we had ice. Water last week was 35* in the section I paddled but yesterday it was 46*. I was crushing smallies on lipless cranks. They stay all summer though the bite does slow tremendously and you gotta really look for em but they are there. 

Does your tributary have a dam at all?

[clayton86]

2 hours ago, Drowning A Worm said:

Does your tributary have a dam at all?

 Yes it's quite a few miles up though probably 10 or more miles. There's a few beaver dams and farm bridges across the creek but they have pipes under them for fish to go threw or over when it floods.