First river smallies

Spent some quality time wade fishing this morning, caught the total. First about 10 inches, second was 18 1/4, third was about 13. Definitely hooked now! Wanted to post some pics but phone wouldn't allow me to.

[Mark]

Good going!

[RN2014]

Thanks, they're definitely a fun fish to catch. All my hits and hook ups were on a top water lure, couldn't get anything to even look at anything else.

[Mark]

Top water smallies are indeed fun.

I fly rod for them with poppers on top and Clouser Minnows and wooly buggers when I go underneath.

Pay attention to the structure and currents in the Potomac and note where you catch fish. You can apply similar techniques to the structure and currents in the Bay.

[RN2014]

I am still trying to figure where they might be, ie. structure, where at in the flow of the river. All three were above a run of small rapids near the bank where there was some grass, is this where I should continue to look? I tried a couple different kinds of grubs or soft baits with a bullet sinker, the problem is I kept getting hung on the bottom. Any pointers?

[HearadonCatch]

Try weightless flukes or on 1/4 ounce weighted hooks across those grasses. Thats were I had some luck. Use a moderate retrieve. That will help keep it off the bottom and getting snagged.

[Mark]

Look for seams where fast water meets slow water. Fish the edge of the seam because smallies will often be in the slow water waiting to ambush prey that floats by in the fast water.

Look for exposed and submerged rocks that slow the current. Smallies will tuck in behind those rocks downstream of the current waiting for food to come to their table. Cast your baits upstream of the rocks and allow them to float around or over the rocks. Hits often occur where the current is slowed by the rocks.

Look for the ends of riffles. Often smallies sit there and wait. Allow your lure to float in the riffle to the end. If a fish is at the end of the fast water it may grab your lure.

Weed beds along the banks are also good targets for your casts. Minnows live in the weeds and smallmouth may come to the edges to feed on them, especially in low light.

The above spots work for top water baits and submersible lures.

As to sinking lures, use the lightest weights you can to keep the lures in the strike zone but not snagged on the rocky bottom. Most of your casts will be upstream or across and upstream which means the current will push your sinking lures down as they ride the water back to your casting position. I use flies which are much lighter than an 1/8 oz. or 1/16 oz. jig head and I have no trouble keeping them down in the current as long as I use the current to my advantage by casting upstream and taking in the slack as the fly returns to me. Remove your slip sinker entirely and see if your lure will stay down. If not try some small split shot. Generally if the area is shallow enough to wade, you can reduce the weights you would normally use in lakes and ponds.

One exception to the discussion above about weights is where you find small waterfalls. Sometimes fast water is cascading over a rock wall creating a hole on the downside that is deeper than the surrounding bottom. In those cases it helps to add some weight to your flies or lures to get them into those holes. Fish often reside in them. They like the oxygenated water of the falls and they like the food that flows to them. But you have to get and keep your lures in that deep and turbulent water to catch the fish. In that scenario weight helps.

I hope the above is useful. Nothing beats going out there and trying and learning.

Good luck