Where do the Smallies Go

[Hossmagnet]

I started fishing a river fed reservoir last year and just crush the smallies in April. I catch big numbers and giant fish in about 8 FOW.

The dam is about 13 miles downstream and gets depths over 70 FOW.

Its hard to find the Big Smallies this time of year. The current is slower and the water gets really clear. Do they go further upstream into shallower water or are the just harder to catch? I thought maybe they like to stick in the shallower water for more oxygen. Went out on Tuesday and caught 12 smallies, biggest was only 14"

[Sfritr]

Your going the wrong way!!!   DEEP DEEP DEEP  Structure Structure Contour Structure.  

During the warmer months DMB will go deep, sometimes 45 +.  Concentrate on bottom contour and current.  

[Hossmagnet]

Thanks for the reply, i will try it.  Only problem is going to be the very respectful water skiers, and worse the jet ski's.

[reo]

Thanks for the reply, i will try it. Only problem is going to be the very respectful water skiers, and worse the jet ski's.

Most of those fine folks don't hit the water until the crack of 10:00. That will give you a few hours of quality fishing time.

[Crestliner2008]

Use your sonar and try to locate some deep water (30' - 40') structures that you see bait balls on. Then refine your search to those bait balls on structure (humps are an excellent example) that contain some sort of weed growth. You find this out by using a blade bait or other treble hooked heavy weight. Cast & drag it one time, it'll tell you in a hurry! Or, use an AquaView-type under water viewing system.

Once you find that, stay on it if the wind isn't pushing you off all the time. If the wind is a problem, anchor. Then use a drop shot. A whole new world will be opened to you.

[Hossmagnet]

I went down there last night and caught lots of little ones in the shallow. I have to go down stream about 3 miles to run into the 30-40 fow of water. I looked for the bait balls, but didn't find any...Thanks for the advice, i will keep trying this.

[reo]

I went down there last night and caught lots of little ones in the shallow. I have to go down stream about 3 miles to run into the 30-40 fow of water. I looked for the bait balls, but didn't find any...Thanks for the advice, i will keep trying this.

95% of my fishing is done on Lake Erie so I may be WAY off here BUT if it were me I would not run from 8' to 30-40 fow without checking structure in between. Any contour, rockpile or point 15' +/- could hold fish especially if deeper water is near. In addition they may be there one day and not the next. Many variables could dictate; weather, wind, recent rain, current, etc. and last but NOT least bait.

Hope this helps

reo

[eastid]

Experiencing somewhat of the same issue as Hossmagnet. Back in the end of May 2009, I found an inlet from the river (the river turns into a reservoir about 1/2 mile down). the water depth I was fishing was about 6 feet. I was casting at a rock bank with a drop off.

In any event, on two consecutive days, I caught and released numerous smallies, the smallest of which was about 2 lbs. among those were two 4 lb ers.

About 3 week ago. 3 of us caught and released a number of 3/4 to 1 1/2 lb ers, among which each of us caught a 2 lb er. By the way, the 2 lb ers fought like crazy and much harder than the previously mentioned 4 lb ers.

Yesterday, I went to the same spot and I managed 3 that were about 1/2 lb.

Where , I ask, have all the big ones gone. I will try deeper areas, per the above suggestions, probably out of the inlet, and down river to the reservoir. I'l llet you know if I find them. they gotta be there somewhere.