Gonna catch some creek/stream smallies

[catman529]

well I've caught tons of smallmouth anywhere from 5 inches up to 18.5 inches and they're my favorite black bass to catch in the river. But I don't recall catching many around this time of year... I could be wrong, but I remember mostly LM and spots from the fall and winter. Planning to float a section of the west harpeth tomorrow or tuesday with a friend in his aluminum canoe. I'll probably have one line for bottom fishing and one line for bass. I'm not a noob to bass fishing but like I said, this time of year is a bit more unfamiliar to me for bronzebacks.... I'm thinking I will try some green pumpkin crawfish or lizards dragged/jigged across the bottom (killer method during the summer at least), a craw colored small crankbait, and maybe even some live crawfish. If I wanted to go all-out I'd cast net some stonerollers, but I don't want to haul extra gear and have do deal with finding a school of the minnows to catch. Just looking for a peaceful float down a creek to hit all the deep holes and long, slow stretches of river for some bass and maybe even catfish, redhorse, panfish, or whatever else may be in there to bite.

It's a small stream, anywhere from 15 to 40 yards wide, but man I stumbled on a fine looking stretch of it last weekend so we're gonna see what kind of fish are hiding in there. I know it's a very little-fished area, surrounded in private land, and I don't think people canoe it very often because the river becomes extremely shallow downstream.

 

[gil1]

I wish I had known you were a bass man, too. When I sent you that stuff, I would have given you some bass stuff, too. I already gave it all away. Maybe next time...

Good luck.

 

[catman529]

No worries, I still appreciate the stuff you did send... my bass fishing gear is very limited too. Soft plastics, a couple beetle spins, a crankbait or two, a couple jigheads, a buzzbait, etc are usually all I have. A green pumpkin, watermelon seed or similar color 6" lizard or some type of crawfish (Yum or Zoom preferably) with two or three split shot 12" up the line is one of my favorite rigs during the summer. Also been tearing up all kinds of fish (panfish too) with the Strike King bitsy minnows.

Might not make it out to the west harpeth tomorrow. Friend who I'm fishing with may not be able to use the canoe (has to borrow it from his mom or something)... we'll see, I'm still fishing tomorrow even if I have to change plans...

 

[Kimberman]

Watermelon Zoom Fat Alberts with a1/8 ounce Slider head. It has worked for me since I was a kid on that river.

 

[Football Hunter]

Watermelon Zoom Fat Alberts with a1/8 ounce Slider head. It has worked for me since I was a kid on that river.

I have a different fav,when we meet on the Holler one day,Ill show you .

 

[catman529]

Watermelon Zoom Fat Alberts with a1/8 ounce Slider head. It has worked for me since I was a kid on that river.

I have a different fav,when we meet on the Holler one day,Ill show you .

I'll be on the holler one day in the future... it's def. on my list.

Watermelon Zoom Fat Alberts with a1/8 ounce Slider head. It has worked for me since I was a kid on that river.

Dang you reminded me of my favorite lure several years ago. Dunno why I quit using it, looks like it's time to stock up. Watermelon seed and green pumkin Fat Alberts were my choice, along with a chartreuse jig head. I waited till some rain pushed the water 3-4 feet above normal, and then fished a creek mouth at the harpeth where there was a mud line between the muddy river and the murky creek. The creek would be loaded with bass all the way out to the mud. That was late fall/winter and at least 4 or 5 years ago, but I need to get into that again. They were all largemouth and spotted, though.

 

[Football Hunter]

I dont like Fat Alberts myself,but its all about confidence,I have confidence in something else,but I know Kimberman catches em.I just go with what works for me,and believe I will haul more than water on the next cast.

I have confidence in a couple lures that many dont like,but they work for me,all that matters I guess.

 

[catman529]

I dont like Fat Alberts myself,but its all about confidence,I have confidence in something else,but I know Kimberman catches em.I just go with what works for me,and believe I will haul more than water on the next cast.

I have confidence in a couple lures that many dont like,but they work for me,all that matters I guess.

yeah it's weird how everyone has their preference that works for them but not so much for others. I guess because everyone has a different technique for retrieving a lure that makes certain lures work better. But sometimes you gotta try something new... my friend introduced me to the Strike King bitsy minnows, which are an absolute staple now, when I used to avoid just about any crankbait. The bitsy minnows will catch anything from a 4 inch bluegill to a 4+ pound bass depending on the circumstance. It's better for numbers rather than size but often saves me from being skunked.

Oh and if you ever want live bream for bait but don't have worms, trout magnets are lethal for most bream.

 

[Headhunter]

Irish whiskey colored slider worm with a 1/16 oz head. Hard to beat. A buddy of mine has caught more on that (a few times) than me fishing with live crawfish.

 

[jb3]

live minnows have worked for me in the past this time of year. usually when temps start dropping it's difficult for me to find crawdad's.

 

[catman529]

live minnows have worked for me in the past this time of year. usually when temps start dropping it's difficult for me to find crawdad's.

I may be able to find crawdads but I hate throwing my net in the cold... better get over it, I'm starting to think live stonerollers might be a good idea.