PaulVE64

Final thoughts for the season (since I typically lose the smallies in early November) I learned the importance of patience. The power of the dead drift. And the rarity of a 4# river smallie

Split shot rig for soft plastic Drop shot for soft plastics and hair jigs Unpegged texas rig for bass streamers, usually in baitfish patterns I fish river banks.

Spinning and fly tackle only.

9ft 7wt with a floating WF rio line. My leaders are all mono - 4' x 20#, 2ft x 17# , 2 ft of 12#. I throw big streamers and I have an 6"/ sec sinking polyleader for deeper rumours. I dont nymph, I dont dry fly.

The great lakes are huge.

Yesterday I caught 4, one at about 2#. Tomorrow I try a new for me river that is fly tackle only.

400-500 seems high, but most are under a pound. Maybe a dozen were over 3 lbs. I hear it takes 5 years for a smallie to get 12" long in my waters.

I havent topped 4# this year and I've caught 400 - 500 smallies this year. Thankfully they all fight like demons.

12, 17 or 20# x 5ft mono. I cast bass streamers with a 1/16 oz bullet wt.

20# mono because my bass swim with pike.

I've fished from the bank for years without a net. Isnt it a Royal Pain in the A@@ to bring bank fishing?

I go to a fly shop here on my city that is cash only. No website, no cash register and no phone. The owner is near 90 and I love this shop.

What fly patterns are working best?

Update on the trip?

For a float rig I use a long thin balsa float. Large enough for my current and jigs. The size is corrected to the water temp but 2 sizes is enough to fish with.

I'm using two spinning setups. a 6' MLF w/ 15# braid to a 12# mono leader or a 7' LF w/ 10# braid and a 6# mono leader. Most of my ties are under an 1/8 oz. Casting distance isnt as important as hitting your location on the river. I can also throw weightless flys on spinning gear with a split shot rig or a pegged bullet wt. Have tried them on the drop shot on occassion too but I think they look better moving.

https://instagram.com/stories/pvaneyk64/2954454985467865972?utm_source=ig_story_item_share&igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY= These two are 1/8 oz lead on a 1/0 jig hook. Tied this morning.

Soft plastic toad Weightless senko (TR & wacky) Fluke Spinnerbait

As A-Jay said.... to compel compliance

The hmg is faster than the eagle. I prefer that for smallies.

I started tying my own smallie jigs about 5 yrs ago and really enjoyed it. Got into fly fishing last year and enjoyed that too, mostly for the satisfaction of catching smallies on a pattern I tied the night before. The fly rod is fun but if its windy or if you dont have casting room its aggravating to use so my spinning gear gets used more and thus I also tie bass bugs and streamers on jig hooks. Looking for advice on smallie patterns that have worked for you. I will link my personal instagram page so you can see some of my ties. if that's against the rules would a mod please remove it? https://www.instagram.com/p/CY5HvEQsNc0/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Try working in construction management for a small builder.

If I'm looking for a reaction bite (speed cranking) I throw upstream because fleeing baitfish never swim upstream to escape predators. If I'm fishing slow it doesnt matter as far as I can tell.

Not sure if serious. My rivers are gin clear so I try reaction baits but throw mostly finesse. Maybe we just define finesse differently?

Over the past week I've not caught a river smallie on a soft plastic. The square bills & jerk bait went dry too. I started throwing a TR using 1/8 oz bullet wts with bass streamers (hand tied) of maribou & deer. It's extremely satisfying.