Got a favorite tactic or bait for smallmouths in hot weather?  

 

I'm heading down to fish a river this weekend that I usually fish in fall or winter.  Temps supposed to be in the upper 90s to 100s from now till then.  Probably gonna be starting out with 3-4" tubes and grubs,  but would like some suggestions on other stuff I should probably throw in just in case.

 

Thanks!

Topwaters, buzzbaits, plastics, spinnerbaits, almost anything. In the summer time, no matter what you throw, as long as you are fishing near moving water, you'll catch fish. 

wee teeny craw,  I have had day's when it's really hot out and slow water thaqt the tubes weren't producing but these little hard craw baits would entice a bite??? It don't cost much to be safe. The other thibg I have done great with when it's really hot out is fire up the fly rod, rusty or chartreuse woolybuggers and small floating grass hoppers, hoppers early and late and buggers mid day! good luck 

A Pop-R on top and/or a 4" wacky rigged Senko. If things get tough, go with a Fat Ika.

Walker, buzzer, or a fluke....if they wont eat that, fish bottom.

Culprit incredi craw, texas rigged and jerkbaits...

Hello,new guy here. I will do my profile when I get a few minutes.

 

Years ago,I took  a 3 day float on a Pa river. The weather was merciless at 90,95 deg all 3 days. The only bait with any consistancy was a nose hooked Zoom pearl super fluke. Setting the hook  quickly didn`t work well. A 2 or 3 second delay was the ticket.Also if you can,fish the low light periods and shaded areas.

 

As Scott mentioned,the fast water will probably produce better.

Good luck

I always have my best days in terms of numbers in the summer. The hotter the better. If I am floating, I throw a 1/4 oz white or chart spinnerbait. If I am wading, soff plastic like a tube or texas-rigged 4" senko

zoom super flukes wacky rigged senkos we have found them skippin docks and out on rock piles in nh

I know this is a little late, but tie on a zara puppy in pretty much any color. They are nuts over these things!

A 3/4 to 1 ounce, double willow blade, white on white spinner bait.

 

Burned just under the surface at warp speed out over long, deep water Wind Blown Main Lake Points is a Blast.

 

A high speed reel and slightly reduces blade sizes can help keep the speed up and improve ones stamina. 

 

This is not for the faint of heart - the strikes are ferocious. . . .

 

Oh and a trailer hook a good add on as well.

 

A-Jay

My best advice is try to find deeper holes where the water is cooler. They should hang back there during mid day and use them a "resting area's." Tossing them a tube as planned should prove successful!  Durring the evening they'll likely head to the heads of riffle's and feed, since it's shallower try tossing top water, they should be willing to bust em! If not, stick with a tube and mix in a 4" dinger.

 

 

Look at the date of the OP folks.