Small Mouth Tips?

[nofishfisherman]

I was on the St. Croix near Hinckley this weekend. I was canoeing and casting as I went. We had several smaller smallies hit and where from 6 inches to 12 inches. We say alot of large smallies swimming along the shore line. Most were moving pretty fast. I threw everythig I had at them, rapalas, buzz baits, crank baits, johnson silver minnows, and plastic shads or Mister Twisters on a jig and spiiner rig.

I did have one hit on a plastic gold shad but it broke off as it took a hard run down stream and I think it hit a log or rock. It was a much bigger fish, and the 6 lbs line didn't handle it.

What can I do to trigger these larger fish that are actively swimming quickly up the shore?

I obvioulsy need to spool a heavier line next time just wondering of other tricks for these lareger fish. I am a small mouth newbie so any info is great. I want to hit this area again within a month.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Fish are fish.. and sometimes they can be quite the mysetery.. expecially roaming fish like smallies... the best thing often times is to predict where you think they will be and cast way ahead of them and le tthe lure sit there, then start to move it as they get close. This way they are not spooked off by the splash of the cast.

Topwaters are also good triggers at times for smallies.

[Ray Esboldt]

I would say the same thing as Deitz. Fish a topwater real agressive; I mean pop that thing as hard as you can. If fish are up on the bank in heavy current, they're not just hanging out. They are there to eat.

[Wayne Ek]

Single fish (smallies) cruising by themselfs are hard to trigger. When they are cruising alone I like something that makes alot of commotion on the surface and can be fished rather fast, like a Devils Horse. If there are a couple of fish moving in loose packs, then a wacky rigged stick-bait will usually trigger one of the fish.