Like how u broke down the current patterns…hope u were able to free up that snag without cuttin the line…good thing about wading is that you can often leave the river as clean as you entered it by taking the extra minute to work out your snags or picking up junk left from others and leave it even cleaner than when you came…anyhow, liked the content those were some pretty Smallies !
I have noticed that unpressured fish will hold in non traditional places. Which makes sense because most observations conveyed to the public are made on popular rivers. For example....i never seem to hook big steelhead in deep typical holes. Its always some obscure seam next to structure or behind a boulder etc...
I can see that. On pressured waters I typically find the biggest smallmouth in really small "good" areas like a tiny eddy next to really fast water where there is really only enough room for one fish. I think there is also something to be said for those non traditional places like you mention.
I am new to fishing, but I saw an explanation which makes a lot of sense. At night when it's cold the fish like to go deep but during the day when the air is warmer it heats up the top layers of the water, and the fish prefer to move into it.
During certain times of the year, I think you're right. But I would wager that they move closer to current seams or further away from them during the cold winter months as the temperature changes aren't as drastic as the warmer months. In warmer slack water I do think they would be more willing to move up shallow to eat as well.
Those were some good size smallies compared to around my way in fished out, super pressured, filthy polluted, NoVa. I'd take fish that size all day and jump for joy! We mostly get quarter pounders, and occasional 1-3lbers. (Like 1 per outing if it's a good day lol)
Around here the few fish we have go down river to the Reservoir once water temps get below 55ish F. If there is no Res nearby, they just go to deep pools and go to sleep, won't eat nothin.
Above dams on the river is always a solid winter time spot but sometimes you definitely have to be patient for those bites. Dead sticking it in front of their face is the only way to get em to go at times.
I dont know if youve ever fished SE KY or eastern Tn. Rivers and streams but the smallmouth fidhing is excellent if you get an oppurtunity you should give it a try . Beautiful mnts, clear clean streams and loads of 16-18" fish and 6+lb smallmouth is not out of the question. Great vudeo im a subscriber.
I'd love to get out there sometime! I've rafted in East TN but never fished the area. I've always been in awe driving the country roads there and in SE Kentucky.
If there is a dam "most" smallmouth migrate down river to areas above the dam and spend the winter there. I was just out on the Milwaukee river and the fish were all on the south bank in 6 to 7 feet not on the slightly warmer south facing bank. Water temp was 41 degrees and it was a total dead stick finesse bite.
I tend to agree but I think it varies greatly depending on the river. This particular river has a series of dams but habitat above the dams is not what smallmouth prefer in general so they don't move down as they would in other rivers. Instead they opt to winter in slow deep stretches throughout the river that may be miles above a dam because the substrate is right and there is protected water in the case of a flood event. But the weird thing is I can catch fish literally all winter in a couple select eddies that aren't necessarily easy to access from the slow areas without moving through at least a shallow riffle or two.
Are you throwing the right baits for late fall and winter? Here are my favorites! ua-cam.com/video/fGBcxwfwE0U/v-deo.html And if you guys liked this video, be sure to check out this summer time catch analysis: ua-cam.com/video/24ShxTT5CXg/v-deo.html
Great video. I was wondering, how do you choose where to wade fish? I would really like to try but I dont get how to find places to wade fish. Thank you.
Short answer is trial and error. Finding potential winter holes in the summer is important but your theories may prove to be wrong. The only way to find good wading locations is just to get out and eliminate water throughout the whole season.
If you're not already using them, insulated neoprene waders are a must. You'll pay a little more for thicker neoprene but it is worth it. Aside from that, layering is key. Start with long underwear and pack on however many layers you think are necessary. I typically wear a pair of light rain paints as my final layer which helps trap heat and keep any tiny leaks in the waders (it's only a matter of time) from getting me too wet.
I usually pack a small tackle box in a dry bag along with my phone, snacks, batteries, spare gloves, and spare socks/pants in the car. This all in addition to insulated waders + one rod/reel combo.
@@RivermanTV- No luck with the Smallies today in the suspected spots (40.5f) , but I spooked a group of carp on the way upstream. A switch in my electrical sys crapped out and I was on battery on the cams the whole time, but I managed to capture the first cast targeting that Carp hole on the way back down. The one I got on cam was either a fallfish or a Redhorse, but a simple dough bait was working very well. You don't seem to have a listed email in your "About". I'm doing a livestream on Tuesday at 8et and would love to have you on either this week or soon. Can you please reach out to me on mine? Thanks again for the great vid.
@@RivermanTV-OOHHH really!? I was assuming like TN or some other state where winter is nothing like Chicago. A year or 2 ago I tried in Dec on the Desplaines on a 3day warm trend, was a casting practice session 😑…….. you landing some SMs in Dec in ILmakes me want to try again!
They're definitely catchable in Dec/Jan! Although it gets really hard to maintain confidence when it could take 40 mins to get a bite in a spot@@brianspearman6213
Despite the Karens below, I get what you're saying. I especially appreciate the genius saying you're working the bait too fast. Looks like you debunked him as well.
Glad you get it. Everybody knows better on the internet, so I don't get too bent out of shape. I'm just trying to share information and catch some good ones along the way 🤙
What was debunked? You're telling people to fish nearly normally with large presentations. That will be wrong if high water events have moved them out of smaller eddies. The conditions completely change with cooler water temps and high water events causing evacuation from many Fall areas. Depending on whether water is warming or cooling fish move shallower or deeper near the slack water. Downsizing to small hair jigs or float and fly are far more productive. If you haven't yet had a high water event and water has stayed low, yes fish will be hanging out in eddies. But they have to be near a protected area where there is slow or still water, if water levels rise. Anyways, fish like this in January and February. You're just catching active fish on a warm up here. Heck, I still see green.
The idea that one must fish "deep" in the winter time. This is at 0:40 in the video. I didn't tell anyone to fish with anything. The focus of the video is on location and not baits. If it were, I would agree that going smaller is going to draw more bites as winter goes on and probably in this instance as well. But a 2.5 Gitzit tube isn't something I'd classify as "big" and I didn't even mention what I was using. Some days I want to throw a jig because I want to throw a jig. My preference is not a piece of advice. This was early December and certainly wasn't after a warmup, but it also wasn't the coldest it would get. I've caught fish here in all of the winter months up until ice out in varying water conditions. The assumption of a lot of folks is that you always have to be fishing the deepest water in the river during the winter months and most forget that "deep" is relative. This video was not a deep dive into the subtleties of movement during varying water levels; it was a reminder that relative depth matters. But just to be clear, I did mention quite clearly that the positioning of the fish changes as it gets colder.
Good content, dude. Subscribed.
There are not many good videos covering river smallie techniques. Keep ‘em coming, and your channel will grow.
Thanks, man! I plan on doing more videos like this come spring. River smallies are my go to anyways so it makes sense to stick with it.
Like how u broke down the current patterns…hope u were able to free up that snag without cuttin the line…good thing about wading is that you can often leave the river as clean as you entered it by taking the extra minute to work out your snags or picking up junk left from others and leave it even cleaner than when you came…anyhow, liked the content those were some pretty Smallies !
Great video on breaking down the water and cast !!
Would love to see more videos explaining the water and casting
Noted! I had a fun time making this video and I do plan on doing more. I'm just trying to find the right topics.
This is the second of your videos I’ve watched - just subscribed. Great dissection of the water & great winter fish too!
VERY well done
tyvm!!
Thank you video was exactly what I was looking for I’m in East tn and I kayak fish and I floated a few days ago just getting my season started
Glad to hear it! I'm still waiting for a few days of warmer weather to get out for the first time. Good luck!
Just stumbled on to your video I'm new to river fishing bought a kayak last year and learned something from your video and subscribed to see more.
Glad to have you along! I've gotten out on the kayak once so far this spring but there's much more to come.
I have noticed that unpressured fish will hold in non traditional places. Which makes sense because most observations conveyed to the public are made on popular rivers. For example....i never seem to hook big steelhead in deep typical holes. Its always some obscure seam next to structure or behind a boulder etc...
I can see that. On pressured waters I typically find the biggest smallmouth in really small "good" areas like a tiny eddy next to really fast water where there is really only enough room for one fish. I think there is also something to be said for those non traditional places like you mention.
Been killin the river smallies on small finnese jigs and ned rigs in shallow water
Its Dec 12, I was considering doing the same thing today, then I found your video. Thanks for helping me confirm my day plans (im going fishing). 👍
Good luck! Hopefully you can find a few. The bite here was slow over the weekend but the fish were in the kind of spots shown in this video.
I am new to fishing, but I saw an explanation which makes a lot of sense. At night when it's cold the fish like to go deep but during the day when the air is warmer it heats up the top layers of the water, and the fish prefer to move into it.
During certain times of the year, I think you're right. But I would wager that they move closer to current seams or further away from them during the cold winter months as the temperature changes aren't as drastic as the warmer months. In warmer slack water I do think they would be more willing to move up shallow to eat as well.
When the water is 41 degrees, the sun doesn't have enough power to raise the surface temp enough to matter.
Those were some good size smallies compared to around my way in fished out, super pressured, filthy polluted, NoVa.
I'd take fish that size all day and jump for joy!
We mostly get quarter pounders, and occasional 1-3lbers. (Like 1 per outing if it's a good day lol)
Around here the few fish we have go down river to the Reservoir once water temps get below 55ish F. If there is no Res nearby, they just go to deep pools and go to sleep, won't eat nothin.
Above dams on the river is always a solid winter time spot but sometimes you definitely have to be patient for those bites. Dead sticking it in front of their face is the only way to get em to go at times.
I dont know if youve ever fished SE KY or eastern Tn. Rivers and streams but the smallmouth fidhing is excellent if you get an oppurtunity you should give it a try . Beautiful mnts, clear clean streams and loads of 16-18" fish and 6+lb smallmouth is not out of the question. Great vudeo im a subscriber.
I'd love to get out there sometime! I've rafted in East TN but never fished the area. I've always been in awe driving the country roads there and in SE Kentucky.
If there is a dam "most" smallmouth migrate down river to areas above the dam and spend the winter there.
I was just out on the Milwaukee river and the fish were all on the south bank in 6 to 7 feet not on the slightly warmer south facing bank. Water temp was 41 degrees and it was a total dead stick finesse bite.
I tend to agree but I think it varies greatly depending on the river. This particular river has a series of dams but habitat above the dams is not what smallmouth prefer in general so they don't move down as they would in other rivers. Instead they opt to winter in slow deep stretches throughout the river that may be miles above a dam because the substrate is right and there is protected water in the case of a flood event. But the weird thing is I can catch fish literally all winter in a couple select eddies that aren't necessarily easy to access from the slow areas without moving through at least a shallow riffle or two.
@@RivermanTV- Yes, some do stay in the slower bendy deep areas but they do migrate to the dams in pretty big numbers.
Subbed for good winter shallow water bass info!
Nice job man.
Great video man! Keep it up👍🏽
Many thanks! More on the way once winter starts to fade...
Are you throwing the right baits for late fall and winter? Here are my favorites!
ua-cam.com/video/fGBcxwfwE0U/v-deo.html
And if you guys liked this video, be sure to check out this summer time catch analysis:
ua-cam.com/video/24ShxTT5CXg/v-deo.html
Great video. I was wondering, how do you choose where to wade fish? I would really like to try but I dont get how to find places to wade fish. Thank you.
Short answer is trial and error. Finding potential winter holes in the summer is important but your theories may prove to be wrong. The only way to find good wading locations is just to get out and eliminate water throughout the whole season.
Great video. Any recommendations for staying warm in waders in winter water?
If you're not already using them, insulated neoprene waders are a must. You'll pay a little more for thicker neoprene but it is worth it. Aside from that, layering is key. Start with long underwear and pack on however many layers you think are necessary. I typically wear a pair of light rain paints as my final layer which helps trap heat and keep any tiny leaks in the waders (it's only a matter of time) from getting me too wet.
Nice work
What’s the water temp
So i'm now available to fish like this all year round. Whats the pack out for a winter day look like for you guys?
I usually pack a small tackle box in a dry bag along with my phone, snacks, batteries, spare gloves, and spare socks/pants in the car. This all in addition to insulated waders + one rod/reel combo.
Well done on this river, man! See what I did there? I've got identical conditions on a slightly smaller river right now.
I see you! Get out there and get em. I had success in a finesse jig yesterday.
@@RivermanTV- No luck with the Smallies today in the suspected spots (40.5f) , but I spooked a group of carp on the way upstream. A switch in my electrical sys crapped out and I was on battery on the cams the whole time, but I managed to capture the first cast targeting that Carp hole on the way back down. The one I got on cam was either a fallfish or a Redhorse, but a simple dough bait was working very well. You don't seem to have a listed email in your "About". I'm doing a livestream on Tuesday at 8et and would love to have you on either this week or soon. Can you please reach out to me on mine? Thanks again for the great vid.
What pound line are you running on that reel?
Typically I run 30lb braid to 12lb fluoro. However, I might have gone down to 10lb on this setup - I can't quite remember.
Man you’re gonna get me wading out in this 40 degree water aren’t you?
It makes you stronger 💪
What was the water temp.
Upper 30s
What river is this?
صيد السمك مومتع جدا
Agreed 👍👍
Just subbed new fisher here
Nice, I Subscribed. Semper Fi
Thanks for the sub!
what state are you in?
Northern IL
@@RivermanTV-OOHHH really!? I was assuming like TN or some other state where winter is nothing like Chicago. A year or 2 ago I tried in Dec on the Desplaines on a 3day warm trend, was a casting practice session 😑…….. you landing some SMs in Dec in ILmakes me want to try again!
They're definitely catchable in Dec/Jan! Although it gets really hard to maintain confidence when it could take 40 mins to get a bite in a spot@@brianspearman6213
Despite the Karens below, I get what you're saying. I especially appreciate the genius saying you're working the bait too fast. Looks like you debunked him as well.
Glad you get it. Everybody knows better on the internet, so I don't get too bent out of shape. I'm just trying to share information and catch some good ones along the way 🤙
U working the bait too fast
He’s catching fish lol
What was debunked? You're telling people to fish nearly normally with large presentations. That will be wrong if high water events have moved them out of smaller eddies. The conditions completely change with cooler water temps and high water events causing evacuation from many Fall areas. Depending on whether water is warming or cooling fish move shallower or deeper near the slack water. Downsizing to small hair jigs or float and fly are far more productive. If you haven't yet had a high water event and water has stayed low, yes fish will be hanging out in eddies. But they have to be near a protected area where there is slow or still water, if water levels rise. Anyways, fish like this in January and February. You're just catching active fish on a warm up here. Heck, I still see green.
The idea that one must fish "deep" in the winter time. This is at 0:40 in the video.
I didn't tell anyone to fish with anything. The focus of the video is on location and not baits. If it were, I would agree that going smaller is going to draw more bites as winter goes on and probably in this instance as well. But a 2.5 Gitzit tube isn't something I'd classify as "big" and I didn't even mention what I was using. Some days I want to throw a jig because I want to throw a jig. My preference is not a piece of advice.
This was early December and certainly wasn't after a warmup, but it also wasn't the coldest it would get. I've caught fish here in all of the winter months up until ice out in varying water conditions.
The assumption of a lot of folks is that you always have to be fishing the deepest water in the river during the winter months and most forget that "deep" is relative. This video was not a deep dive into the subtleties of movement during varying water levels; it was a reminder that relative depth matters. But just to be clear, I did mention quite clearly that the positioning of the fish changes as it gets colder.