Cumberland River Smallmouth's

[Gator]

Going to try to catch a few Cumberland river smallmouths tomorrow,I hope this cold front dont shut them down.Ill be throwing a watermelon colored tube jig.
Is there any other bait's,That will work good for these Beautiful fish ???
Any info will be greatful,Thank's,
Gator

[txnative]

Look for shad and use lures that mimic them. This weather may require downsizing and fishing slow, but the key will be bait. I have a feeling we may finally get into a fall pattern, but the activity will probably be deep.


Chris

[MNfisher]

When the smallies get really picky, you cannot go wrong with a pearl white super fluke rigged weightless on a 3/0 gami. Let that sucker suspend and slowly sink along the rocks. Give it a quick few jerks and literally let it sit for up to a minute, you will be surprised how long it will sit before a fish will pick it up. We used to cast them out and keep the bail open and just set the rod down. Sometimes many minutes later you would just see the line taking off to the side to find a big bronze football on the other end!

I am checking out the trout bite tomorrow night! If they are hitting, we got to get out soon! Good luck tomorrow!

[TLRMADE]

Saw a guy using some crankbaits in the Cumberland for smallies. I say, sunny=bright colors, cloudy=darker colors

[ojibwa]

Soft plastics on jigheads are great when the current is slower say 5700-12000 cfs. When the current picks up, crankbaits will be the ticket. I use the water color as a guide for lure colors, the darker the water the brighter the lure. I got this 21 incher last week on low current. This time of year is usually awesome on the Cumb. but they haven't been releasing as much water as in past years and it has been pretty tough.