The smallies on the upper miss have got the feedbag on in full force right now. Hot temps, low water levels, and real shallow quick flowing water means lots and lots of smallies in very predictable locations and behavioral patterns. Sight fishing right now is at an all time high for these fish. Its getting that time of year where the fish are well into their summer “dog daze”patterns. With these very hot muggy temps, water temps have been over 80 degrees for nearly 40 days up here. That means, a high metabolism and the fish will be taking advantage of any current they may find to hunt down a meal.
The last several weeks I have been concentrating on finding the best bite via skinny shallow quick water or the lower end of the pool where it’s deeper and slower current. Traditional outside bends in the river are the target areas for these mid summer active fish. I have been finding active fish right up tight to the shorelines, rock, weeds, timber, all of the above! Biggest question I have been faced with as of late is when is the best time to pitch a certain bank or shoreline? Many days I have had where I pitch a shoreline and a couple hours later I will comeback and fish it all over again and have completely different results? For my boat, afternoon/evenings have been the best overall unless you are there right away at daybreak.
What’s been working for these fish? Well, when its midday and high skies I have been having real good luck picking up the pace a bit with my presentation. Recently about noon or shortly after I will find the smallies start “chasing” your lure back to the boat. When I see this I pull out my faster horizontal lures such as swim jigs, buzzbaits, spinnbaits, crankbaits, etc… These response baits seem to trigger a lot of hits during the midday hours for me. The morning hours I have been having a good top water bite early and then I drag out the tubes and probe the structures thoroughly from shallow water (1-3ft) to the mid depths (5-8ft). The fish appear to be pretty spread out, so I have been staying mobile to up your odds by days end.
The bite should remain very strong for several weeks to come and even get better! Typically by the end of August, we see fish just starting to school up with dropping water temps and changing forage base. September and October means lots and lots of smallies in very confined locations.
The upper stretches of the Miss river up here in sections are VERY low and I would suggest tackling these areas with caution. Take your son or daughter and grab a canoe and try floating these sections of river north of the Twin Cities and show these kids what an amazing opportunity lies right in your back yard. This is the kind of bite that hooks kids (of all ages!) forever.
Great Report, as always, Steve!
I like what I’m reading about the bite getting better! I’ll try to get Luke confirmed tonight.
Thanks,
Yep, I have been finding about the same success in the type of areas you mentioned. Fire Cracker and Pro-Blue Ring Worms on 1/16 Precision Heads has been working well in my boat to compliment the lures you mentioned. And Saturday morning this past weekend was a great morning for numbers of good fish before the wind started and pushed out the clouds.
I can’t agree with you more…
Great report.
I’m hooked Steve! Nice report as always.
Question for ya… Do you rig your tubes any differently for fishing the river than you do for fishing lakes? Can I ask what jigs you use for tubing on the river? Thanks!
Great timing on the report, I am new to the Mississippi and am planning on trying the river tomorrow for Smallies for the first time…I want to try fly-fishing for them…any suggestions on patterns etc?? I am thinking about going to the area around Monticello…Thanks!
Fishanytime,
Awesome pic! Someone sure looks proud! I honestly have not given the ringworms a shot this time of year due to so many other presentations that work as well. Have to put that on the list. I guess there not just for cold water walleyes anymore!!
Wade,
) There are some areas that call for getting into the real thick of the trees and deadfalls, here I opt for a heavy 3/4 oz bullet sinker and rig the tube texas style with a stiff bass flippin rod and get nasty in the heavy cover!
I have been rigging 4″ YUM tubes with a 1/16th to a 1/4oz BFT Super doo jig head. This jig gives me the ability to rig it weedless or with an exposed hook. For most of my open river spots, I leave the hook exposed. If I am pitching under a bunch of trees and overhangs I will opt for the weedless approach. A little super glue works well keeping the tube from sliding down. (Maybe BFT has a cure for that?
keepcasting,
Sorry, not a fly fisherman whatsoever. All I know is that Monti should be perfect for wading around right now with the low water levels. Good luck to ya and please let us all know how it faired for you as we all know that now is the season in which those smallies are the best bet in my book!
This picture is AWESOME! And so is that spot that you are fishing
Thanks Steve! Do you think there’s any way we can get the boys at BFT to produce super doo jig heads again?
Grat report Steve
I do have ONE suggestion though: You need a picture of ME holding some of those fish.
Ron
Hey Steve, Good to talk to you the last couple w-ends. You picked the right year for a jet. Ended up landing some dandies last Sat. My years best just 15 min. after BS’ing with you and Tony. Can’t get enough! Nice report and pics. Good luck this comming w-end and if you see me teetering on a pile of rocks just fly by and show me how it’s done! See ya Sun.
Randy
good point Steve !!
Look for BFT to have a new version of the SD jig head in the near future..
I have had some great minds working on ideas for a great keeper on this head design…
Awesome Dave! Thanks for the update.
I cannot wait to get me some of them!
Yeah, whats new
. Another Report with Dezurik with a bunch of HOGG Smallies. 
I have been used to this ever since I have been on IDA. If it isn’t HOGG Smallies , it’s Big Mamma Eyes. 
Again Steve day in day out you know how to find thewm and stay on them. Awesome Report and Pics. Thanks for sharing the info.
Awesome Randy. How big was it? Congrats!
That section sure looks fun, I will definately be back someday soon.
Good luck to you guys this weekend. Talk to you then!
The flyfishing was a only a mild success…5 fish all small…oh well, now I remember why i normally stick to more conventional tackle.
I have had the most luck flyfishing for smallies with the Holschlag Hackle Fly. Tim Holschlag is a river smallie expert who has wrote the book on stream and smaller river smallmouth fishing called Stream Smallmouth Fishing he also founded the Smallmouth Alliance to promote smallmouth as a game fish species. He writes often for Midwest FlyFishing magazine and Minnesota outdoorsman magazine. I and many others consider him as close an expert as there is on river smallies in this part of the country.
With that said try the Holschlag Hackle Fly I have used it on the Root, Zumbro, St. Croix, Chippewa, Flambeau etc. with equal success. Nothing beats flyfishing for smallies IMHO.
Good luck.
Thanks for the advice verminnate…I agree that catching a smallie on the a fly is tough to beat…I am not giving up yet, may head up stream a little though next time…
No problem, if you want anymore smallmouth fly recipes let me know. I have one or two
.
Steve,
Nice trip and great pics.
Like Rob said, You just KEEP wacking great fish.
Thanks for the time for the reports.
Jack..