11-21-2006 Cold Smallies on the Riverpark

[MrWiskers]

AlvinC and I once again rode with our co-worker Jimmy today to look for some smallies. We started fishing at 11 and fished unitl 5PM. Man was it windy and cold. The river was wide open as they were spilling.

The first hour of fishing we did not get a bite. All I could think was I should have stayed home. Things changed after that as Jimmy stuck a good 2lb humpback smallie. From that point on we boated a total of eight smallies, 23 spots and one little largemouth. I even caught a small striper on a jigging spoon and Jimmy threw in a 2-3 lb drum for good measure. Fish were caught mostly on tubes with a few coming on jigging spoon and spinner bait. Water depth ranged from 3-15 feet and we never got more than a cast length from the bank all day. Water temperature was around 56 degrees.

We plan on being there again on Friday Anyone else going?

 

[drumking]

Nice pics. Good day. Smallmouth are fun. See you on the water someday.

 

[Fat Albert]

<font color="#6600ff">

Wiskers, what turn them on??? It looks as if from your pictures you got out of the current a bit... anyhoo,  you all looked real good...</font>

 

[JerDog]

Good looking fish! Were the fish real agressive or lazy bites?

 

[DHaun]

Great report guys - Great pics too! I heard the water has been real swift down there lately - glad to see things worked out for you!

 

[MrWiskers]

JerDog - 11/21/2006 9:33 PM

Good looking fish! Were the fish real agressive or lazy bites?

The smallmouths kill the bait and the spots are more subtle. With tubes the fish hit the bait on the fall so most of the time you never feel the hit. Jimmy did say that the two larger smallies killed the bait.

 

[JerDog]

Cool thanks for the info. Water temps are still pretty warm so I may try to get out there this weekend.

 

[G-MAN]

Again, Looks like you guys had a blast. I am hoping to get out there some time this Thanks Giving weekend.

I haven't fished the tube bait much until this year. I have only used it Carolina Rigged and ended up being my exclusive Carolina Rig bait. How are you guys fishing the tube baits? On my Carolina Rig I use a #2 offset hook: I insert it through the top of the head, imediately bring it back out the side so that offset is in tube, then I stick the point back into the hollow body.

Have a great ThanksGiving!

 

[MrWiskers]

G-MAN - 11/22/2006 8:18 AM

Again, Looks like you guys had a blast. I am hoping to get out there some time this Thanks Giving weekend.

I haven't fished the tube bait much until this year. I have only used it Carolina Rigged and ended up being my exclusive Carolina Rig bait. How are you guys fishing the tube baits? On my Carolina Rig I use a #2 offset hook: I insert it through the top of the head, imediately bring it back out the side so that offset is in tube, then I stick the point back into the hollow body.

I was using 1/4 and 1/8 oz tube jig heads. I think the 1/8 oz will get more strikes due to the slow fall but the current was so strong I was forced to use the 1/4. Jimmy and AlvinC were using texas rigged with a 3/16 oz bullet weight with a standard worm hook large enough to cover the tube. We all hung up about the same and I like the exposed hook as I think I get better hookups. One thing to note: if you plan on fishing tubes at the Riverpark bring plenty. You will lose a bunch.

The tubes we were using were 3.5" models.

 

[G-MAN]

MrWiskers - 11/22/2006 7:56 AM

I was using 1/4 and 1/8 oz tube jig heads. I think the 1/8 oz will get more strikes due to the slow fall but the current was so strong I was forced to use the 1/4. Jimmy and AlvinC were using texas rigged with a 3/16 oz bullet weight with a standard worm hook large enough to cover the tube. We all hung up about the same and I like the exposed hook as I think I get better hookups. One thing to note: if you plan on fishing tubes at the Riverpark bring plenty. You will lose a bunch.

Thanks, I'm going to give this a try along with some grubs. Hopefuly I'll have a report to post. Its been a month and I can't wait to get out there.