Improper placement for this thread, but I'm looking for quick replies.

 

I'm taking my son to the river for Smallmouth fishing in a couple of hours. He's only ever fished for LMB in ponds and lakes. I'm thinking inline spinners and the Ned Rig. Jitterbug too. Anything else? I want him to have a good time. He's 10.

In-line spinner and a 3" curly tail grub on a 1/8 oz ball jig head.

The ned is pretty easy to work and it’s like candy to smallies near me. 

Mepps aglia inline spinner. Choose the size appropriate for the depth/current of the river you are fishing in.

The ned rig, drop shot.

Is he adept with seeing strikes versus feeling them? What tackle? I'd lean towards a Rebel Deep Teeny Wee Craw in color 77 personally.

Ned rig and wacky rig would be the only 2 things I'd think you'd need. Pinch the barbs on both for everyone's safety. 

Ned was all that was needed. Really crazy when you think about it. Put me in a LMB pond or lake with some 5" Green Pumpkin Senkos and some 3/0 EWG and 1/0 wacky hooks and I really wouldn't need to change baits to have a good day. I'm new to the Ned Rig, but after an initial flop, I've had back to back days slaying SMB with them. So simple most of the time. Son darn near outfished me.

Nice!  It's hard to beat drifting a Senko or Ned rig.  Similarly, a 4" grub on a ball head jig or tube also make great, simple substitutions.  They can both be fished similarly on the drift, or you can add action which is great if he has a shorter attention span. Cheers on crushing them with your son!

On 4/30/2018 at 4:59 PM, Turkey sandwich said:

Nice!  It's hard to beat drifting a Senko or Ned rig.  Similarly, a 4" grub on a ball head jig or tube also make great, simple substitutions.  They can both be fished similarly on the drift, or you can add action which is great if he has a shorter attention span. Cheers on crushing them with your son!

Do you guys think a 5 and 6 year old can do this well? They have both caught many bluegills worm fishing, and my 6 year old last year caught some small pike and a 5lb smallie on a ball jig and minnow. Im looking for something similar that might snag a little less on a drift since they are way too young to anticipate a snag.

 

In short, Im looking for a fun drift and shake technique with less "snagability" lol.

 

Sorry to hijack but the Senko and ned rig caught my attention for this.

27 minutes ago, WRangler506 said:

Do you guys think a 5 and 6 year old can do this well? They have both caught many bluegills worm fishing, and my 6 year old last year caught some small pike and a 5lb smallie on a ball jig and minnow. Im looking for something similar that might snag a little less on a drift since they are way too young to anticipate a snag.

 

In short, Im looking for a fun drift and shake technique with less "snagability" lol.

 

Sorry to hijack but the Senko and ned rig caught my attention for this.

My 4 year old fishes a Ned rig and a wacky rig just fine. He loses some, but he's having fun, that's all I care about. Strolling a Ned rig works better than actually casting and fishing it sometimes. 

On 4/29/2018 at 2:52 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

Ned rig and wacky rig would be the only 2 things I'd think you'd need. Pinch the barbs on both for everyone's safety. 

This is what I was going to suggest, pinch the barbs! Maybe put the wacky rig under a float/bobber.

Wacky Worm or weightless fluke,Really no wrong way to fish them.

Kids get bored quickly, I would drift live crawfish. Or if the boy can cast and retrieve, I would be throwing 1/4 and 3/8 oz SpinnerBaits. They are easy to rig and will snag up less. Look for current breaks and good luck!

7 hours ago, WRangler506 said:

Do you guys think a 5 and 6 year old can do this well? They have both caught many bluegills worm fishing, and my 6 year old last year caught some small pike and a 5lb smallie on a ball jig and minnow. Im looking for something similar that might snag a little less on a drift since they are way too young to anticipate a snag.

 

In short, Im looking for a fun drift and shake technique with less "snagability" lol.

 

Sorry to hijack but the Senko and ned rig caught my attention for this.

Senko, Ned rig, and jig-grub are all pretty easy to fish and should hang up no more than anything else.  You will want some bottom contact (usually), but get there with as little weight as possible and they should be fine.  Those are also some of the easiest ways to present in current.

Mepps. cast, reel, cast, reel, etc... it doesnt get more simple than that, and smallies cant resist it.