River Smallies questions?

[jaystaler88]

Hey y'all,

This warm weather got me pretty excited to get back out on the water again, hope you guys are getting that same itch if you haven't already been out this year.

I usually target smallies on our smaller, undammed Middle TN rivers, such as the Harpeth and it's tribs, Piney, Buffalo, etc. Normally I fish throughout the summer and fall when I can wet wade, but I'd like to get out a little earlier this year.

What are some good early season patterns/water temps/ideas? When does the spawn occur?

Thanks for any ideas

[creeksmallie]

I throw live bait ( creekminnows) more in the spring. Now the Rock bass will start spawning/moving to spawn now and can be readily caught with small plastics and spinners once you find them. I have spots that they stack up in and you can catch 50 to 60 almost like pulling up on a shellcracker bed. Creeks have so many undercut banks when you find a good one you will find fish( they spawn in the big undercut root balls. The Smallies will go on bed after and write now they are hanging toward the shallow water gravel rapids where the minnows are staging and some have started to spawn. Original rapala and the 2.5 inch slider grub are good. If you can order online I am a firm believer in the jacks worm fished slow and weightless and in high water ad weitght to bump bottom( this is similar to the senko).
March is a great time to go.
Mike Dial
Stream Smallmouth Guide
The Angler Magazine

[creeksmallie]

I need a proof reader!!!!!!! The streams produced really good today for two friends today in Davidison County and the other fished in White County. Fish were hitting soft plastics stick type and brush hog type slow rolled. Get out and go it is time.

.

[volandsmalliefan]

i went today for a couple of hours out on a local creek here in rutherford county. caught 10 or so smallies and 2 rockbass. most were caught on a small grub fished slow enough for it to tick the bottom. couldnt get em to bite anything else. the bite should explode over these next couple of weeks i hope.

[jad2t]

I found some Smallie creeks north of Cookeville that I'm anxious to try out. I was planning to go anytime now since the weather has warmed up but we're getting a cold front Monday and the weather next week is going to be pretty chilly. Does that slow down the Smallmouth bite in those tiny streams?

[creeksmallie]

Jimmy, If it was one of those fronts that dropped the temp 30 degress real fast yes. This front should not hurt the stream fish unless it getsthe creek to high to safely wade.And I hope it does not, got a lot of fishing to do this week!
Mike