PaulVE64

Ive been fly fishing my river the last 5 yrs. It was a hassle because my rig wasnt great and I couldn't cast in the wind. It was physically demanding. This year I bought a 6wt Redington Vice with SA textured amplitude bass bug line. I throw heavy streamers with the lightest cast. I can double haul 80 ft with the same stroke. Its the most fun I've had in years.

When the wind is down I do alot of fly fishing for river smallies with 3" - 6" opaque streamers with lots of colour, flash and tinsel. Smallies are particular but on any given day they might hit everything.

After reading this thread I always get a bump in my catches. Great advice

They're so dark. What depth were they at? What lake/river were you on?

Six wt. largies, Smallies and pan fish. And one intimidating Gar Pike.

A cheap reel with a spare spool. You need two lines so 2 spools is excellent. I've been tying and throwing for 7 yrs or so.

Hula grub, helgramite, black maribou jig, and occasionally a swamp crawler

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPHpPT1jtTQ/?igsh=bDhuOXF6bDdic2g1 https://www.instagram.com/p/DPUfU6djppO/?igsh=MXBqdzJ6dW9jN29rMQ==

We finished the week with 434 fish over 3 boats. Our boat finished with 137 fish, longest walleye was 23" and longest pike of 38"

Trolling has been the secret to all success. The most successful lures have been a Ripplin Redfin, jerkbaits, Cyclops, and monster size spoons. Best colours have been copper, orange and black. Our boat is at 83 fish, mostly pike. Great weather too.

Near James Bay. Here for a pike and walleye beatdown and I promise to make a decent final report. This is day 2 of 7. 2 x 24" pike is all I've caught. We've focused on deep bays with little success so far. Heading out now.

I use a red senko on Canada Day.

Floating a 5" senko wtless is #1. 4" senko/dinger with 1/16 to 3/16 bullet wts. Flicker shad/OG Tiny 04/DT4/Ripping Rap 05/Salmon Hornet 05 3" jerkbait if you hit a pool. Soft plastics and there are so many that work. I like 3" to 5" scented jerk shads/ 4" hula grubs/ rage grubs and every size of Pit Boss made. Plus I tie alot of jigs and streamers. And we haven't even mentioned TopWateR (the best 5 years of your life)

My river doesnt blow out that often. When it does happen my smallies leave their haunts and i rarely find them. When i do catch one it is almos always on a deep inside bend with a ned or a finesse worm. A crankbait hasnt worked in mud for me

I started using barbless hooks for wacky rigs. Its easier to remove the deep hooks

Ive seen smallies circle around packs of carp. I think the carp are flushing out prey for the bass.

I like all the st C 7'6" MLXF rods ice tried. From avid to the legends

Get youself a 10' weighted S3 leader if you want to get depth. My 6wt PB is just over #3 smallie. For a leader i normally start with 4 ft of #20 mono, 2ft of #17 and 2 ft of #12 mono. I will add 2 ft #6 fluoro if im throwing small flies

Is there a difference? There sure is on every set up ive used.

When my river is really cold mot soft plastics form ice while casting. At my most finesse im throwing the deadly black marabou jig. I tie it in 1/8 to 1/32 oz and sometimes i throw on some chartruese ice dubbing. Edit - while fishing i often add a stub of a senko for wt

7-6 ml xf St C legendT walkeye

20" resident that creek run to spawn. There fat, mean and aggressive EDIT - i find creek smallies after the first heavy thaw/flood. The heavier flow in bigger rivers seems to trigger resident bass. Im on the Great Lakes basin.

My river is over the banks at flood.

I miss river smallies. I still have 2 ft of snow

Its true, theyre done