Could use some advice

[dabskie]

Going to fish a river in mid June,,,,water level is 2 to 4 ft average,but there are some deeper areas up to 8 ft in mid river,,but not many,,water temp is 75 degrees,,,,will be fishing from 6am to 2pm,,,,,all smallies,,,,don't know what the weather conditions will be like,,,,cloudy,,,bluebird skys,,,ect,,,,but could use some advice from you guys that fish rivers on a regular basis,,,,as far as what to throw in the early morning, under cloudy skys,,,sunny,,would you switch baits as the day went on,,,,ect,,,,would really appreicate it. Thanks

[backwater4]

Try all your normal baits, but if all else fails smallies in rivers and streams love in-line spinners and 4" curly tail grubs (pumpkin). Topwaters early and maybe some small jigs.

[smashingsmallies]

Ditto on the curly tails...4-6" are hot--I will use 6" for deeper holes 5ft plus...hope you get some.  Fish on. John.

[Ern]

I would do some topwater early.  The old Rapala floater is hard to beat. In line spinners are great.  I like the ones that combined the curly tail.  Just keep in mind smaller lures will catch numbers.  Bigger lures will get bigger fish.  Smallmouth does not mean small fish.   

[acmaul13]

If you're out at sunrise or before tiny torpedos,jitterbugs,buzzbaiits.Once the sun is up for me it is reaction type baits.(X-raps,weightless senko types)Also Mepps spinners burned hard.Depending upon your wallet the DT series of Raps run at 2-3 ft,but I've yet to hook up with one on a creek.At dark or later black jitterbug is great in my area.

ac

[dabskie]

Thanks for the tips guys,,,appreciate it.

[BULLET21]

Buzzbaits early for sure!

[singingdog]

In shallow water topwaters will often produce all day: the fish don't have to go far to hit them!

[Northern Strain]

Get some berkely chigger craws, then use a jerkbait to find fish when you find the fish with your searchbait start throwing the chigger craw. I t-rig them, but I saw hank parker using them recently on a shaky head.

[NateFollmer]

All the baits mentioned are great producers so I'll cover where to look for fish.

Right now the fish here in central pa are still in a post spawn mood and aren't very aggressive. I find it best to find fast water that is right beside very slow to almost no current. Those fish are going to be holding deeper inside those slack waters. Look for eddies also. I don't know if the river you'll be fishing has them, but look for fish dams too. The Juniata is full of these rock pile dams haha and they just plain hold fish almost all the time.

By the time you get to fishing though, they may be starting their summer pattern. That's when the topwater is going to produce all day. Just fish a river like it's a narrow lake haha. Find the same stuff you would in a lake and fish it. You also have the current to produce a good fishing spot now too.

[bassbum85]

If you wanna have a good time throw some zoom horny toads and see what happens. Smallies here smash em in the creeks and rivers

[Senkoman12]

i have had smallies hit everything i throw for largies except for my 7" swimbait