Wabash River
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Wabash River Fishing Reports
Stay up to date with the latest fishing reports from Wabash River. Reports are submitted by local anglers, fishing guides, and our team of fishing experts.
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Species
Smallmouth BassTechniqueTubesSeasonWinterStructureBouldersSlow dragging the tube rigged stupid tube style in deeper holes. Keeping bottom contact is key.
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueTexas Rigs (Pitch/Flip)SeasonFallStructureLaydowns
The Geecrack Bellows Shad on a Gika Rig is a sleeper bait when bass are tight lipped and stuck to cover. I feel like this bait puts out vibrations that the fish just cannot resist. The bait stinks pretty good too. The Gika rig is excellent around all kinds of cover. I am yet to get hung up! Flip around and find out. You can thank me later!
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueTubesSeasonIceStructureLaydownsFlipping tube into a laydown in Indiana in early winter is almost a guarantee for hand to hand combat with a quality smallmouth. The 3.5” coffee tube is the perfect size and I don’t know why but the green pumpkin purple is the color that they love all year long. The stupid tube jig in 1/8 oz is the perfect weight for a slower fall. I like to target big laydown ms in shallow water that are close to wintering holes.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft JerkbaitsSeasonIceStructureLaydownsBroke out the FREE RIG to try on the river for winter smallies. Targeted submerged laydowns in slack water. I was impressed with how effective this was. It was a little hard to feel the bite as the line is slack but the biggest fish of the day came on this rig. Cast it right where you want it to sink. The weight drops straight down immediately, the fluke glides downs slowly. I think there is definitely something to be said for scented baits and smallmouth bass. I hope y’all are fishing, catching and living that #HookLife.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueNed RigsSeasonIceStructureLaydownsOn this river if you can find the winter hole you’re on the right track. Next try to locate submerged wood in slack water. The smallies will gravitate towards wood or darker rock in winter as it will hold heat better. The scented jerk shade floats tail up, the pointed head in the bulletz helps come through wood with ease. I like 15lb main line to a 12lb leader because you may have to horse them a little bit as you are fishing near lay downs. Put it on bottom right next to the deepest part of the laydown and let it sit there. They will come and suck it in. The feel of the bite can be almost non existent. If you feel anything different set the hook. #HookLife
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueHard JerkbaitsSeasonIceStructurePilings
Target the current seam and slack water just pass the deepest pilings. The fish will set up there and wait for bait to pass by. Find the jerk cadence they are looking for. 2-3 second pause between jerks. #HookLife
- SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueWacky RigsSeasonSummerStructureRock Pile
I’m really starting to like these dice baits for river smallmouth. LINE I highly recommend spinning tackle with braid to leader. I like the high visibility braid so you can see the bite on slack line. BAIT Really high quality materials. The natural craw color stands out just right in stained river water. It doesn’t weigh much and the skirt catches air so you will need a long med light rod for casting distance. HOOK love the screw lock as it helps me not lose the bait. These dice baits are pricey. I really like the 1/28 oz weight b/c it doesn’t sink like a rock. I was walking the banks and targeting large rocks near shallow water and eddy’s. Cast it out let it sink, a few twitches and rod raises and repeat. This smallmouth darted out of the rocks and swiped at it. This happened 3 times and on the 3rd he finally got it. The hook was super sharp and he hooked himself. Definitely was not expecting this. I’m gonna be adding this bait and hook combo into my permanent rotation for my river arsenal.
SpeciesSmallmouth BassTechniqueSoft JerkbaitsSeasonWinterStructurePilingsTargeting Pilings with significant calm water adjacent to them. Shad were holding in the calm water. The best fish were on the backside (down current) of the pilings waiting for Shad to swim past. I was “free rigging” the flukes. The weight falls fast and allows the fluke to glide down. You slowly twitch the bait until it meets the weight. Give it a pop and repeat. The fish were eating it on the drop. The Free rig uses a free sliding closed eye sinker in front of a worm hook. I like a 1/4oz sinker and a 3/0 or 4/0 hook depending on bait size. Today I was throwing 4” jerk shad and. 3/0 hook. Using the right rod is critical to feel the bite and get a solid hookset. A 7’ medium / fast action rod is is the lowest in power/taper I would go. A 2500-3000 size reel with 12-15lb braid and a 10lb leader works well for this technique.
