I fish a stream that's super clear, rocky and has a water fall so it's a strong current. Smallmouth are in the 8-14" range. They love the Ned rig and 4" senkos. What else would you guys throw? 

Generally speaking, smallies won't be found in the strong current. They will be close to it, tucked in behind a rock or in an eddy. Fish in these spots are there to feed and generally are not very picky. If it looks edible they'll take it. Any bait that you can direct through those holding areas will work. Topwaters and inline spinners work for me. You're already using small jigs and senkos. It almost doesn't matter what bait you use as long as it looks like food to them. 

I typically cast to the current and let it take my bait into the pools or cast directly into the pool. I have used Mepps spinners. I just was just more curious about small cranks or poppers. 

I don't like cranks in current. If you throw them upstream, you have to move them very fast to get them to wobble the way they are supposed to. If you throw them downstream, you don't have to move them at all to get them vibrating  which can be good if you can position then in just the right place. 

I seldom get many fish randomly in a pool. Inactive fish are found in slow moving pools and they don't bite much. I fish the head of the pool or the tail where the pool ends. Feeding bass hold near current where food comes to them. They sit just out of the current so they don't have to waste energy fighting the fast water. 

I like Owner Ultra Ball Head in that situation.  They present plastic well and tend to resist hang-ups.  Try one with a Krazy Flapper....you may not need anything else

I agree, spinners. 1/4 oz. gold panther martin is good.  

Tubes!

3 hours ago, Zach Winn said:

I typically cast to the current and let it take my bait into the pools or cast directly into the pool. I have used Mepps spinners. I just was just more curious about small cranks or poppers. 

Rebel teeny wee craw!

What Scott F said. But I'm addicted to jig fishing so I usually have a small skirted finesse jig tied on.

I've been using a 3/16 ounce bitsy jig with a small craw trailer in similar water. I cast upstream at about a 45 then let it bounce down stream with the current keeping the line semi tight. I usually will let it swing all the way down stream.

Thanks guys, I'm going to bass pro tomorrow/making a tackle warehouse order when ever the July.4th sale kicks in so I'll get some little jigs and trailers. 

I use inline spinners almost exclusively in these types of rivers. Throw int the current and reel slowly as it drifts down. This technique has never failed me. Even in the dead of winter. 1/8 and 1/6 are my favorite sizes

Strike King Rocket Shads shine  in current . Wrap a bit of wire around the double hook to  keep it from coming off during the fight . Thats happened to me a couple of times .

Don't overlook 2.5-3.5" tubes.  You can fish them aggressively or swing them in current like you would a Ned rig or Senko.  Generally, for shallow water 1/8oz is a pretty good starting point for weight.  Also, don't overlook 3-4" grubs.  They're old school, but they're about the best numbers bait for smallmouth that I know of.  

On 6/29/2017 at 1:08 PM, MassBass said:

I agree, spinners. 1/4 oz. gold panther martin is good.  

Yup...or Mepps...or any of the other brands.  Stream smallies ain't that fussy, or pressured enough for it to make any real difference.

 

Keep 'em outta the rocks, if you can.  If you can't, have enough along so you can break 'em off...or be prepared to wade over and pull them lose.

Boy I fished those conditions on both the Upper Potomac and The Susquehanna River. Those bass will feed just outside the faster current going though the rock ledges and they will stack up in front just before the water races through those openings. If you are not fishing weedless rigged tubes and grubs like Kalin 5 inch Lunker grubs you are missing out for sure.  If you are going to Bass Pro have the guys there help you find the Bass Pro Perfect Finesse worm Jigheads. it is similar to a slider head, picture a worm weight already attached to a worm hook.  Match up the hook size to a Kalin 5 inch lunker grub body and get them in 1/8 and 1/4 ounce weights.  That setup along with the tubes should be in your arsenal. For really clear water I like the bluegill color, the green watermelon/red seed and the pumpkin/salt and pepper green flake but other colors work also.  Here is what I am talking about.

Another important lure I used was a Tiny Torpeedo. I would get below a rock ledge, cast up into the fast water and twitch it. Hold on tight the bass would tear out of the slack water and annihilate it.

Tubes, grubs, spinners

I've had really good luck fishing a Zara Puppy or Super Spook Jr. for smallies in similar situations in the Ozark rivers. 

Baby Rage Craw or a 1/4 ounce War Eagle spinner bait in the brakes and pockets.

I end up buying bitsy bug jigs and trailers, 3" green pumpkin grubs(caught a few already), strike king finesse tubes(caught a few). 

Original Rapala, size 7 or 9.

3"  Chigger Craw with light bullet weight pegged 

 

Cant beat a curly tail grub or a inline spinner. Atleast not in the rivers I have fished

On 7/4/2017 at 5:59 AM, Zach Winn said:

I end up buying bitsy bug jigs and trailers, 3" green pumpkin grubs(caught a few already), strike king finesse tubes(caught a few). 

Nice, can't go wrong with those choices. I'm seriously addicted to catching river (creek, stream) smallmouth with a finesse jig and the SK Bitsy Bug is my jig of choice because of the price. I lose a lot of them and it hurts a little bit less every time I snag and have to break off.

White twin tail grubs.  I've not had better success with anything in swirls.  If it's a steady "rush" but not super nasty I agree with Edfitzvb a minnow bait like that is fantastic.  I've always had the best luck with those during blue bird skies running something very flashy like a Chrome and Blue Back rogue or really any highly reflective minnow lure.  Here is where I really love throwing those no name creations as long as they are reflective.

If you catch a nice eddy don't overlook the topwater bite, or IMO even better, the broken back rapala.  you can toss it in and twitch it around like a top water then swim it where you need to swim it.  Admittedly though, I have less success in heavier current with them.

4" tube stupid rigged to help prevent snags.