05-13-2009, 06:22 PM
That is an excellent smallmouth stretch. I have taken several driftboat trips from Swan Falls to Celebration. I hope you are good with a canoe. There are hydraulics there that will suck a boat down quickly. The water might be high and it will be cold. Keep your PFD on.
You shouldn't have a problem finding the smallmouth. They will be everywhere. If all else fails use some splitshot, sharp hook, and a worm. You may also catch quite a few Northern Pikeminnow (squawfish). There are catfish down there, too.
I have always had good luck on crawdad pattern crankbaits and just about any color tube. Depending on flows you may have to jump to a 1/4 oz. if the the 1/8 oz. does not get you close enough to the bottom. I usually run a 6'6" spinning setup with at least 8lb. line. You will be hung up frequently and the jagged rocks there are not forgiving.
That is a great stretch of water to float in the summer, too.
I don't know how savvy you are on a canoe but if it were my first time on that river I would hit a rental place and get a raft for a day.
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You shouldn't have a problem finding the smallmouth. They will be everywhere. If all else fails use some splitshot, sharp hook, and a worm. You may also catch quite a few Northern Pikeminnow (squawfish). There are catfish down there, too.
I have always had good luck on crawdad pattern crankbaits and just about any color tube. Depending on flows you may have to jump to a 1/4 oz. if the the 1/8 oz. does not get you close enough to the bottom. I usually run a 6'6" spinning setup with at least 8lb. line. You will be hung up frequently and the jagged rocks there are not forgiving.
That is a great stretch of water to float in the summer, too.
I don't know how savvy you are on a canoe but if it were my first time on that river I would hit a rental place and get a raft for a day.
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