Ok I have been drifting down the Cumberland river here in Nashville attemting to catch smallies. I have caught some. Caught a lot of Kentuckies. I am trying to put together a plan so I can be most effective while I am there. Now I realize that I need good current flow coming through the dam and lately thats not been the case. But my question is what lures should I focus on. I know where some structure is. The channel drop off is well defined in places. There are lots of big rocks and rip rap. I have also set my minnow trap and found very good shiners. So with all that said any help would be appreciated. I also have plenty of tackle and am not afraid to buy something if it would help me catch those darn fish. Oh and saturday when we were out the water temp was 58 degrees.

Okay...

Tackle: Spinning gear, #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid (purple smoke),

#4 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks. Split shot rig.

Position the boat, bow upstream, casting distance plus

5 yards. Control the speed so your boat is moving with the

current, no slower, no faster.

Cast upstream about 45*, NEVER fish downstream!

Ideally the split shot will tick the rocks. The exact weight

takes some experimentation. Buy plenty of tackle, if you are

fishing it right, you will lose a lot!

Drift both sides of the river. Specific spots are not important,

but rocks and gravel are. Pass mud banks, smallmouth never

stay there. If you have islands, fish the front, both sides.

Otherwise, current breaks, pools and ledges are most productive.

Small fish will be close to the bank. The better fish are ALWAYS

well off the bank.

Right now topwater is HOT! Otherwise, if you want

to fish artificials, LC Pointers, Wiggle Warts and Bandits rule!

You will also catch a few on 3/8 black jigs/ Rage Tail Baby

Craw (blue). Another soft plastic with great potential is the

MegaStrike MegaBug. I have not caught many, but the bait

produces SIZE! I'm fishing it on the 3/8 oz Shak-E2.

8-)

Service with a smile!

Thanks for you help. We been doing pretty good on cranks I got that covered fairly well. When do you throw the sworming hornet. In your experience what water temps are best. Thanks in advance

The best water temperature is under 60*, but we will still be

on 'em in the low 40's. However, the threadfin begin dying at

45* and 42* is terminal. Last year we lost nearly all the baitfish

in January. Against everyone's advice I fished during the kill.

That was a total waste of time.

It's amazing how fisheries differ, in rivers up here I cannot get bit casting upstream.

It's amazing how fisheries differ, in rivers up here I cannot get bit casting upstream.

That doesn't make sense...Most fish face upstream to ambush

forage as it drifts or swims by. Retrieving your lure or bait against

the current seems counterintuitive to me.

The best water temperature is under 60*, but we will still be

on 'em in the low 40's. However, the threadfin begin dying at

45* and 42* is terminal. Last year we lost nearly all the baitfish

in January. Against everyone's advice I fished during the kill.

That was a total waste of time.

That's the flat out truth......They start dieing here right around November. Hopefully now people can understand why i put up the rods and reels early. Winter came too early this year.  >