Big Muddy Smallies..

Where do the smallies go to winter?? Many people say they go deep and get out of the current. I have been looking in these places for them but am still finding some in the summer locations usually positioned out of the faster current in often just suspending in the eddies. Wingdams are still producing fish but I am sure there are other places I should be looking.

as far as I know they DO seem to head for deeper holes.. this is particularly true on SMALLER rivers.. where they will migrate MILES to find certain wintering holes….. this fall on the St Croix up by Franconia, I was fishing around a very deep hole (70 feet!)… and it was stacked with smallies…. and also crappies, musky, northern, walleyes… well you get the picture… it seemed like pretty much everything was heading for this deep hole for the winter… the flasher lit up like a christmas tree as fish were suspended at a variety of depths…. smallies were being caught by everyone, they were hitting pretty much everything….. I was even catching them on jigging spoons and bladebaits and some were very nice…. to tell the truth I should have focused on everything BUT walleyes….. because the eyes up there ran pretty short.. even though there were good numbers……

Thanks for the info.. I primarily stay on pools 8-18 and the deepest areas are either main channel which the current doesn’t necessitate applicable wintering habitat. If I look towards areas that are deep (relative to the Mississippi) I come up with almost no suitable habitat. Last weekend for example I caught Largemouth in 2 specific areas on pool 9. They were the boat ramp areas of cold springs and the boat ramp area in Lansing. I caught a couple smallies on the wingdams but for the most part the 2 areas with slight current was seemly the wintering area.. Call me confused. If you look at other areas you will find better water depth but I couldn’t find any fish. I don’t suppose you can share any areas that are as you describe on the Mississippi so that I can try to clue in on why these areas are holding fish when others are not. I am sure O2 and bait have a big influence on where the smallies will be but my guess is that you have figured out something I am still working through. Thanks again.

Jc