Its time

[PaulVE64]

My local ponds are close to 1 inch of ice now but the creeks and rivers are still open.

Soon i will be found near a deep pool enticing fish with a drop shot, a tiny craw jig or maybe a trick worms.

 

Hope Santa brings me Merino wool tights and a decent pair if water resistant gloves. 

 

What works on smallies below 40 deg ???

 

These are for a float and fly presentation i want to learn 

[Swampdonkeyfishing]

I would use a small craw and fish the deep pockets and a San Juan worm.

[heavyduty]

31 minutes ago, Swampdonkeyfishing said:

San Juan worm

I thought you were joking! I looked it up, you learn something new every day.

 

Your hair jigs look good, especially with the trailers. That's what works around here as well. Fitt lures makes a small craw and another lure they call the Chillie Willie. Those work very good.

[Finessegenics]

You’re lucky to still be fishing up here! My waters did not freeze yet but I called off fishing a long time ago! Just got way too busy and it felt like a natural time to end the season.

 

I doubt I’d be catching anything in my rivers as the truly deep “winter hole” are too deep/far into the river to target it from shore! 
 

But maybe I should go out and give it a shot in the shallows…

[Bassbum1016]

Hair jigs and blade baits 

[Swampdonkeyfishing]

On 12/3/2021 at 1:29 PM, heavyduty said:

I thought you were joking! I looked it up, you learn something new every day.

 

Your hair jigs look good, especially with the trailers. That's what works around here as well. Fitt lures makes a small craw and another lure they call the Chillie Willie. Those work very good.

Thats what i have had the most success with.

[heavyduty]

8 hours ago, Swampdonkeyfishing said:

Thats what i have had the most success with.

Not doubting you at all. I was referring to the San Juan Worm. I had never heard of it until I read your post and had to look it up

[TnRiver46]

12 hours ago, heavyduty said:

Not doubting you at all. I was referring to the San Juan Worm. I had never heard of it until I read your post and had to look it up

It’s the easiest fly to make as well 

[Swampdonkeyfishing]

On 12/9/2021 at 4:55 PM, heavyduty said:

Not doubting you at all. I was referring to the San Juan Worm. I had never heard of it until I read your post and had to look it up

Glad i could teach you about something new.

[cyclops2]

I fish pools from way up stream. About 100' of line out. Floating line & some braided backing. You will feel almost every take as the fish turns. No braid stretch & a small amount in the floating line. No barb. It penetrates faster & deeper. I use very heavy leaders of about 6'.  Me & my Muddler Minnow doing C & R.

 

If you do not hook up a lot ?  Add a trailing hook to the tail.

[Bassbum1016]

Water hasn’t iced up here yet. 
I got out for a couple of hours on New Years Eve and they were eager to eat hair and cold steel 

 

let’s pray for a short winter

[Fat Ika]

6 hours ago, Bassbum1016 said:

Water hasn’t iced up here yet. 
I got out for a couple of hours on New Years Eve and they were eager to eat hair and cold steel 

 

let’s pray for a short winter

Nice @Bassbum1016 New to cold water smallmouth. What's your hair setup, how are you fishing it, and what structure are you fishing it around? Thanks. 

[Bassbum1016]

1 hour ago, Fat Ika said:

Nice @Bassbum1016 New to cold water smallmouth. What's your hair setup, how are you fishing it, and what structure are you fishing it around? Thanks. 

I prefer a 7’ ML spinning rod with #10 Suffix 832 as my main line and #6-8 Sunline Sniper as my leader.

 

water hovered around 40 degrees and I looked for areas that transitioned to hard rocky bottom on the main lake.

Hard bottom is key.....

This day had them set up in 22-28 fow 

But don’t discount a blade or spoon on bait casting gear. They can be major players 

[Fat Ika]

3 hours ago, Bassbum1016 said:

I prefer a 7’ ML spinning rod with #10 Suffix 832 as my main line and #6-8 Sunline Sniper as my leader.

 

water hovered around 40 degrees and I looked for areas that transitioned to hard rocky bottom on the main lake.

Hard bottom is key.....

This day had them set up in 22-28 fow 

But don’t discount a blade or spoon on bait casting gear. They can be major players 

Gotcha. What kind of hair jig and technique? In some part of the water column or bottom contact?

[Bassbum1016]

12 hours ago, Fat Ika said:

Gotcha. What kind of hair jig and technique? In some part of the water column or bottom contact?

hand tied synthetic, always on or slow swimming near the bottom.

sometimes they just smoke it while dead sticked. The slightest current makes the hair pulsate 

[Fat Ika]

5 hours ago, Bassbum1016 said:

hand tied synthetic, always on or slow swimming near the bottom.

sometimes they just smoke it while dead sticked. The slightest current makes the hair pulsate 

Gotcha - Ew. Is that some gold flake in their? Hook me up?! lol

[Bassbum1016]

14 minutes ago, Fat Ika said:

Gotcha - Ew. Is that some gold flake in their? Hook me up?! lol

 

black pearl crystal flash

I like to mix it up once in a while 

[PaulVE64]

Deer hair collar with a maribou tail.

Smallies love em dragged or hopped along the bottom like a sculpin or goby

https://www.instagram.com/pvaneyk64/p/CYITaG3sjre/?utm_medium=copy_link