PaulVE64

1/8 oz handtied finesse swim jigs

Pit boss and an adrenaline bug have effective movement, even weightless

I've used the baby brush hog for like 5 yrs but I must admit I usually pick up a rage grub/pit boss/adrenaline bug first. I just haven't found success with the hog.

The Choppo/WP 135, 110 & 75 still working on my river smallies. But I'm finding as good is a spook jr. on calm days.

I would say that they dont suspend in rivers like they do in lakes, maybe because rivers are typically shallow. In the sense that suspending lake fish are inactive fish in the river an inactive fish is probably tucked up behind or under cover to escape current. In a river system I feel that smallies relate to shore during rising water and deeper pools during drought. In rivers I am looking for the biggest stretch between rapids. I fish the heads and tails of these stretches and find the best fish nearer the banks.

Light wire, light hook set, light drag.

Split tail

I like it!

Hoping pupper can make it.

Keep even tension on the lines as you knot

Keep even tension on the lines as you knot

Hand tied size 1 stinger with a fancy of fur, feathers and flash. Add wt. as required, your results may differ.

I throw a hand tied 1/0 stinger hook covered in fanciful fur, feathers and flash. I add a pinch on bullet wt of the correct wt and I float that thru the seams and drift it into pools. Takes patience.

I live in a city of around 400k. A river runs thru it out to the Great Lakes. In the heart of the city I watched 3 bald eagles cruising and fishing the river. Right down town. Edit - as I walked out of the river valley soon after seeing the eagles some lady asked me if I had seen any eagles and I replied that yes, I saw 2 adults and a nearly full grown adolescent fly thru ... blah, blah, blah. That night the local news reported on the story and I may have been described as the "unnamed eyewitness".

15# hi vis 832 - FG - 12# Trilene XT. I usually have too much current to drag bottom.

I think it's safe to say that I catch fish throwing both directions but my biggest fish always come with the best drift

#10 - #15 hi vis 832 to a #12 trilene XT via an impervious FG.

My brother swears by an FC leader but I'm not convinced on changing from my 12# Trilene XT leader on braid with an FG.

Swimbait 3/16 oz deer hair head jig

Ready to go patterns I've been working on. !https://www.instagram.com/p/CuPtelJu1O7/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

I lose tips way too often and always in low branches.

If you've had the materials in your hands before then by all means get them online. However I prefer to check my local fly shop.

There are alot of ways to work a tube. Dont think a kayak would effect them, but I havent seen or tried everything yet.

I prefer the sun and I cast at shade lines too.

Last year I started playing around with trout streamer patterns on micro jigs. I use weights from 1/16 to 1/8 oz and add some feathers and flash with a deer hair head. So far this spring it's been on fire for +3# smallies laying in deep pools beside current. If I can make the cast i can deadstick the lure right into the bottom of the pool. Wait 20 seconds and twitch it a bit. Slam.