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Finding Smallies in Moving Water
Yeah, you can catch smallies in reservoirs but if you want a fight, and I mean pound-for-pound the meanest string-stretcher swimming, you’ve gotta fish moving water. Smallies that make a living fighting current provide the challenge we lust for. Passion, that’s what we want. And smallmouth are all heart!
 | Photo by Vernon Summerlin
Bob Latendresse (731-220-0582) has been guiding for smallies on the Buffalo River long enough to know all the best fishing holes.
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First you look for a big creek to full-blown river. Of course the big rivers are the Tennessee and Cumberland, and you’ll want to hit their tributaries. Smaller rivers like the Stones, Harpeth, Elk, Duck, Buffalo, Caney Fork, Rocky and Collins are home
to Mr. and Miz Excitement also.
There are a number of creeks worth pursuing such as Smith Fork Creek that feeds the Caney Fork River, Sulfur Fork Creek at Springfield downstream into Red River, and three creeks that run into Kentucky Lake: Trace, Whiteoak and Leatherwood. These waters vary in size but are robust with smallies
Learn to Read the Water: Look for where the most food flows by smallmouth habitat. These places can be boulders that break the current, rock piles, riffles, eddies, lanes of swift current being retarded by slow moving water, deep holes, lay-downs, bridge pilings, riprap, islands, wing dams - anything that gives the smallie a place to hold out of the direct flow has potential.
Surface structures are, of course, the easiest to locate, such as pilings, boulders, large rock piles, islands, riprap and lay-downs. These objects create pockets of slow water in front and behind, just the place a smallie would wait to be served a meal.
Where slow moving water retards swift current such as the mouth of a creek, the downstream end of an island, and the mouth of a pocket, cove or bay make choice holding spots. The results of these form slack water that may extend for many yards, providing more room for smallmouth to dine. Often eddies form in these areas and they’re virtual feedbags.
Slack water on the upstream sides of a chute formed by fingers of land pointing into the current should be tested with your bait. Smallies hold at the edges of the current to quickly slide in and snack on groceries flowing through the chute. Then try the slack water behind the points.
The shape of the river bottom creates other dining lanes by dividing the flow into faster and slower slips. The faster water makes waves and the slower water flows smoothly. Bronzebacks hang in the slower water while keeping an eye on the faster flow.
One bottom shape all anglers appreciate is the hole. The bigger the hole, the more likely that you’ll hook a big old string-stretcher. Holes are prime real estate because the current slows at the hole and allows food to settle down, and the current is even more subdued farther down in the hole where the fat and sassy beast awaits service. Another reason these holes are first-class accommodations is the protection they afford. The big gals get the best housing.
Locating holes can be tough because you find them by wading into them (oops!), or picking them out on your sonar’s display. Due diligence is required but exceptionally rewarding.
Lay-downs, stumps, root tangles and branches dragging in the water produce slack water too and should receive a good casting before moving on.
Outside river bends creating a point redirect the current leaving slack water and eddies downstream. Victuals are washed into shore above the point for open-mouthed bass or the rations are swept around the point, some to be captured in the slack current, a good place to place your bait. These are some of the major feeding stations to look for. You may discover more on your river.
The best bait is the local baitfish. A cast net provides the bait. Hook the stoneroller, dace, shiner or whatever baitfish is prevalent with a number one to 2/0 hook and free-line it in the places mentioned. After that it’s all
Happy Hooking!
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