Texas Rigged Smallmouth Jig, Take 2

[Wayne SW/MO]

Ya'll realize they are looking more up than down now? :lol:

[eric1978]

Ya'll realize they are looking more up than down now? :lol:

Yeah, but they won't be for long. Come December they'll pickin' little slow moving stuff off the bottom.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Yeah, but they won't be for long. Come December they'll pickin' little slow moving stuff off the bottom.

I'm not sure I agree with that. When the 'dads go to bed there isn't a whole lot of food on the bottom.

[Flysmallie]

I'm not sure I agree with that. When the 'dads go to bed there isn't a whole lot of food on the bottom.

And it's always easier for them to look up.

[eric1978]

I'm not sure I agree with that. When the 'dads go to bed there isn't a whole lot of food on the bottom.

Yeah, but they're always looking for an easy meal. If they see some slow moving morsel crawling around the bottom and they think it won't take much effort to eat it, they'll go down to get it. Yes, fish are designed to look up, but they can and do see things on the bottom easily as well. The only time they wouldn't be able to see something on the bottom is if it was directly below them. Their eyes can angle down in their sockets, as we've all seen on underwater footage. I'm pretty sure fish don't think, "Well, it's pretty cold out and there aren't many 'dads around anymore....think I'll stop looking down for meals for the year." Fish have an uncanny awareness of what's in the water around them. They don't miss much.

I prefer throwing Pointers and putting it right in front of their faces anyway, but jigs are always my second option for really picky winter fish. I hardly ever use bottom baits in warm months, though, when the 'dads are out in full swing. Guess I'm a little backwards. Of course, smallmouth aren't really a "match the hatch" species, so I'm not convinced it matters. They are opportunistic feeders, and will eat whatever is most convenient for the least effort.

[BobK]

That thing looks great..........good job.

[BobK]

Yeah, but they're always looking for an easy meal. If they see some slow moving morsel crawling around the bottom and they think it won't take much effort to eat it, they'll go down to get it. Yes, fish are designed to look up, but they can and do see things on the bottom easily as well. The only time they wouldn't be able to see something on the bottom is if it was directly below them. Their eyes can angle down in their sockets, as we've all seen on underwater footage. I'm pretty sure fish don't think, "Well, it's pretty cold out and there aren't many 'dads around anymore....think I'll stop looking down for meals for the year." Fish have an uncanny awareness of what's in the water around them. They don't miss much.

I prefer throwing Pointers and putting it right in front of their faces anyway, but jigs are always my second option for really picky winter fish. I hardly ever use bottom baits in warm months, though, when the 'dads are out in full swing. Guess I'm a little backwards. Of course, smallmouth aren't really a "match the hatch" species, so I'm not convinced it matters. They are opportunistic feeders, and will eat whatever is most convenient for the least effort.

I never threw a pointer until Eric1978 suggested it on a post of mine. Now I won't leave home without one.

Thanks Eric1978

[eric1978]

Are you one of those people that keeps looking in the fridge for something to eat... even though you know there's nothing in there but molded brocolli and crusty cheese ?

Yes. In fact I just had some very questionable leftover pizza. For some reason when it's cold out I only seem to look on the top shelf of the fridge. Wonder what's down below? Guess I won't know 'til spring.

[creek wader]

Eric and others, I like what your tying and all. I even tie my crayfish in the same colors as you guys. But, in the streams that I fish, this is what every crayfish looks like. (Golden crayfish). The black (dark) stripes really stand out, and catch your eye. I'm going to try to match it in color and markings as closely as I can. I might borrow your jig design. .... I'm a novice at tying. ...Sooooo... If someone out there is looking for something to tie..... Try to tie me one.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I hardly ever use bottom baits in warm months,

That's about all I ever use. In some streams that are heavy on springs I think they do still feed off the bottom, but otherwise, it seems that minnows are the favored source.

I put my Pointers away when I found the X raps, I've just done better on them, at least in a couple of colors.

Creek wader that's about all you see in the Niangua.