Anyone have luck smallmouth fishing in colder H20 temps? Tips?

The weather has been warm all week and its supposed to be in the 70's Friday. I'm really wanting to get out that day and do some small mouth fishing. I know its early but I'm hoping to have some luck. Do you guys have any tips for catching smallmouth in colder temps?

 

Use tubes and move them very slowly. We basically let the current roll them slowly downstream. In a couple weeks the fishing will be good for big smallies. FYI this is river fishing i'm referring to

 

Where you fishing??? River/Lake?

 

Gonna be a river.

 

Slow & deep.
Tubes & skirted jigs, with or without a trailer.

 

I'll let you know how the smallmouths are biting as soon as this 2 foot layer of ice melts off the water. We're suppose to actually get up in the 40s today and tomorrow. Back in the 30s and snowing again this weekend with 50 mph winds That'll suck.

 

Target eddys, natural breaks in the river, find a decent pool. Like has been said tubes/shakyhead......Jerkbaits like an LC pointer let it sit awhile

 

Thanks guys. I hope to have some trophy shots posted up in a couple days.

 

Finch, any idea what the water temps are? That is the biggest factor. Being that fish are cold blooded, any rise in water temp this time of year will increase their metabolism and get them feeding. Even if it bumps up just a few degrees.

In the river, the bass should be sitting in the slowest current this time of year. Look for the slow current with structure or rock bottom. Smallmouth love structure. Boulders and wood/logs are their favorite. Both offer a break from the current and safety.

Like mentioned, fish it low and slow. Mess around with the retrieve until you find something they want. My go-to retrieve for cold water smallmouth would be more short twitches with some pauses thrown in. River smallies can't resist that pause, especially if you are using a suspending bait, or a jig on the drop.

 

I'm not sure what the water temps are right now. The sight I normally go to is down. It has been in the 60's here all week and is supposed to hit 70 tomorrow. If nothing else, it will be good to get out and paddle a bit.

 

This is true. Its like a reset button for the soul.

One more thing about river smallmouth, if you find one, there should be more. If you hit a fish, work that area pretty good.