r/RiverSmallmouth

This guy had a monster crawfish in his mouth but didn’t stop him from crushing the trusty zoom super fluke!

The season has started well. I have been catching some quality bass. I have been throwing tubes and Ned rigs.

Usually I get one this size earlier in the year, but haven’t really had too many opportunities to get out until yesterday

Looking for some info for fishing Kalamazoo river in Michigan. Fishing from Lake Allegan dam and south. Any suggestions for conventional or fly fishing recommendation. Fishing out of a kayak in early June. Thanks guys!

Pic for attention

Didn't have much hope coming out seeing as we had an over 20 degree air temp drop from yesterday but I got on them. Had to cover a bunch of water to find em. Lost a decent fish that Im pretty sure was on a bed. I don't like bed fishing so I switched up my strategy and it paid off. I started targeting more of the current break in the middle of the river rather than fishing by the bank and structure. The biggest fish is 17.5" and I caught that off a jointed hard body swimbait. The rest were caught off of a finesse jig bouncing though the current.

I've been hitting up a pond for largies most of this spring season in Minnesota and have been hammering them. Yesterday I decided I needed to get back on my smallie game. Walked a stretch of the Mississippi right in the middle of Minneapolis/Saint Paul and caught a couple nice ones.

Black and Blue Evo 5/8 oz with a black and gold flake Christie craw. Water was stained, there was a breeze and the sun was out so I went for contrast and vibration vs a natural presentation.

They both smoked it off rocks in about 2-3 feet of water.

Instantly reminded why I love them so much. The scarred up one ripped so hard off the hookset I thought it was a pike.

First smallie catch ever at the Independance dam in Defiance ohio. This is my twin brother who caught it. Im 99% sure I had a good sized smallie on but shook me off about 6 ft from netting. Cant buy that smile though! Hoping for many more and any tips for fishing dams would be appreciated! Tight lines!

Went out and explored the fox river after work. Got a nice smallie in some fast current and a chunky largemouth in a millpond bay that is part of the white river.

Had a rough spring so far. Between flooding, car breaking down, life getting in the way and just bad luck fishing. I've been struggling to actually be able to get out on the river. Biggest was 18". Crankbaits and fitness jigs were the ticket today. Hopefully I can keep staying on them.

Didn’t break 18” but we’re spoiled and expect too. Still managed 50+ in 6 hrs.