Not Biting

[Daveinozark]

had 3 hours to kill y-day so I thought I'd hit the Finley while the weather was nice. I went up from Riverside bridge and hit a few pools. The water was pretty cold, but this was in the afternoon so it was o.k. The water was clear and very low, there are several trees down now, not making this as good a float as it used to be. I tried everything and only got 1 miss on topwater.

[Arofishing]

The last couple times I've been out to the James its been real slow as well. I heard that the bass will head downstream to Springfield Lake - any validity to this? Not sure where they go on the Finley.

[Daveinozark]

The last couple times I've been out to the James its been real slow as well. I heard that the bass will head downstream to Springfield Lake - any validity to this? Not sure where they go on the Finley.

I don't think that they all pack up and head south:yaeh-am-not-durnk:

actually, I've never caught a smallmouth out of Springfield lake and I've gone in the winter. I think the low water levels this year made for lousy fishing. It did for me anyways. It doesn't seem like fish are willing to chase anything and you have to throw a plastic on top of their heads to get a bite. I used to mostly fish plastics, but it is too slow for my taste now that I prefer topwater, spinnerbaits or crankbaits instead. This fall weather may help the bite, but without waders, I'm more limited to Springfield lake or shore fishing the rivers.