Winter Time Smallmouth Fishing...worth It?

[Paaka]

Guys thanks so much for the suggestions and recommendations. I realize that smallmouth fishing with a fly rod is less than ideal during the winter but figured it would at least be fun to float the river and if I pick up some smallies then it's a bonus.

I have a drift boat so floating and getting to the good spots is pretty easy, plus I can anchor up at the good holes.

Last question to everyone...if it wasn't the gasconade what other rivers would you head to for winter/spring smallmouth fishing?

Thanks in advance.

[Ham]

Not on a public forum.

[Amery]

I say trout fish in the winter and spend more time next season smallmouth fishing. I'm a huge flyfisher and I looove smallmouth so I target them almost exclusively in the warm water months. Trout this time of year.

[LittleRedFisherman]

I"m with Saluki on the Float and fly method if your determined to used a flyrod. A lot of times i'll tie a 1/32 and even a 1/16 oz zig jig (marabou jig) on my flyrod with a larger indicator like a thingamobber. Those deep holes Al talks about, if you can get your best guess on how deep they are, set that jig about a foot off the bottom, it will work!

[Seth]

I say trout fish in the winter and spend more time next season smallmouth fishing. I'm a huge flyfisher and I looove smallmouth so I target them almost exclusively in the warm water months. Trout this time of year.

You're missing out! Winter/early spring smallmouth fishing beats the crap out of summer fishing once you find some decent wintering areas. The size is usually much better during the winter too.

[Amery]

Yea but with the fly rod?

[Flysmallie]

Yea but with the fly rod?

Why not?

[Seth]

Yea but with the fly rod?

I thought you just meant in general. I'm not sure when it comes to fly fishing, but it is very lroductive for conventional tackle. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[Al Agnew]

There are arguments both ways concerning winter smallmouth versus trout. It's a fact that smallmouth activity levels are far lower in the winter, which means you won't get many vicious strikes and they won't move as fast, jump, or fight as hard as they will in the summer. Trout, on the other hand, are about as active in 40 degree water as they are in 60 degree water, and will eat the same stuff you're throwing at them. So if the fight is what you're looking for, then trout have it all over smallies in the winter.

On the other hand, to me the beauty and solitude of the smallmouth rivers in the winter, and the somewhat greater chance of catching big ones, coupled with the greater challenge of finding them and getting them to bite, puts winter smallmouth fishing in a class of its own.

However, if I was wedded to fly fishing, I'd probably stick to trout in the winter.

As for rivers to go for smallies in the winter...without naming any of them, basically bigger water is better. Unless it's a heavily spring fed creek, wadeable water is almost a waste of time, and the barely canoeable water isn't much better. We've hashed out the reasons for this before, but it seems that on smaller streams the fish either move out, or they do a lot more hiding under cover and stay far less active. However...in stretches of smaller streams that have good wintering holes with deep, slow water, a bit of a rise or a strong warming trend can bring the fish out of hiding.

[Amery]

Fly fishing for smallmouth in winter is good if you like bird watching. I'm sure fish can be caught but I don't have the time.