Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

What kind of gear do you like for smallie fishing?


The fun is in the fight for me and considering I catch and release, I like an ultra-lite with 4 lb. test line. I found this great fishing rig at a great price that is perfect for those overnighters floating the Buffalo. Here is the link to it at Walmart. It's $25.

It has a Shakesphere reel on a 4'6" telescoping rod that breaks down to go into a small carrying case. It keeps the rod from getting broke while laying in the bottom of the canoe. There is room in the middle of the case for a small tackle box with your favorite jigs. There are also dividers on one side to put baits or other items. Or you can remove the dividers and have room for a backup reel or a spool of new line.








My preference is to use jigs. I use a 2" smoke gray twist tail jig made by Riverside. I find it to get the best action when the curve of the hook goes in the same direction as the twist in the tail on the jig as in the picture below. It will sit in the water just as shown in the picture, with the hook to the surface.





I catch alot of smallies with this set up on the Buffalo, especially during the Summer months. Mostly smaller ones, about a pound but I have caught some up to 2.5 lbs. I also catch pretty much anything on this jig here at home on the lake. Bass, cats, bream and crappie, I've caught it all on this set up. I have pulled in a 5 lb. striper with it so, she's a solid rig.

My preference is ultra-lite tackle too. Although my fishing gear, should it break or malfunction on the river, would never cause me the problems clothing or boating gear could, I like to go with about the best I can carry. On the more dedicated fishing trips, we commonly carry two or three rigs apiece. :)
As far as the baits, that gray jig by Riverside is a hard one to beat for Small Mouth, Bream, etc., we use them regularly. In the last several years I have really come to like 4" lizards and Tiny Brush Hogs attached to 1/4 oz. lead heads. The heavier lead head hooks just seem to work the best in moving water where a lighter one doesn't sink fast enough or stay on the bottom. My favorite colors for the aforementioned baits is 'motor oil green'. Another pattern we really like is a standard 6" purple worm with red head, we usually break off a portion of the worm so it's about 4".
Speaking of Riverside Baits earlier, I have a small bone to pick with them. For years, Riverside made a 1 1/4" crawdad in several colors, they were my absolute favorites, that is until the company switched ownership and they dropped that particular bait Riverside does make a similar crawdad still but it's just not the same. You know how picky us fisher types can be :)
Please come join in some of our fishing trips in the coming year. We make quite a few on the Caddo, Ouachita, Buffalo, etc. Usually post all of them on the Rec. Page.


Best Regards
Jim

hey bayoukid if you need a backup for the riverside lures ill guarentee a rostertail for smallmouth on the buffalo i practice catch and release also as much fun as it is one time i sure want to always be able to do it again