River guys - do you use strictly moving baits in the fall or do you mix Ned in occasionally?

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/12/2022 at 8:44 PM, MassBass said:

Strictly moving baits. In water that clear it would be a small black spinner during mid day, topwater in evening. 

In-line spinners it safety pin? And why does clear water demand moving baits?

[roadwarrior]

It doesn't, but some days the bass will prefer moving baits. The vast majority of the smalljaws

I catch are in stained water, but I also fish gin clear water in Bull Shoals. At The Bull, my #1 bait

is a Gitzit, baby diaper chartreuse. That bait is fished off the bottom, NOT a "moving bait". 

[MassBass]

9 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

In-line spinners it safety pin? And why does clear water demand moving baits?

Its just that to catch river smallies, I find rarely is finesse required. Lake smallies are different and I will always have a tube or fluke jig rigged. In a river spinners and or spinnerbaits are good, but I usually try to go to a topwater for a big bite. 

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/15/2022 at 5:10 PM, MassBass said:

Its just that to catch river smallies, I find rarely is finesse required. Lake smallies are different and I will always have a tube or fluke jig rigged. In a river spinners and or spinnerbaits are good, but I usually try to go to a topwater for a big bite. 

What are you go-to topwater baits 

[PaulVE64]

On 10/15/2022 at 5:10 PM, MassBass said:

Its just that to catch river smallies, I find rarely is finesse required. Lake smallies are different and I will always have a tube or fluke jig rigged. In a river spinners and or spinnerbaits are good, but I usually try to go to a topwater for a big bite. 

Not sure if serious.

My rivers are gin clear so I try reaction baits but throw mostly finesse.

Maybe we just define finesse differently?

[MassBass]

We could have slightly different definitions of finesse, but it seems in smallmouth bass fishing at large, it has become finesse first, ask questions later. The smallmouth, especially in current, is very excitable and curious, easily triggered, and I think reaction/search baits can really bring out the smallmouths' inner savagery. I would include topwater with reaction baits, even in clear water, popper, walkbait, whopper plopper. Buzzbait also but more for less clear water or dark. 

[Ohioguy25]

10 hours ago, MassBass said:

We could have slightly different definitions of finesse, but it seems in smallmouth bass fishing at large, it has become finesse first, ask questions later. The smallmouth, especially in current, is very excitable and curious, easily triggered, and I think reaction/search baits can really bring out the smallmouths' inner savagery. I would include topwater with reaction baits, even in clear water, popper, walkbait, whopper plopper. Buzzbait also but more for less clear water or dark. 

Smaller (under 15”) smallmouth in current are excitable and curious, but outside of peak feeding seasons (spring/fall) larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.  

[NYWayfarer]

Z-Man Willow Vibe with a TRD TicklerZ trailer has been my moving bait of choice.

 

Ned EWG weedless jigheads are what I use in fall when fishing the Ned Rig.

 

Senko, weightless or wacky.

[MassBass]

5 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Smaller (under 15”) smallmouth in current are excitable and curious, but outside of peak feeding seasons (spring/fall) larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.  

Ok, if you must, but isnt this thread about the fall?

[roadwarrior]

7 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

 larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.  

 

Hmm...

I don't agree with you at all. Our brown fish here in Tennessee have put on the feed bag

and are aggressively chasing everything that moves. With four generators in

operation we are running 35,000 CFS through the gates. The current is strong

and the fish seem happy!

 

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 10/18/2022 at 12:39 PM, roadwarrior said:

 

Hmm...

I don't agree with you at all. Our brown fish here in Tennessee have put on the feed bag

and are aggressively chasing everything that moves. With four generators in

operation we are running 35,000 CFS through the gates. The current is strong

and the fish seem happy!

 

Durn what a Hoss! You seem to be right in the current! I need to head for the river tomorrow. Thanks for convincing me it's a good idea!

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/18/2022 at 1:39 PM, roadwarrior said:

 

Hmm...

I don't agree with you at all. Our brown fish here in Tennessee have put on the feed bag

and are aggressively chasing everything that moves. With four generators in

operation we are running 35,000 CFS through the gates. The current is strong

and the fish seem happy!

 

You literally edited out a key part of that statement and took it out of context. Of course they are feeding aggressively in current right now, just as they do in spring. My comment was specifically in reference to summer.

 

My original complete statement:
 

Smaller (under 15”) smallmouth in current are excitable and curious, but outside of peak feeding seasons (spring/fall) larger fish are very finicky and significantly less likely to chase. They do not feed in fast current, but passively feed in deeper current and must be finessed.

[nbbassin]

Check the deep holes and places just out of the current. I'll use a split shot rig with a cut tail worm, or reaper or grub with the tail cut  on spinning gear. I hold some line in my hand like I'm fly fishing to detect bites and  to position the bait just right. 

 

 

[Bdnoble84]

Im not a ned guy, that being said ive been hammering them on hair jigs and wacky rig senkos lately. Really the senko has been working all summer to now

[Susky River Rat]

It’s almost never a bad idea to throw a ned. I do know there are times where they do not want them but, when all else fails ned em.

[Munkin]

Spinnerbaits in the start of fall then I move to jerkbaits for moving lures. If they are not active then a finesse jig or small tube 2.5 to 3.25". 

 

Allen