Need Help with River Smallmouth!

[GSH13]

I hate a wordy topic as much as everyone else but I think I need to get the whole situation out on the table to get the help I need..

I got a kayak for graduation a few weeks ago and have been having some trouble locating/catching anything.  

I live in Ohio and for the past few years have been fishing a lot of streams in the area that feed into the Great Miami River.. Basically all of the bass fishing I've done up until this point has been in these streams that are usually only 10 to 20 yrds wide and a few feet deep and I've had a lot of success...some decent smallies and always a bunch of rock bass on a regular basis.  I usually use some small spinners in white or chartreuse or small Rebel "craws" in a variety of colors.  

But now that I can fish in the river itself which is obviously a lot deeper and wider I'm having issues. I've went out on half a dozen or so separate occasions, all in different parts of the river and haven't had a fish on yet! I've tried just about everything in my arsenal and it hasn't worked.  I've read a bunch of suggestions on here and tried some new things but it just hasn't worked. I try to fish around cover and along the eddies and have used just about every thing I have.

The only thing I've only used a few times are plastics and jigs.  Seems like everytime i throw a jig or tube I'm getting caught on the branches and such on the bottom...From what I've read on here it seems like being able to successfully work a jig or tube would help me a lot so any suggestions on not getting caught up constantly would be great too.

Any help for a young angler would be really appreciated!

[bass wrangler569]

I'd love to help a fellow young angler out:

Spinners and rebel "craws" do work, especially for creek smallies but there are some better options out there. Get yourself a few jerkbaits, x-raps are definitely the best option for an angler on a budget, if you have the cash LC pointers are incredible. For x-rap, black/silver, glass ghost, and pink are good colors, for LC pointers, ghost minnow and chartreuse shad are all you need. The best jerkbait bite of the year is pretty much over but you can catch big smallies on jerkbaits year round. Also, familiarize yourself with tubes. 3.5" cabin creek (or another company) tubes in green pumpkin are one of the best smallmouth baits on the planet. Rig them with a 1/8oz tube jig head with sharp hooks (I prefer bite-me tube heads) and cast them around cover and slack water. If you have problem getting snagged use weedless tube jig heads. Spinnerbaits are fantastic for river smallmouth as well. War eagle spinnerbaits are an excellent choice due to their slightly smaller profile and quality components but any brand will work. For smallmouth, white/chartreuse is a good producer in dirty water and any translucent, natural color works well in clear water. Next time you go out, rig up these three baits and fish them exclusively, you should catch bass. There are some good bassresource articles covering these techniques so check them out.

[wisturkeyhunter]

All you really need is a grub or small swimbait like a mimic minnow for smallies in rivers. Adjust the weight to the current your fishing in.

[tyrius.]

The first and foremost thing to figure out is the location of the fish.  When moving up to larger waters there is a lot more "dead water" (no fish in it).  So, you need to find locations that have what the fish want, access to deeper water, current breaks, cover, etc.  

Find the location of the fish and then you can worry about what to throw at them.

[wvbucketmouth]

We have been doing pretty well on the Ohio River with good ole Senko's (4 inch color 208). Both T-Rigged, and weightless. The smallies were slammin them last weekend( 2-3 pounders, with a few close to 4). I havent hit the creeks yet. As far as the shallow creeks go, we do very well on Rebel Craws, 2 inch floating rapala's, and the fail safe roostertails. Good Luck, and have fun!

[Crestliner2008]

I agree with the suggestion on Senkos. But I'd recommend using the 5" instead. Rig them texas style, skin hooked (Tex-posed). Also, if you can get ahold of some Fat Ikas in green and some in brown color tones. Rig them reversed, with skirt up, again texas style, skin hooked. These have more weight yet and will get down in amonst the snaggy-est bottoms without hanging up. Best thing is that they will produce SM bass!

Finally, an internally weighted tube rigged texas style will produce similarly to the above. With these basic presentations, you're putting the odds in your favor.

Target the eddy areas or any type of current breaks. You'll get bit!  

[jr1945]

crankbaits are my favorite search lure. usually on the downstream side of points.

[mike304]

I've had real good luck early in the morning twitching a 2-3 inch floating Rapala in neon orange and gold. On good days they will hammer it, and I love a topwater bite.

[auburn bass man]

Im not even close to Ohio, but I have my best luck with Yum 2.5 inch CrawBugs rigged weedless with a 1/8th oz. jighead.  They rarely hit like largemouth and usually hit it on the fall or as the current brings it to them.  I usually cast it up river/stream 10-15 feet of a piece of structure and as it falls they just pick it up and run.  I rarely ever "feel" the strike but its evident when your line is making its way across the water.  

[farmpond1]

The first and foremost thing to figure out is the location of the fish. When moving up to larger waters there is a lot more "dead water" (no fish in it). So, you need to find locations that have what the fish want, access to deeper water, current breaks, cover, etc.

Find the location of the fish and then you can worry about what to throw at them.

Ditto.  Big water will have fewer productive spots (relative to the size).  You'll have to do some searching.  Mouths of tributaries (such as the ones you described) are usually good starting points.  

[Tim1980]

Try to Texas rig your tube like you would a worm with some weight.  For your jigs try a lighter weight jig or a grass jig which has a smaller and pointed head.

[JuniorFisherJJ08]

3 things you need 2 look 4 this time of year. Deeper water(shallows that drop off proably 10-15ft. Swift current around bends in the river(usually deeper water and current are both here). Structure! Some days the will be on logs etc. others is rocks. Green Pumpkin seed tubes 3in. t-rig with no more that 1/2 oz bullet sinkers. Make sure u get the tube hooks probably number 2 size. Just cast out 30ft of like or so and drift fish these bends by trailing the lure behind the boat. let the current and bottom bounce and move the lure. keeep the line tight. GET A FEEL FOR DIFF BOTTOMS. you will be able detect those light (mushy) bites that the big ones usually give off..

[coontreer]

I live in Dayton, and actually fish the GMR on a regular basis. I catch 90% of my fish on a tube. Buy yourself some green pumpkin tubes, a jar of chartuese dye, and a jar of orange dye. I use SpikeIt, but dont tell anybody or I might get banned from this site.

Start with just Texas Rigging(Make sure you are using extra wide gap hooks to get through the meaty tube) straight green pumpkin, and if no luck try to dip the tails in Charteuse first, and then orange if they are not hitting the teuce.

Another little tip, is as in any river or stream, make sure if possible to always cast on the upstream side of whatever structure you are fishing. This allows the bait to come bouncing downstream in a much more natural apperance.

Check out this site as well.

http://www.ohiogamefishing.com/community/forumdisplay.php?f=8

Lots of guys on here fishing the GMR on a regular basis. You could probably even find someone that lives close to you to go out and do a little fishing with you.

Good Luck!

[YoungGun29]

Finally someone my age.lol. I was on the Ohio River i put in in Ashland Ky, where im from, and i caught 4 keepers on a steep rockdrop off, on a "Sexy Shad" color crankbait, deep diver.

[fishin_fool]

1/8 th oz white buzz bait all you need