Yesterday was a good day for smallmouth but I seemed to lose all the big strong ones I hooked. Today was kind of the opposite, I got lucky. Maybe the clouds made the fish eat the hook better, who knows but I got a 20" and a 19" and a some smaller ones. I also got a couple "Alabama smallmouth" (drum). A big smallie ate my lure and I fought it forever and ever with a flimsy spinny pole and 6 lb line. The thing jumped then bulldogged hard and just pulled loose. This fish had all kinds of head shaking moves that felt crazy on the end of the line. No biggie I lose giant smallies all the time. I took a little while to relax and  catch my breath, even texted all my buddies that were out on the water that I had lost a donkey. I trolling motor back to the same spot and I think (not 100% sure) that the same durn smallmouth hit it again!!! This time the thing takes off like a rocket and pulled some drag (that I thought I had locked down after losing it the first time). I finally got clicked over to backreel and let the fish go way out in the middle. Took my time and finally boated it, nice 20" fish. That was in clear water medium current, hence the spinny pole. Back down on the main channel stained and raging current, I'm thinking I should go home because I'm just lucky and my buddy eric calls. As I'm jigging a big creature bait and drifting along my line starts swimming away. I dropped the phone and set the hook and boated a 19 inch fish! my lucky day! 

Sweet...nice fish

Don't know if you use braid but eight pound braid with a light leader "may" give you a better hook set and penetration on those brutes you are loosing!?

1 hour ago, Oregon Native said:

Sweet...nice fish

Don't know if you use braid but eight pound braid with a light leader "may" give you a better hook set and penetration on those brutes you are loosing!?

I have been using mostly big mono and heavy Texas rig but I went up into some clear water. I think I had two spinning rods rigged with braid  but I didn't have a leader on either of them so I just grabbed a rod with 6 lb mono 

Nice fish!

 

 

1 hour ago, roadwarrior said:

Nice fish!

 

 

Thanks man! I have an old college buddy that lives in Memphis and we are going to try below pickwick soon. We tried below Wilson dam two years ago in march and it was a 2 day fail. I couldn't even drive my 18.5 ft and very wide boat in the main channel for the waves 

I have been on three trips in the last couple of weeks. We are averaging a little over 20 bites and nearly

every bass is a smallmouth. Best fish so far was ~7 lbs followed by a couple of 5s, but mostly 2 1/2- 4 lbs.

We are not counting a (weighed) 22 1/2 lb buffalo or it's almost twin sister! Things should pick up as the

water cools.

 

What has been working for us is soft plastics:  Rage Menace, Space Monkey, Rage Swimmer and BPS Tender

Tube #71. We mix in BIG live minnows which are usually killer!  One secret I STRONGLY recommend is light

line for the smaller plastics and live bait...it matters.

 

12 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I have been on three trips in the last couple of weeks. We are averaging a little over 20 bites and nearly

every bass is a smallmouth. Best fish so far was ~7 lbs followed by a couple of 5s, but mostly 2 1/2- 4 lbs.

We are not counting a (weighed) 22 1/2 lb buffalo or it's almost twin sister! Things should pick up as the

water cools.

 

What has been working for us is soft plastics:  Rage Menace, Space Monkey, Rage Swimmer and BPS Tender

Tube #71. We mix in BIG live minnows which are usually killer!  One secret I STRONGLY recommend is light

line for the smaller plastics and live bait...it matters.

 

I know I have been reading your reports!!! Haha. Thanks for the details, I'll let you know when we plan on trying it. I will have an open seat for you but I'm low tech. Aluminum boat, 50 hp, $30-40 combos and eagle claw hooks hahaha. I am proficient with a cast net though, I'm assuming a live threadfin does damage down there because they are smallmouth candy below loudoun and watts bar dams

19 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have been using mostly big mono and heavy Texas rig but I went up into some clear water. I think I had two spinning rods rigged with braid  but I didn't have a leader on either of them so I just grabbed a rod with 6 lb mono 

Cool....heading out today with 6#.....love it.....winter is here.

I'll take you on my new boat!

We use store bought minnows from the station across from the paper plant. 

17 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

I'll take you on my new boat!

We use store bought minnows from the station across from the paper plant. 

What kind of boat did you get?

3 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

I'll take you on my new boat!

We use store bought minnows from the station across from the paper plant. 

Thanks! Don't twist my arm 

On 11/14/2017 at 11:31 AM, Skeeter Dan said:

What kind of boat did you get?

21' "Old School" pontoon so old geezers can get up and walk around comfortably.

 

Nice smallies and drum dude.