Gavin

Google Stupid Tube rigging...you can toss that into most junk and get it back...It doesn't hook up as much as a tube rigged on a wire weedguard hook, or an open hook...but it works....about 60/40..v...80%+.

Active fish are usually near riffle areas in the summertime. When they are inactive...they tend to drop into the deep holes near riffles. Look for current, shade, and a changes in bank and bottom structure and you will find the active fish...If its low and clear...long casts...Fish faster baits until you find them...Walkers, Buzzers, Flukes, shallow cranks...follow up with some plastics. Good luck. .

Try a circle hook with an offset point...no need to set the hook and it eliminates the gut hook problem. Works with flukes too.

PB....I don't see anything that doesn't say...Smallmouth. Smallmouth color up like that when they become stressed. TT89's fish looks like a smally/spot hybrid because of the hints of barring under the lateral line......Its not a "Meanmouth" (Largemouth/Smallie Hybrid)...Think they can only cross smallmouth and largemouth in the laboratory and the offspring are sterile(I think) and very aggressive fish....Smallmouth and spotted bass readily hybridize in the wild, and the offspring are fertile. They aren't any more aggressive than a spot or a smallmouth. Meanmouth and smallie/spot hybrids are not the same thing.

We catch a lot of smallie/spot hybrids on some of the rivers I fish...They look kinda like smallmouth...but they have barrings below the lateral line like a spot. Pbrussells fish is 100% smallmouth...not a hybrid...great catch!

It pays to carry a selection...I'll go with a Sammy 128 or a full sized spook on bigger rivers...Sammy 100, Gunfish 95, Norman Top Dollar, or a River2Sea Bubblewalker to start out on most flows...When I get a lot of misses I'll downsize to smaller walking baits...Zip n' Ziggy or a G-Splash....Walking a popper works better sometimes.

The Zip n' Ziggy is a great bait but the tinned stock hooks are junk. Replace them with some KVD short shanks...#6. The Sammy 85 was a disappointment...it sits too vertically, and its harder to walk. The Duo Reallis Pencil 85 looks interesting.

They have the ability to change color to match their surroundings thanks to the chromatophores contained in their skin cells.

That's trout country.....Try for a greenback cut in RMNP..

Walker, buzzer, or a fluke....if they wont eat that, fish bottom.

Usually 1-2 hours one way for a day trip. If the drive is longer than that, I'll spend at least 3 days.

Its a blast when the conditions are suited to it. Usually fish a 9' 7wt, and I use big blockhead poppers, sneaky pete's, and large streamers. If I have to go deep for them, I break out my conventional tackle.

Baitcaster most of the time, but I'll use spinning tackle for small walking baits, and poppers. Spinning gives me a little more casting distance with the small baits.

River Smallies love walking baits. Its usually the first thing I try in the summertime...If they wont eat it in the early AM, try again every hour or so...They will usually hit on top at some point during the day..especially when the river is low, clear, and hot.

There brain is located just behind there eyes...no worries.

Thats a pretty small sit in kayak...not much room for anything other than you...You might be able to bunjie a milk crate for your tackle behind the seat....and jam your rods under those front bunjies. Make sure you have a PFD...and a paddle leash....I'd look at a sit on top model if your going to buy one for yourself.

Epoxy is your best bet..Gorilla Glue usually foams up and makes a mess.

Since your boatless, I'd look for smaller streams where you can gain access and cover some rivers miles on foot. Summer is a great time to wet wade...and big fish can be found in small creeks. Most river access points usually get hammered by the 5 gallon bucket brigade but I'm sure that you will find some honey holes if your willing to hike. Smallmouth relate to current and structure...Largemouth dont like current, but they relate to structure. Take a couple topwater lures, some mid water lures, and some stuff to dredge bottom. Good luck.

The Bill Norman Top Dollar is an overlooked bait...Walks, Pops, Dives & Wiggles. Had one out for the first time last week, and it took my only two top waters smallies. Think its a keeper, needs better hooks though.

It's more about stealth in lower water in my mind. The bait doesn't seem to matter to much. This...Sneak up and make your first cast count.

You dont need much motor to push a canoe....Old Town sells two good TM mounts but it would be easy to fabricate you own.

I like any single blade buzzer with a with a good squeek...or a double buzzer. Wish I could still find some Accent B-2 buzzers.

Heres a few..Black bear hair and rabbit on an aspirin head...Flaired deer hair and rabbit on a standup head...and a float & fly jig.

The North Fork of the White usually fishes well for numbers of smallmouth in its upper reaches...and there is a good trout fishery inbetween Rainbow Spring and Dawt Mill. Bryant creek is just over the ridge and it offers decent smallmouth fishing. Were are you staying? If your at Sunburst Ranch talk to Justin...He can hook you up if smallmouth fishing is what you want to do...Might be hard to find an outfitter to run a special shuttle on a busy Saturday, but the will usually accomodate on weekdays.

Great Catch! River fish tend to be alot leaner than lake fish so I'm thinking 4-4.5lbs unless it was incredibly fat.