Winter river smallmouth....

[11kalnmitc]

So i'm finally able to go a back home for a few days since we have a break at school for Thanksgiving break. I'll be hitting up a local river for some smallmouth, but with the way the weather is lately it feels and looks more like February then November. I'm not really sure where to start, current, slack water, deep, or shallow. Should a drift a tube, throw a jerkbait, spinnerbait, swimbait or what? I'm good just about any other time of year but I want something to start on for this trip since it will likely be the last of my fishing year......
Thanks

[Hogsticker2]

Are you fishing from shore? I would start throwing a jerkbait and lipless crank shallow, then float a tube and drag some footballs if you can do it without getting hung every 3 seconds. I would still hit there typical ambush area such as current breaks and such as I've found river smallies don't move around a whole lot. I've also had good luck throwing small inline spinners this time of year.

[Reel Old Geezer]

The smallmouth in the Snake River moved to the winter locations several weeks ago. The water temps are in the low 40s. We have had success drop shotting tubes or other small baits. Here's some fish my wife and I caught a couple of weeks ago in about 10-15 feet of water.

[JDLaman]

Those are great pictures! I always appreciate the fact that you are so willing to share your wisdom and experience with everyone on the forum. You are truly one of the great members of this forum and I always enjoy reading your posts.

[mhood]

Those are great pictures! I always appreciate the fact that you are so willing to share your wisdom and experience with everyone on the forum. You are truly one of the great members of this forum and I always enjoy reading your posts.

+1 from me for sure.

[Reel Old Geezer]

Those are great pictures! I always appreciate the fact that you are so willing to share your wisdom and experience with everyone on the forum. You are truly one of the great members of this forum and I always enjoy reading your posts.

I am truly humbled.

Someone needed to tell the fish today. Water temp was 40 and I fished for a couple of hours for only one fish. It came from 16' of water on a 2" Yum Wooly Beavertail in black/blue flake. Air temp was 35 and it sure was cold on the water. It's about time to cover the boat until we get a couple of warm days in a row.

[dragon1]

Those are great pictures! I always appreciate the fact that you are so willing to share your wisdom and experience with everyone on the forum. You are truly one of the great members of this forum and I always enjoy reading your posts.

+1 from me for sure.

Indeed...+ 2 here.

[11kalnmitc]

Thanks for the insight guys, however i may not even be able to get out where i planned We had a snow storm move through yesterday.....and most of today however being that the temp was 34 degrees it wasn't snow, it was rain. So now the rivers and creeks are way too high to fish, hopefully they drop by staurday but im not holding my breath. For ow i'm going to try to find a lake that isn't frozen yet......Doubt i'll get anything but i gotta get out before i go back to school

[RGMatt]

ROG...nice pics

While i don't drop shot much at all on the rivers i fish, small tubes and small finesse worms are always tied on when i'm out for winter smallies.

OP, the rivers i fish for smallies tend to fish excellent when high water comes in the winter. Smallies get pushed into some predictable spots and stack together. Big fish eat in high mud too.

over the last week or so with water temps rangeing from 34-40 degrees i've caught most of my fish on hair jigs and tubes, with a few on xraps with looooong pauses(like 5 minute pauses in 36 degree water)

[karirick]

The smallmouth in the Snake River moved to the winter locations several weeks ago. The water temps are in the low 40s. We have had success drop shotting tubes or other small baits. Here's some fish my wife and I caught a couple of weeks ago in about 10-15 feet of water.

ROG - I really enjoy your posts as well. I grew near the Lower Snake River, in a small farming town named Colfax, WA and it is my favorite place in the world. Amazing channel catfishing, and decent sturgeon fishing as well. Never really dialed in the smallmouth, but they are there for the taking. Hoping to retire near the river, if we can somehow afford it. Thanks so much for the pics.

Rick