Stream/River fishing smallies ?

I remember about 10 years ago I fly fished for smallies on the Shenandoah in Virginia. It produced big numbers, but the size wasn't there. Maybe there weren't any bruisers there to catch. Anyway, good luck what ever you try. 

Bri - tubes! small cranks and topwaters if its warm enough, spinners too like eagleed mentioned, but tubes tubes and more tubes! You know which ones

How do you fish a tube in fast water? on a light jighead or texas rigged weedless?

 
I'll be using a heavier tube jig head (gets inserted into the tube) and just bounce the bottom, or throw near any structure.

While I doubt it could beat a tube jig for Smallies, I typically toss the 'usual' 1/16 or 1/8oz jighead with a small black or brown curly tail grub.  I kill 'em in rivers like the Alplaus, and I just use a heavier head if I think the lure is being swept away in the current, etc.  I like to creep it along on rocky bottoms.
 
I tend to think the Smallies assume the grub is a helgrammite or small crawfish, as opposed to a baitfish.
 
Spinners, Rapalas, and other 'mid column' lures will get them too, of course. 
 
Good luck Brian- we don't hear about your 'stream exploits' to often!
 
Go get 'em!

Brian - not sure where your fishing - average depth of river or how fast the flow but your best bet a box of tubes / in-line spinners (Mepps Blue Fox) / and small grubs. This will cover ya from top to bottom.

Good Luck my Friend !

Thanks Brian and good luck this weekend

Well that pretty much sucked  ... i got up early, had to put an extra layer on (only mid 30's when i left) !!!!
 
I was comfortable and looking forward to the stream challange. I get my waders on make the short walk only to find muddy nasty water.
That's when i realized i should have stayed in bed . Not sure what the deal was, we didin't get hardly any rain the past week, in the late spring and
early summer it's really clear/green water. Maybe it just dosen't get the good flow like earlier in the season ???
 
I made some half-hearted cast and got the heck out of there.
 
I don't mind not catching fish, it happens. But i was bummed and just not into it when i saw the conditions.
 
 
 
Oh well, i'll get'em next time around.
 
 
 
 
BB