Winter River Techniques?

[Scuba Steve]

Theres so many different riggings on there I’m not sure what to go with. I like the bobber stop above the bobber method with a weighted jig.

[Scuba Steve]

Tried it the other day but I dont have much confidence in it yet. On rivers do you just let it drift in the current then reel it back and cast again? 
 

any other tips for shallow rivers in winter? 

[scaleface]

I havent done a lot of it but have had some success . I like to fish still water next to current and bounce crappie jigs off the bottom 

[TnRiver46]

Small paddle tail grub slowly bounced off bottom is also good 

[Scuba Steve]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Small paddle tail grub slowly bounced off bottom is also good 

What sort of hook do you run with that? How small are we talking? Same profile as a paddletail swimbait? 

[TnRiver46]

24 minutes ago, Scuba Steve said:

What sort of hook do you run with that? How small are we talking? Same profile as a paddletail swimbait? 

I use 2.5-3 inch baits on an 1/8oz round ball jig. Use hooks you don’t mind losing 

[Scuba Steve]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

I use 2.5-3 inch baits on an 1/8oz round ball jig. Use hooks you don’t mind losing 

Ok so ball head jig exposed hook then? 

[TnRiver46]

59 minutes ago, Scuba Steve said:

Ok so ball head jig exposed hook then? 

Yes or if it’s extra snaggy just use the same hook but rig the bait weedless like you would a worm on a shakey  head . When the water temp gets below 45 I don’t fish shallow fast water for smallies anymore but some do. That’s when I like to fish deep clear lakes 

[Scuba Steve]

1 hour ago, TnRiver46 said:

Yes or if it’s extra snaggy just use the same hook but rig the bait weedless like you would a worm on a shakey  head . When the water temp gets below 45 I don’t fish shallow fast water for smallies anymore but some do. That’s when I like to fish deep clear lakes 

Yeah unfortunately i dont have any of that around me! Im about an hour from lake michigan but i havent dabbled much in fishing from shore up there. 

[TnRiver46]

46 minutes ago, Scuba Steve said:

Yeah unfortunately i dont have any of that around me! Im about an hour from lake michigan but i havent dabbled much in fishing from shore up there. 

From what I understand, some guy just broke the Illinois state record for smallmouth fishing off the bank of Lake Michigan 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

On 11/7/2019 at 11:58 AM, Jermination said:

yes sir--thats why throwing them on an 8+ft rod is so beneficial-- im not certain how well it works in rivers because usually when i throw it it's when i see smallies suspended on a bluff or deep point. if they're deeper than 8-14 feet im usually picking up drop shot because its just too big of a pain to try to cast something with a 12-13 ft leader lol

This is where a slip float comes in. 

[Scuba Steve]

2 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

From what I understand, some guy just broke the Illinois state record for smallmouth fishing off the bank of Lake Michigan 

Yep he sure did. Thing was huge. Over 7 lbs. 

[OnthePotomac]

Potomac river winter fishing = 1/2oz silver buddies in gold, hair jigs and Manns Sting Ray grub n 3' avocado on a 1/8 or 1/4 ball head jig.

[Scuba Steve]

1 hour ago, OnthePotomac said:

Potomac river winter fishing = 1/2oz silver buddies in gold, hair jigs and Manns Sting Ray grub n 3' avocado on a 1/8 or 1/4 ball head jig.

Grub on the hair jig? Or grub on a ball head? And potomac in DC? 

[OnthePotomac]

The sting ray grub on a jig  and I am 15 river miles South of DC on the Potomac, but Steve Chaconas,, who guides up there advocates for its use in those waters.

[Scuba Steve]

So i fished a 3’ deep stretch of river today. Waded close to shore. Another skunk. Tried a mepps, small texas rigged grub, and the float and fly. Can’t buy a bite and very frustrated. Fished the structure, current breaks, rock walls... nothin. 

[JediAmoeba]

5 minutes ago, Scuba Steve said:

So i fished a 3’ deep stretch of river today. Waded close to shore. Another skunk. Tried a mepps, small texas rigged grub, and the float and fly. Can’t buy a bite and very frustrated. Fished the structure, current breaks, rock walls... nothin. 

3' deep sounds more like a creek to me.  I would guess there has to be some holes that are deeper.  If there isn't any in the immediate vicinity, there probably is within a few miles and that may be where the fish went.

[Scuba Steve]

5 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

3' deep sounds more like a creek to me.  I would guess there has to be some holes that are deeper.  If there isn't any in the immediate vicinity, there probably is within a few miles and that may be where the fish went.

Yeah its called a river, but by most standards it could pass as a creek. My spot was about 100 feet across, 3-4’ deep. No fish seen. Its been so brutal out there.