fast moving rocky stream baits?? 2024
Zach Winn reply :
I fish a stream that's super clear, rocky and has a water fall so it's a strong current. Smallmouth are in the 8-14" range. They love the Ned rig and 4" senkos. What else would you guys throw?
Scott F reply :
Generally speaking, smallies won't be found in the strong current. They will be close to it, tucked in behind a rock or in an eddy. Fish in these spots are there to feed and generally are not very picky. If it looks edible they'll take it. Any bait that you can direct through those holding areas will work. Topwaters and inline spinners work for me. You're already using small jigs and senkos. It almost doesn't matter what bait you use as long as it looks like food to them.
Zach Winn reply :
I typically cast to the current and let it take my bait into the pools or cast directly into the pool. I have used Mepps spinners. I just was just more curious about small cranks or poppers.
Scott F reply :
I don't like cranks in current. If you throw them upstream, you have to move them very fast to get them to wobble the way they are supposed to. If you throw them downstream, you don't have to move them at all to get them vibrating which can be good if you can position then in just the right place.
I seldom get many fish randomly in a pool. Inactive fish are found in slow moving pools and they don't bite much. I fish the head of the pool or the tail where the pool ends. Feeding bass hold near current where food comes to them. They sit just out of the current so they don't have to waste energy fighting the fast water.
Choporoz reply :
I like Owner Ultra Ball Head in that situation. They present plastic well and tend to resist hang-ups. Try one with a Krazy Flapper....you may not need anything else
MassBass reply :
I agree, spinners. 1/4 oz. gold panther martin is good.
HookRz reply :
Tubes!
On 6/29/2017 at 10:47 PM, Zach Winn said:I typically cast to the current and let it take my bait into the pools or cast directly into the pool. I have used Mepps spinners. I just was just more curious about small cranks or poppers.
Rebel teeny wee craw!
Steveo-1969 reply :
What Scott F said. But I'm addicted to jig fishing so I usually have a small skirted finesse jig tied on.
smr913 reply :
I've been using a 3/16 ounce bitsy jig with a small craw trailer in similar water. I cast upstream at about a 45 then let it bounce down stream with the current keeping the line semi tight. I usually will let it swing all the way down stream.
Zach Winn reply :
Thanks guys, I'm going to bass pro tomorrow/making a tackle warehouse order when ever the July.4th sale kicks in so I'll get some little jigs and trailers.
Mj89 reply :
I use inline spinners almost exclusively in these types of rivers. Throw int the current and reel slowly as it drifts down. This technique has never failed me. Even in the dead of winter. 1/8 and 1/6 are my favorite sizes
scaleface reply :
Strike King Rocket Shads shine in current . Wrap a bit of wire around the double hook to keep it from coming off during the fight . Thats happened to me a couple of times .
Turkey sandwich reply :
Don't overlook 2.5-3.5" tubes. You can fish them aggressively or swing them in current like you would a Ned rig or Senko. Generally, for shallow water 1/8oz is a pretty good starting point for weight. Also, don't overlook 3-4" grubs. They're old school, but they're about the best numbers bait for smallmouth that I know of.
Further North reply :
On 6/30/2017 at 2:08 AM, MassBass said:I agree, spinners. 1/4 oz. gold panther martin is good.
Yup...or Mepps...or any of the other brands. Stream smallies ain't that fussy, or pressured enough for it to make any real difference.
Keep 'em outta the rocks, if you can. If you can't, have enough along so you can break 'em off...or be prepared to wade over and pull them lose.
fishnkamp reply :
Boy I fished those conditions on both the Upper Potomac and The Susquehanna River. Those bass will feed just outside the faster current going though the rock ledges and they will stack up in front just before the water races through those openings. If you are not fishing weedless rigged tubes and grubs like Kalin 5 inch Lunker grubs you are missing out for sure. If you are going to Bass Pro have the guys there help you find the Bass Pro Perfect Finesse worm Jigheads. it is similar to a slider head, picture a worm weight already attached to a worm hook. Match up the hook size to a Kalin 5 inch lunker grub body and get them in 1/8 and 1/4 ounce weights. That setup along with the tubes should be in your arsenal. For really clear water I like the bluegill color, the green watermelon/red seed and the pumpkin/salt and pepper green flake but other colors work also. Here is what I am talking about.
Another important lure I used was a Tiny Torpeedo. I would get below a rock ledge, cast up into the fast water and twitch it. Hold on tight the bass would tear out of the slack water and annihilate it.
drew4779 reply :
Tubes, grubs, spinners
Bluebasser86 reply :
I've had really good luck fishing a Zara Puppy or Super Spook Jr. for smallies in similar situations in the Ozark rivers.
bowhunter63 reply :
Baby Rage Craw or a 1/4 ounce War Eagle spinner bait in the brakes and pockets.
Zach Winn reply :
I end up buying bitsy bug jigs and trailers, 3" green pumpkin grubs(caught a few already), strike king finesse tubes(caught a few).
edfitzvb reply :
Original Rapala, size 7 or 9.
Djohn reply :
3" Chigger Craw with light bullet weight pegged
huffman1988 reply :
Cant beat a curly tail grub or a inline spinner. Atleast not in the rivers I have fished
Steveo-1969 reply :
On 7/4/2017 at 5:59 PM, Zach Winn said:I end up buying bitsy bug jigs and trailers, 3" green pumpkin grubs(caught a few already), strike king finesse tubes(caught a few).
Nice, can't go wrong with those choices. I'm seriously addicted to catching river (creek, stream) smallmouth with a finesse jig and the SK Bitsy Bug is my jig of choice because of the price. I lose a lot of them and it hurts a little bit less every time I snag and have to break off.
Bassun reply :
White twin tail grubs. I've not had better success with anything in swirls. If it's a steady "rush" but not super nasty I agree with Edfitzvb a minnow bait like that is fantastic. I've always had the best luck with those during blue bird skies running something very flashy like a Chrome and Blue Back rogue or really any highly reflective minnow lure. Here is where I really love throwing those no name creations as long as they are reflective.
If you catch a nice eddy don't overlook the topwater bite, or IMO even better, the broken back rapala. you can toss it in and twitch it around like a top water then swim it where you need to swim it. Admittedly though, I have less success in heavier current with them.
moguy1973 reply :
4" tube stupid rigged to help prevent snags.
Dreveal reply :
4" white fluke has always paid off for me in the fast water. Lots of fun to watch them hit it too!
Looch reply :
On 6/29/2017 at 9:35 PM, Zach Winn said:I fish a stream that's super clear, rocky and has a water fall so it's a strong current. Smallmouth are in the 8-14" range. They love the Ned rig and 4" senkos. What else would you guys throw?
Hair Jigs and tubes is what I'd start with.
Cranks4fun reply :
All of the baits mentioned above have their loyal users because they generally work: grubs, spinners, Rebel Wee Craws, tubes, jigs, etc. The last two years I have caught my biggest stream smallies on crankbaits, craw colored or brownish crankbaits. I had some great days on those SK Bitsy Bug jigs last year too! 4 inch Senkos have worked great in the past for me too. Someone mentioned that the fish in the larger deeper pools don't bite often. They will bite in those pools if you hit them early in the morning and late in the evening. I had about a 20-fish evening trip recently and most of my fish came from those large pools in the last 1 1/2 hours before dark. about three weeks back, I caught a 17 incher (big around here) on an H2O Xpress CRUL crankbait in bluegill. He was in faster water behind a boulder with current flowing over it. When you catch one in or near that current, they feel like they are three times bigger than they really are! I included a picture of the 17 incher below but my phone camera lens was dirty or something. Sorry!
PatrickKnight reply :
I would drift a curly tail on the lightest weight jig I could use to hang close to the bottom and do my best to hit every rock I could.
HookRz reply :
On 7/27/2017 at 9:30 PM, PatrickKnight said:I would drift a curly tail on the lightest weight jig I could use to hang close to the bottom and do my best to hit every rock I could.
If you caught the Smallie in your profile pic that way I'm not gonna argue!
All about what works for you! Nice fish!
BuzzHudson19c reply :
I've been having new found success with swim jigs for smallies. I cast past the current break, reel into it, and let it fall. A couple twitches followed by a steady reel. Basically if something is there I let them see it then start the retrieve. River smallies make up there mind pretty fast and are usually on it quick.
1/4 or 3/8 jig with a fluke or craw trailer.
Further North reply :
I put this in the topwater topic...but it works great in fast moving rocky streams as well.
I'll cast it above calm areas and let it drift in, twitch it, and hang on. In faster water they don't have a lot of time to think about it, so if a strick comes it'll be fast, usually right after the twitch.
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