View Full Version : Tips for Smallmouths....
In a couple of weeks im going to the snake river to fish for smallmouths (oxbow). I have always caught hundreds of them with rapala plugs. But i have never caught anything over 2.5 pounds. I normaly fish around a rock shoreline (fairly steep). HOW can i catch some BIG SMALLMOUTHS!! this year im bringing some senko's and tubes to try. I have never really fished tubes so i am unfamiliar with the correct way to fish them. Please give me any info that will help me catch some larger fish. I was planning on using some 4" tubes to try and keep some of the smaller fish off. I would REALLY appreciate any info that will help me catch a couple decent smallmouths. Anyone know of some good bass fishing links other then www.bassresource.com (http://www.bassresource.com) ??
spin33
07-02-2003, 08:27 AM
You might try www.riversmallies.com (http://www.riversmallies.com)
Texas rigged Baby Brush Hogs (bring some of the Brush Hogs in regular size too), 2/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, and just enough weight to get the thing to the bottom. Stick with greens and browns, but experiment. Start casting toward the bank and work into deeper water. The big dudes hang in deeper water than the babies. You will get bigger fish in the early morning and late evening, as a rule. In the evening the fishing can be so good on dinks, that you won't care. If the Brush Hogs don't do the trick, try 5" Kalin's curly tail grubs and a 1/4 oz weight. Senko's work well for me, but mostly on smaller fish. Lot's of guys fish tubes there. You can fish them deep (depending on the size of the jig head)and pretty slow. I haven't had a lot of luck on them, so I don't use them very much (which may be why I don't do well). Goodluck, and let me know how you did...
Dave Smith
07-02-2003, 02:00 PM
Adam, here is how to catch a BIG smallmouth: from Oxbow head due west until you reach Henry Hagg Lake. You could fish Oxbow until you are blue and you will never catch the quality of the fish in Hagg. I fished Oxbow this spring when the fish were on beds. There were some spawning fish that were no longer than 8 inches- this is a BAD sign. Oxbow is said to be managed as a "quality" fishery and it IS a quality fishery in the sense that you can catch huge numbers of fish but personlly, I would prefer to remove about half the number of fish in there and let them grow up!
To answer your question you can approach it one of three ways: one is to catch fish all day and earn you occasional 3 1/2 pounder, the other is to fish big baits and only catch 3 1/2 pounders but this could get kind of dull, especially when you think about what your chances are of catching a healthy 6 lber. The third is kind of a comprimise- fish something that appeals to all fish such as a drop-shot worm or senko, but fish deep, offshore structure. There is a ton of it and it gets almost no pressure so your odds will go way up. If you fish it during the spawn, you can be selective about which fish you want to catch but it will depress you to know how few really nice fish are in there, even if you look for deep beds. Good luck and have a great time- it is beautiful country- just got back my pictures of a pair of Bighorns from my trip up that away. Dave
thanks for the replies! The occasional 3 1/2 pounder would be nice!! Like i said, about 2.5 is the biggest i have ever gotten. A 3lb smallie would be pretty nice to get. If nothing else i can try different techniques (drop shotting, tubes) that i normally wouldnt do. At least with a ton of fish around, i should be able to learn how to present the bait the best for other places. Still, it is fun catching 10-14 inch bass all day long. Anymore tips would be GREAT!!
BuKuBass
07-07-2003, 01:51 PM
Search for my comments re: Oxbow; you may glean some info there. Hint: drop-shot in 32-45' in the Oregon spillway of Brownlee dam. I've only broken 20" twice there but have released a couple of dozen 18s and 19s in the past five years.
BassMan
07-08-2003, 03:31 AM
The family and I just got back from a 4 day camping trip at the john day and we found that top water baits was the key to the bigger fish. Rebel Pop-R's and rapala skitter pops worked great. Just cast into the seam where the slack water and the faster current meets and pop, pop, pop, Fish on!! a little cloud cover or chop water is perfect! Give it a try and you won't be dissapointed.
jb
I have tried the rebel pop r's at oxbow several times and didnt catch much with them. Ill have to try them in the early morning and evening. This year im going to concentrate mostly on plastics since i always use crankbaits. Thanks for the tip though, ill have to give them another shot :grin: