Blue Raider Bob

Tried braids and floro's for a couple years and I have decided that I prefer straight Mono. I have been using Mr. Crappie 8lb. Hi vis yellow lately because I like to see my line. However I need to keep evolving so I wanted to ask you river fishers that use mono, what mono's do you prefer and what colors give you the most confidence? I fish rivers with current and usually good clarity. BTW had a fun day on the Cumberland yesterday. Hooked 37 and got most in including three channel cats and one flathead. All the bass were small but a bite is a bite! Going to the Tennessee River Sunday, Lord willing!

If you hear some giggling coming from under the tarp in the back of your truck when you leave Friday....it's not me....so don't look! Just make sure you have two life jackets in the boat!

The larger rivers I fish have four main bank compositions that I identify. First is the shallow mud bank with blowdowns. This is mostly dead water for me. I never seem to be able to find fish. Second is the man-made rip rap banks with deeper water. These areas produce better than mud/wood but still not my favorite. Third is the natural larger chunk rock. Now the fishing tends to get better when the rock is over deeper water. Not so much when it is shallow. Last is my favorite. Bluff walls with current and water at least 4ft and deeper. This is where I go to drift fish and where in my experience the nicer fish hang out. Chris Catignani and I found a bluff wall area on the Cumberland that had large schools of Shad. The bass were trapping the shad against the bluff wall and we were able to hook quite a few. After we drifted past the schools we would motor back up and drift again.

The ramp at the Stones River is right by a heavily used city park. It is only a mile from McGavock high school. It is about as secure as any ramp can be. Take Briley Parkway north, turn right on Two Rivers Parkway. Turn left on McGavock, go two streets turn right on Fernbrook. Ramp is 1 mi on right. The ramp at the dam is more isolated but still fairly heavily used. The ramp at Lot 2 is more isolated and can only be used when the water is up. The ramp at Shelby ave. is in bad shape and that is where I would really worry about a borrowed truck!

I like all three of your selections. I have caught quality fish on all of them. What is water clarity? if it's clear try a Zman TicklrZ in Smelt. Works for me!

My go to is a Zman TicklrZ in a minnow color such as Smelt or The Deal in clear water. Fished on a 1/16 jig head and allowed to just skim and bump bottom gives the Smallies an erratic offering that drives them nuts. I have lots of followers as well but more often they take it.

I just fish the Cumberland River from below the Old Hickory dam to Nashville. I guess that would be the head of Cheatham. I got into river fishing a few years ago and just like it better than lake fishing. I catch lots more fish in the river but they average much smaller than lake fish. The frequent action more than makes up for the lack of poundage in my view. Also the variety of fish is interesting.

I know this is a Smallmouth forum, but can't help what bites the lure! I was smallie fishing in the Cumberland yesterday and hooked a PIG! Last thing I expected was a big largie in current. It just goes to show how unpredictable bass can be. Caught 29 little ones and one big mama! She ate the Zman TicklrZ in Smelt Color and weighed 5 lb 3 oz. I'm already a member of the 5lb Largie club but it was fun to renew membership! Water temp was 72 deg. Hopefully this is a sign of real good things ahead! This is only the fourth Largemouth I have caught from the Cumberland, and by far the largest. I was really surprised she was hanging out with the Spots and Smallies.

I guess I worded my question wrong. What I would like to know from you seasoned river veterans is....do you usually see cyclic spawning events on the rivers which cause years of small fish followed by years of better fish, or are the river fish consistently smaller?

Don't quite have that much time. Just looking for recent observations.

The big rivers I fish (Tennessee and Cumberland) have had an abundance of small fish the past couple of years with the quality fish being rare. It is not unusual to catch fifty in an afternoon but seldom anything over 14". Lots of these fish are very small dinks but it makes me think that possibly it is the result of a couple of years of good spawns. If that is the case then it goes to reason (mine) that in a couple more years the fishing should be fantastic. I have only been pursuing river fish for the past four years so I may be way off and the size of fish I catch is the river norms. Yesterday was a little different as I hooked 38 and four were over 15" including my PB Spot at 16-1/4". Am I off base with this or have your experiences cause for giving me optimism? One caveat is that I mostly Ned Rig so I am encouraging the little bite but I have little confidence in larger baits and off shore fishing where I am sure the lunkers lie. The Ned has garnered a couple 4lb and several 3lb. so I know it can be effective when the quality fish are near the banks.

What is the water level on the rivers you fish? I have found during the summer with water levels down the fish are more spread out. I have caught gobs of small ones this summer but the quality fish are rare. With the onset of wetter weather the increased current tends to push fish into the more likely spots. With that said I had a pretty good day yesterday on the Tennessee River with 28 fish hooked. Only four were 15" or over but this is an improvement over recent outings. Hang in there. Fishing will get better by the end of this month. Don't miss it!

Incredible! I got a bunch myself....but mine were not exactly the size you are used too! I thought I might suggest a buzzbait for your weed situation. We have a lot of Spotted Bass down here and they just hate the buzzbaits. Caught twelve in an hour until my bait malfunctioned. I think I might try the Whopper Plopper! How do the little Spots think they can possible eat a buzzbait?

I wonder what would happen if you sunk your own structure in the deep end? Might concentrate the bass even more and give you a private spot until other fishermen's electronics found it. Seems like the resident bass population have very little choice of a deep water refuge.

Best bring alot if you're inviting these boys!

Too bad the lake is so shallow. Fortunately it is close to home if you change your mind. At least you know where to concentrate.

I like mono as well. I use the 8 lb. I also use both HiVis and clear. Really don't see a difference in catch rate. Tried braid for a year and decided I do not like. Not happy with straight floro either. I'm always interested in forum members line choices as well. Where in Tennessee? Totally understand the addiction. Happened to me on the Tennessee River but I landed mine.

Four and a half is NOT Measly! I just got there Sunday before last and I'm still smiling! Well actually I was just short at 4 lb 7 oz A-Jay just uses an air pump to make his fish look bigger. They float when he throws them back!

When you drift, do you repeatedly cast or do you cast once and drag your bait as you drift? thanks

Chris showed me this technique Wednesday on the Cumberland River. It does two things that I will remember. It draws strikes, and it hangs up far less than my exposed hook Ned. The only drawback I could see is when a Bass takes the lure, you have to physically set the hook, as opposed to my exposed hook, which I just use a slight flick of the wrist to set the hook. I had a better hook set ratio, but Chris was definitely getting hung up less, which means more time for his lure in the water fishing.

I'm a Ned Rig believer. Not only has my numbers increased, but I have reset my PB several times using it. I fish current and rock and yes, definitely hang up, but the Smallies and Spots like it. For those of you that can't get over the constant hang ups, may I suggest down sizing your Ned Head to a 1/16oz? I have found that a lighter head and my 2-3/4" trailer drifts longer without bottom contact and still attracts bites. It is not a power fishing tool but it suits my technique.

Beautiful River! I fished the Gasconade in the mid 70's when I was in high school visiting my sister, who was an Army nurse at Fort Leonard Wood. Also fished the Big Piney. Lots of fun!

I think A-Jay's 6 pounders look much bigger than ours because they are really 8 pounders....he is just too kind to rub it in!

1/8 oz Ned Rig Jig head with Zman TicklrZ Soft Bait in "The Deal" color. This color, I believe, mimics they shad in the river although I'm doubtful color has much to do with it. I caught lots Wednesday on a pearl white color and I have caught lots on the Laguna shrimp pink. They just love those profiles. The 1/8 oz gets hung up alot so I often go with 1/16 and let the rig drift off the bank with the current. Chris Catignani hooked a big on on blue.

It wasn't me Chris, all you have to do is toss it into the water and they attack like sharks! Just like that Gar I was foolish enough to tease. He ATE IT! Hell I can't concentrate on work today thinking about all them fish we lost! I'm having visions of big brown fish airborne! DURN!!!! When that line starts rising, so does the blood pressure! If I ever hook an AJay bass, I'll either get it in and have a stroke or loose it and have two!