Help me catch first smallie!

[FishTax]

I'll be in the mountains this weekend, smallie country. I've never fished for them. The house I'm renting is on a creek with trout, unknown on bass but you know I'll try 😎

 

I'll probably hit a river, definitely a creek, we'll see. If you absolutely had to catch a smallie of any size, fishing Creek or small river (French broad), what would you throw and where? No idea on water temp, I'd guess around 50. I'm definitely bringing ned, not sure what Else or where to look for them as Creek fishing is a whole different game than lakes in my kayak! 

[MediumMouthBass]

Neko Leech on a ned rig, bring various weights.

Wacky worm.

Tube jig.

Strike King Bitsy Bug/Flip finesse jig.

2-3" paddle tail swimbait on a ball head jig.

1.0, 1.5 Strike King square bills.

Jerkbaits too.

These will work year round in any conditions, some like natural colors but for smallies i like bright and unnatural (pinks, whites, chartreuse).

And for the where, everywhere. Seriously these smallies could be anywhere.... If its muddy with high water conditions fish very close to the bank, like 3-8' in front of you. If not then cast far and work your way back.

[TnRiver46]

The French broad is pretty big ! It’s loaded with SMB. One of the oldest rivers in the world, older than the Appalachian mtns. It flows right thru them from NC into TN instead of flowing away from them toward the ocean. It goes right by my house also, I fish it several times a week. 
 

 

it will be well over 50 degrees by now I would imagine. Grubs tubes worms and flukes will catch them, be prepared to lose tackle to rocks 

[FishTax]

I think I'm going to keep it simple and stick with neds, senkos (wacky and TR), the bitsy bug jigs @MediumMouthBass recommended since I just got several last week from my BPS spring sale order. Hoping to have a new 'sort of BFS' setup to throw some of that on as well as a couple spinning rods as I'm only bringing 2 pc rods on this trip. 

@TnRiver46 I'm not sure I'll actually make it to that river, we'll see how the weekend goes but your post made me want to! I'll be close to Lake Lure, but doubt I'll go there as bank fishing a large lake has never been something I enjoy, I just want to get on a boat the entire time  

Thanks for the advice!

[WRB]

Fire Tiger inline spinner, Blue Fox #3 or Panther Martin 1/4 oz.

This will catch both smallmouth or trout.

Tom 

[PaulVE64]

6 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

...be prepared to lose tackle to rocks 

So true,

we all cope in our own ways. (I started making my own)

[Swamp Girl]

Tom's suggestion is also mine. Smallies love spinners, as do trout. I've had my best luck with a #4 brass bladed Mepps. 

[FishTax]

5 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Tom's suggestion is also mine. Smallies love spinners, as do trout. I've had my best luck with a #4 brass bladed Mepps. 

I've got a slew of various size spinners waiting for me at walmart pickup, although most of them are the $1 walmart special. I'm counting on being in unpressured water where the fish don't know how much i paid, so if I'm catching lots of tree fish I won't be too sad  

 

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, FishTax said:

I've got a slew of various size spinners waiting for me at walmart pickup, although most of them are the $1 walmart special. I'm counting on being in unpressured water where the fish don't know how much i paid, so if I'm catching lots of tree fish I won't be too sad  

 

 

I'm guessing those spinners will work just fine. Let us know, okay?

[Buzzbaiter]

Catching smallmouth is pretty easy (and not the same as targeting big ones). Anything short and stubby will do the job for numbers. I like neds, grubs, and tournament tubes, but smallmouth will eat all sorts of stuff. Pick a confidence bait and stick with it. When targeting new species, it’s more important to get a feel for how the fish behave and where they live. Good luck!

[TnRiver46]

Zoom dead ringers are wonderful, it’s a worm and a grub all rolled into one 

[FishTax]

12 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

Zoom dead ringers are wonderful, it’s a worm and a grub all rolled into one 

Get away from me bait monkey! 🐒 

[DinkDonkey30]

Water in northern Indiana is between 48-57 degrees right now. Mostly stained to dirty. I’ve been catching various size smallies pretty regularly on 4-7 ft running jerk baits in natural colors and coffee tubes(green pumpkin) yum black and blue. Edges of points with laydowns. With the jerk baits I find it helps drastically if I pop my rod tip upwards after a few normal pops. 

[TnRiver46]

50 minutes ago, FishTax said:

Get away from me bait monkey! 🐒 

Everyone should already have dozens of packs of these on hand without having to climb the tree and pay the monkey 

[Jeff Zurawski]

On 4/8/2024 at 9:37 PM, MediumMouthBass said:

....And for the where, everywhere. Seriously these smallies could be anywhere....

 

True that. 

 

Water temps in the local mountain river I fished the other day had been just starting to hit low 50s in the evenings.  Flow was up, but clarity was good with a bit of dinge and 4ft or so of visibility. 

 

Some fish were caught around cover in the deep, slow moving pools.  Some in small pocket eddies in faster water outside bend sections.  A surprising number of biters were in shallow riffle water less than 2 ft deep.  Surprising to me, anyways.  I didn't guess fish would be in those types of areas until water temps had stabilized at 50+. 

 

All the baits already mentioned will work no doubt.  I'll add super shallow running cranks to chunk and wind through the riffles.  Something that runs a 12-18" down max. 

 

[FishTax]

The section of stream in on is devoid of all species of fish. Going to try to find a new spot tomorrow. 😞 This weekend may not be my time, but I've got 2 more trips scheduled this month 😀

[whitwolf]

10 hours ago, FishTax said:

The section of stream in on is devoid of all species of fish. Going to try to find a new spot tomorrow. 😞 This weekend may not be my time, but I've got 2 more trips scheduled this month 😀

@FishTax..... if you're going to be up this way ( Lake James) in June, let me know. I'll be more than happy to take you out and catch a few Smallmouth. 

[FishTax]

Thank you @whitwolfthat's very generous! I will certainly let you know if I'm up this way again soon.

 

River fishing these mountain streams is a lot different than I anticipated and I haven't been able to find good spots. Should have hired a guide, I know for next time!

[PaulVE64]

For a number of years my brother has fished trout out of the mountains around Calgary AB.

he humbled me on his turf.