Best winter river tactic or bait??

[snagged in outlet 3]

I don’t have trouble catching smallies throughout the year except winter time.   I’ve caught more whites, crappie and walleye than smallies.   Although my PB smallie was caught in January.   
 

I keep 5 rods rigged.  Jerks, cranks, jigs, neds and little swimmers.  I’ve never had a good numbers day or even close to dialing in a pattern.  
 

Any suggestions??

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Oooooh, you know that is hush hush around here.  You and I have been active long enough to know, you dont talk about smallies,  you REALLY dont talk about smallies in the winter time.  As they are more vulnerable due to clear water and tight congregation.   They are not hard once you know where and then they are apparently easier than bluegill with a nightcrawler and bobber/indicator.  But, we can't talk about that here, I mean, what do you think this is?  A fishing forum?  A place to talk fishing?  EH'! 

[bfishn]

Just fish for walleye, you'll catch more stinkin' bass than you want.

[Dutch]

Winter is the only time I can get them in the James.  Last week  I caught the first ones that I have seen in 10 months.  They were on my old standby Zeros.

[fishinwrench]

I quit "gear fishing" for river smallies years ago because it just wasn't challenging enough to keep me interested.   But back when I did it the #1 bait that would catch them 24/7 & 365 was a 5" piece of Zoom Finesse worm on a Charlie Brewer slider head (green pumpkin).   Ticked along the bottom, or swung through the current on a semi-tight line, or slowly swam through the mid-column with no twitches or anything.  (looks just like a stick being drug through the water.... but bygod they'll eat it).   

Jerkbaits always got ALOT of follows, but only resulted in occasional actual bites.

My most productive FLY for winter smallies is this here "Mudpuppy"..... 

fished in one of the same exact ways.  

 

 

[fshndoug]

Wrench the only mudpuppy I ever saw you with was Orion And Benny at the river.

 

[fishinwrench]

2 minutes ago, fshndoug said:

Wrench the only mudpuppy I ever saw you with was Orion And Benny at the river.

 

Well we haven't been river smallies fishing.....yet. 🙂

[snagged in outlet 3]

I just don’t think I’ve found them.   Yet.  

[fishinwrench]

11 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

I just don’t think I’ve found them.   Yet.  

You'll know when you do.   River smallmouth are dumber than pond crappie. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

2 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

I quit "gear fishing" for river smallies years ago because it just wasn't challenging enough to keep me interested.   But back when I did it the #1 bait that would catch them 24/7 & 365 was a 5" piece of Zoom Finesse worm on a Charlie Brewer slider head (green pumpkin).   Ticked along the bottom, or swung through the current on a semi-tight line, or slowly swam through the mid-column with no twitches or anything.  (looks just like a stick being drug through the water.... but bygod they'll eat it).   

Jerkbaits always got ALOT of follows, but only resulted in occasional actual bites.

My most productive FLY for winter smallies is this here "Mudpuppy"..... 

fished in one of the same exact ways.