Rivers for Smallies

[John Sheehan]

Let's discuss how to succeed finding hooking and landing Smallies that live in rivers !http://bigbluegill.com/group/fishing-for-smallmouth-bass-in-rivers

[John Sheehan]

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/albums/2nd-annual-delaware-river-trip

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/albums/delaware-river-8-8-8-9-2013

[John Sheehan]

Clear water; fish mid river troughs .Muddy water ;hit the banks and look for clear water runoffs dumping into the river.This has paid off for me in the past .Muddy water gets the Chartreuse spinners and Spinner bait call.

[John Sheehan]

Deep Holes under Bridges are hot spots .Here are a few low river near bridge smallies I caught 1st time fishing the Shenandoah for two days .The water was fairly quick as it was funneled through the bridge openings and the smallies were back in a feeding zone coming to them . I particularly like the Turquoise hues of the Red Breasted Sunfish I caught there. This was back in 2010 in July . Boy was it hot! Had to sit down in the river to cool off .

[John Sheehan]

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/p1012939?xg_source=activity

[John Sheehan]

I found a hole by a steep bank and got three smallies out of it in two times fishing .Three different sizes ranging from about  6-10"

A real treat getting the biggest and most energetic on a fly rod .Took a Burke plastic Hellgrammite.

[John Sheehan]

[John Sheehan]

Reading John Tertuliani's book ,'Smallmouth Bass and Streams', (Thoughts on Fly Fishing) Stresses the importance of Bedrock, Large Boulders , moderate flow current and Scour holes for Smallmouth Habitat .

[John Sheehan]

Just below a dam spillway is a good starting point for finding scour holes .I look for steep banks too .

[John Sheehan]

Latest Smallie River Rig .Catches multi species and Smallies love it .Cinching the Spinner and bead  6" above hook/bait  works great .

[John Sheehan]

This rig took 14 fish from the river including Five Smallies last time out . 6 species Cr, BG, RBS, SM, LM ,Walleye.

[John Sheehan]

http://bigbluegill.com/photo/p1012992/next?context=album&albumI...