Bass-Addict

With the extreme drought we’ve had this year river levels are historically low. Normal winter holes have shrunk in depth and diameter. This has concentrated the fish, with wintering smallmouth being forced to share a relatively small hole with larger predators like flatheads. In my system, flatheads are the largest predator in the water and while they’re not enormous, there are plenty of 10-20 lb fish. My friend caught a 38 pounder over the summer. My question is, how many trophy smallmouth have been slurped up by large shovels, or are the larger older fish wise enough to avoid this encounter? If the latter, where would they go in the sudden absence of their known winter habitat?

Do you find the Deps slide swimmer has a broad glide or average?

Thank you everyone for the information, sounds like they have different applications and both have a place in our tackle boxes ???

Anyone? Beuler?

Say for instance the bull Shad vs a deps

Is there any harm in using my existing toaster oven or do I risk it leaching into my bagels? Lol.

I’ve noticed some of the various brands at both big box stores and on Amazon offer varying “strengths” from 20-70 lbs. Does this mean anything in regard to how well the snap itself is going to hold or is this referring only to the strength of the ring/swivel?

I accepted a long time ago that “it’s called fishing not catching.” But when you really break it down, beyond all of the variables completely out of our control like weather, free time and water conditions, large smallmouth are really only at their most active in the spring and the fall. Summertime you can get numbers, with an occasional big bite thrown in the mix, but spring and fall are the highest percentage opportunities for trophy fish. And within those small windows, those variables wreak havoc on the number of opportunities you really get to catch big fish. Now I am a river guy, so I’m not sure how it works on reservoirs, but I can only imagine it is even more challenging. The springs here in Ohio are wet and often cold, and the river is frequently blown out and too muddy to fish. The fall is dry, the river is low and clear and the fish are spooky and stagnant. Add to that they are scattered and unpredictable to a degree, with current of varying depths being the safest bet but no hard and fast rules. With spawn interrupting the spring frenzy and fall migration to wintering areas leaving them spaced out and difficult to find, it makes for an inconsistent and frustrating experience even when the cards are stacked in your favor. I am in this thing for the long haul, and this is not meant to be a whiny, winded post. I am just sharing my observations and interested in how the more experienced anglers here have interpreted these challenges and fluctuations.

I did search for powder paint on Amazon and that came up, are there any other specifics that I need to key in?

I actually try to minimize the rods I bring as I kayak fish, and so my casting setups I use for multiple applications and snaps allow for easy bait switching. What are the good ones? Worth every penny to me.

With the colder weather now here to stay I will be on the water slightly less, and to continue my hobby plan to customize some of my tackle. I know there are mixed feelings about how much of a difference matching jig heads to plastics makes, but for me more than half of the enjoyment of buying and using lures is for the fisherman and not for the fish. To add to that, anything that gives you more confidence in your presentation will make you more productive. I have heard powder paint is the best choice for painting jigs, is this true? If so, is this exactly what I want? Thanks! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08G65KP7B/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1

Why do you recommend eliminating snap?

Just discovered it is spinning on the cast, not sure why I never thought of this.

That is a stud

I am currently using this: https://www.amazon.com/PLUSINNO-Fishing-Landing-Rubber-Release/dp/B07DHR154C/ref=mp_s_a_1_3 It has served me well but at 10” deep it is a bit shallow for larger fish. I would also like a slightly longer handle. However, when I search I am having difficulty finding larger alternatives to what I have. The vast majority are cloth with fine mesh, which as you know is a disaster with trebles. Is there any particular reason these are the predominant style and that there are not more options for rubber mesh with large holes?

Yes honestly I’ve noticed how long it takes for my swim bait to sink, although I’m generally keeping that in the top 1/3 of the column so not sure how important that is.

I thought flurocarbon was almost completely invisible underwater? Gotcha, thx! How about in finesse, does 8 lb make a big difference over 10 for fluro leaders?

If so, what test would you recommend? The setup I currently throw soft paddle tails on is spooled with 8 lb Trilene XL mono.

So for all other brands you prefer 6”+?

What size river/fish? Is that River2Sea? Says Savage Gear. You find the 5.25” gets more bites than 6.5”?

Small rivers, that is. 75 ft wide, 4/6 ft deep. Quite a few larger fish in it for a river its size, a lot of 18/19”. Looking to add glides into my arsenal, they seem to catch big fish. What do you think is the ideal length/weight?

I know people who swear the fishing improves into the low 50s, others like myself believe it sort of peaks between 55 and 60 and some who do not use water temp to guide their fishing strategies/decisions. I think it is undeniably the single biggest variable and determinant in smallmouth behavior. At what temperature do you believe they are most active?

You literally edited out a key part of that statement and took it out of context. Of course they are feeding aggressively in current right now, just as they do in spring. My comment was specifically in reference to summer. My original complete statement: Smaller (under 15”) smallmouth in current are excitable and curious, but outside of peak feeding seasons (spring/fall) larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.

Smaller (under 15”) smallmouth in current are excitable and curious, but outside of peak feeding seasons (spring/fall) larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.

You don’t think they see you float/wade past them?