I went on my first float last weekend and tried a Keitech S.I. 4" repeatedly on 8lb CXX and it wasn't until the mid to late afternoon until I got some action on it. I cast it parallel to logs in and just off the current. I caught one smallie and two largemouth on it. Did I miss anything or should I start stocking up on the S.I. Fat 3.8" to attract more fish? 

The rest of the day, I caught probably 30 bass, one spot, 2 largemouth and the rest smallies on a Chompers 1/8oz stand up head with a soft craw, either a Jackall Chunk Craw or Zoom UV Speed Craw.  I noticed that the Jackall had more short strikes with the elongated appendages. Also, the Jackall was way more fragile. 

 

I like the 4" SI for lake smallies, but those stream smallmouth are probably focused more on smaller baitfish. I couldn't be surprised if you might even be better going to the 3".

I haven't fished Jackal craws, but I do use a pretty wide variety ranging from bitsy craws to Speed Craws, to a bunch of different Rage craws/chunks, to a ton of other randoms.  On the river with clear to light stained water, I'll watch crayfish as much as possible to match color and size and then base the action on how active fish are/season.  Zoom's Speed Craws are some of the most versatile, and they're big enough to bite/cut chunks off to match what's in the water. 

17 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I like the 4" SI for lake smallies, but those stream smallmouth are probably focused more on smaller baitfish. I couldn't be surprised if you might even be better going to the 3".

I just don't want to go so small where I'm catching all the sunfish in the river before the smallies get to it. I'd assume the 4" will be great in late summer/early fall on the Elk system. I'd steer clear of the Chunk Craw for jig head use, but they're great as a trailer.