Could Use Some Smallie Advice

[WdyCrankbait]

Hey everyone,

I fish the James in Richmond a ton, love this river. But, a place I fish regulary on the James has a lot of good fish, but I am not catching them (haha). A lot of catfish in the area and got a 8#er last Sunday morning on a Pearl 4" Senko. But, I could definitly use some suggestions for finding the smallies.

In the morning there are a fair amount of "crew rowers?" out there. There are a lot of "topwater fireworks," going off in the morning as well. I fish from the shore and the river is fairly wide here. The slow breaks on top, I assume are cats, and the lighting fast strikes I am sure are the smallies. I got tubes ready, senkos, Rage Shads ready, just the really slow water gives me problems. The reason I saw the slow water gives me issues is I try to keep the senko moving, whatever lures, trying to keep the fish from getting a close look at it. They seem to be chasing bait fish in the mornings, could use some adivce on tatics and lure recommendations.

Thanks in advance,

Wdy

[dmac14]

Give a big 1/2-3/4oz white spinnerbait a try, burning spinnerbaits has produced me my best smallmouth. Also try a pop-r those have produced me fantastic fish in the morning, and nothing wakes you up like a 3# smallie three feet in the air.

[WdyCrankbait]

To be honest for some reason I hardly ever catch fish on a pop-r, now a spook is another matter:)

[tjc76]

I would try something like a keitech swing impact paddletail if they are chasing bait. rig it on a 1/16 jig head and just run it back steady. I get lots of slackwater smallies this way.

[Bluebasser86]

Small crawfish imitations on a shakeyhead or a weightless fluke have been really good baits for me for smallmouth in slower water areas on rivers. Ripping a hard jerkbait like a 78 pointer can really trigger them sometimes too.

[WdyCrankbait]

yeah, I was going to plan on using some Fluke Jr. Albino color I think it is or white tubes with a casting weight inserted inside. I need to start fishing shaking heads, never really invested time wiht that method.

[J Francho]

Why not a suspending jerkbait? Seems like you could keep it moving, or give them a real long look at it. Crazy colors work well.

[WdyCrankbait]

Yeah, J Francho I hear you, but I have jacked up some smallies up with treble hook lures so.....I tend to shy away from those types of lures.

[J Francho]

Remove the rear treble, and mash the barbs down.

[Big Al23]

Even with the warm temps, I would try a jerkbait or topwater. Looks for breaks, turns, curves, etc. Fish them thoroughly. Any unusual looking area is a good bet. Ripples or swirls in the water may be some rock piles which you would want to fish.

[Dave T.]

Yeah, J Francho I hear you, but I have jacked up some smallies up with treble hook lures so.....I tend to shy away from those types of lures.

I hear ya on the trebles. I de-barb all of mine to minimize the damage to the fish. However, they still sometimes stick themselves really well. On the other hand, smallies are pretty hardy, and can take some bruising.

With that said, if you don't want to fish lures with trebles, you are probably limiting yourself to spinner baits, and buzz baits for top water. Any of the soft plastic baits you are using are going to catch their share of cat's in that type of water.

I find the spinner baits to work better in faster water, but maybe you can get some takers. The buzz baits seem to work in both slow and fast water, but they can be frustrating to fish with for smallies.

Good luck, and keep at them.

[WdyCrankbait]

I went out this morning fishing in the same spot. I used some Berkley Wiggle Shad (3" shad with a paddle tail) on a jig head nothing. Switched to a Zoom white tube, nothing, 4" senko black/blue and got one. He was about 12", but he swallowed the hook, Ugh!! 2/0 hook. I was smacking at the mosquites and let line go slack for a 15 seconds. I gave him the hook, it was deep and he was already starting to bleed. (super )

I live about 10 minutes from this place so, I'll take all the suggestion and apply them. Thanks for all the help guys!!

[Gavin]

River smallies can usually be found just above, in, or a below a riffle in the heat of the summer....so fish there...Usually catch my better fish on top with a walk the dog plug or buzzbait...or with a jig and chunk fished slow on the bottom. Cheers.

[fishingkidPA]

its old school but i still really like using inline spinners for smallies, especially in a river. a blue fox in firetiger should produce well for you, or a mepps black fury.

[SuskyDude1]

River smallies can usually be found just above, in, or a below a riffle in the heat of the summer....so fish there...Usually catch my better fish on top with a walk the dog plug or buzzbait...or with a jig and chunk fished slow on the bottom. Cheers.

This.

Forget fishing slow moving runs and holes in the dog days of summer. Smallies flock to chutes and riffles where the dissolved oxygen is highest when the water is warm and low.Throw topwater and hold on tight.

[Fontana Finesse Man]

I will look for alot of current running over a rock or tree in the water. I like to fish where that structure breaks the current. Best river baits I have found are 1/4 oz tandem willow spinnerbaits, pearl super flukes, and rebel wee craw crankbaits. If you can find them, a 2 hook clown rapala husky jerk, believe they are 3 or 3 1/2 in. long.