Members goggleeyes Posted August 22, 2009 Members Posted August 22, 2009 Went fishing on the Finley from Smyrna Bridge down to Riverside friday. What a beautiful day to be on the river. Saw a big doe about 25 yards from me standing in a riffle just checking things out. Caught quite a lot of smallies and goggle eyes. Had a great day. My question is, do any of you guys catch smallies of any size on the Finley? The biggest I have caught has been in 10-12" range with tons of small ones. They seem to look very healthy and have plenty of food in them river. They are very fun to catch, but was wondering do they get bigger? It may just be my fishing! Still loads of fun either way.
OzarksRiverman Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 Went fishing on the Finley from Smyrna Bridge down to Riverside friday. What a beautiful day to be on the river. Saw a big doe about 25 yards from me standing in a riffle just checking things out. Caught quite a lot of smallies and goggle eyes. Had a great day. My question is, do any of you guys catch smallies of any size on the Finley? The biggest I have caught has been in 10-12" range with tons of small ones. They seem to look very healthy and have plenty of food in them river. They are very fun to catch, but was wondering do they get bigger? It may just be my fishing! Still loads of fun either way. I've caught many keepers from the Finley, didn't keep them, but they were big enough. One good spot is down at Linden--go all the way to the end of the dirt road then wade down river about 50 yards. caught some good 15" brownies there.
smallmouthjoe Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 There's also a bluff hole about half way between Linden and Green bridge that has some nice smallmouth in it. I've also caught some nice ones out of the water that's about a half mile mile up from Green Bridge. The Green Bridge hole itself has some big largemouth in them but it seems like they are a bit harder to catch, maybe because it's right by the Bridge.
Members goggleeyes Posted August 22, 2009 Author Members Posted August 22, 2009 I know it is probably just me. I have fished in that area before. I have caught a few bigger fish in years past, but not to the amount of small ones. I would never keep them either, save them for another day. I guess I'm having outward thoughts. Thanks for you response.
Members goggleeyes Posted August 22, 2009 Author Members Posted August 22, 2009 Joe I know the hole your talking about. Last time up there my buddy and I saw a large smallie swim by us. We got very excited for a short time trying to catch her. Probably scared her into laughing at us. Do you usually fish with soft baits?
smallmouthjoe Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 Most of the time I fish with soft plastics, my favorite bait for any stream is a 3" tube Texas rigged if I want it to mimic a crayfish and rigged with a tube jig if I want to swim it. A close second is a small finesse jig. A senko is also one of my favorites. I have a friend that uses nothing but a 4'' grub on a round jig head and he does very well with it.
TroutRinger Posted August 22, 2009 Posted August 22, 2009 Where do you park at the Smyrna Bridge?...and does anyone know where you park at Linden? Is off that Canyon Rd just north of the bridge? "Of all the liars among mankind, the fisherman is the most trustworthy." "There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore like an idiot."
Members goggleeyes Posted August 23, 2009 Author Members Posted August 23, 2009 My lovely wife dropped me off at the Smyrna bridge, but there is a place to park just past the bridge. There is plenty of parking by Linden.
Members goggleeyes Posted August 28, 2009 Author Members Posted August 28, 2009 Well today I went back to the same spot as last week. Quite a bit different this week. SM Joe I used a 3" tube as you said, and had a great day of fishing. Started kind of slow so I was thinking do I go back to the trusty craw crank? The goggle eye started biting and I caught at least 40-50. I also caught 10 LM's the biggest was 14". But what made my day complete was a very fat and healthy 16" smallie, the biggest I can remember catching on the Finley. Only caught 12 smallies, but I had a great deal of fun with my new bait of choice. Thanks SM Joe for your input last week.
Members goggleeyes Posted August 28, 2009 Author Members Posted August 28, 2009 Well today I went back to the same spot as last week. Quite a bit different this week. SM Joe I used a 3" tube as you said, and had a great day of fishing. Started kind of slow so I was thinking do I go back to the trusty craw crank? The goggle eye started biting and I caught at least 40-50. I also caught 10 LM's the biggest was 14". But what made my day complete was a very fat and healthy 16" smallie, the biggest I can remember catching on the Finley. Only caught 12 smallies, but I had a great deal of fun with my new bait of choice. Thanks SM Joe for your input last week.
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