So here in WI we’ve had a very up and down spring temperature wise with a bunch of rain... water levels are finally back to normal. 

 

I usually excel with cranks and top water on a shallow gravel bottom river. Though the few times I’ve made it out I’ve been struggling in my normal spots. 

 

Any tips given the limited info I’ve given. 

 

TIA

I fish smallmouth in smaller rivers in central MN and even though the water levels may be back to normal for this time of year, they are still too high and murky for optimal fishing.  I usually wait until around the 4th of July when its warmer and the water if clearer too.

if water has been up and down as you say (has been here too), your normal spots, especially if they are gravelly may not be good spots anymore.  The rivers around here change year to year for sure and what was a good spot before may just be an ok spot now and vice versa.  

Right now, the smallies are probably spawning or in post spawn. A difficult time to catch them.

A couple just coming off spawn in a local river... despite high/chocolate water..

Great pic!

 

Your issue is probably related to the post spawn period and there are a few things that can help. The first is to try covering water, if you have decent water clarity a swimbait or grub fished on a jig head is a good bait to get fish to bite. Another tactic is working a lipless crank by ripping it and letting it fall but not to the bottom, this works well during post spawn if the water is too stained for the grub and swimbait. Try to find "push water", that is the water right before a riffle, active feeders will be in that spot so a moving bait will work well. Pools below a riffle and areas of slow moving water near a bank will be good spots for a ned rig, small jig or tube.

Turns out I just needed to complain about the fish... ? Man I had a day yesterday. Best 5 went 20.25/19/18/17.75/17.75 

 

I’ve never caught that many fish plus quality in one day... and two 30 class pike to boot.

 

Nicely Done 

Congrats 

A-Jay

Wow nice fish

Cheers! Way to have a day!

10 hours ago, Mike Wright said:

also looking for the advice thanks for asking the question, I kinda facing the same issue!

Where are you? Without knowing where you're at and the conditions this spring, it's really hard to give you any meaningful advice. 

21 hours ago, Mike Wright said:

I live in NYC Like to kayak near to the place, but really I love to travel on my vacations, what are some good places?

I'm in Philly and run into similar issues getting on the water sometimes.  If i were near NYC and can get away for weekend trips, I'd be all over the middle and Upper Delaware, and the Susquehanna.  Both are awesome fisheries (in addition to flowing through some gorgeous places) and I get to spend a lot of time on both river systems.  

Rivers here is Ohio have been a disaster all Spring, still not normal. And when I have been able to go, the smallmouth are too few and far between, nothing but Rock Bass. I've had to get my fix on lakes.

On 6/23/2019 at 2:12 PM, kayaking_kev said:

Rivers here is Ohio have been a disaster all Spring, still not normal. And when I have been able to go, the smallmouth are too few and far between, nothing but Rock Bass. I've had to get my fix on lakes.

Ditto in central IN. Better things on the horizon.