Shenango River Smallies

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troutguy
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2011/06/19 16:22:55 (permalink)

Shenango River Smallies

Over the past 5 years or so I've been fishing for smallmouth bass in the Shenango River in Sharpsville, from the dam down to the first bridge. Usually the average size fish was like 10-12in long, and caught them on a regular basis all summer long. Only fished it a few times last year, not really fishing for bass as much as I did in the past, but the average fish seemed to be about 7in instead, and caught a big one around 18, but nothing in the middle, like there was a year class missing or something. I was only out a couple times this year by the dam fishing for eyes, white bass, and whatever else would bite, but didn't fish farther down at all for smallies. So has anyone caught many bass this year so far?
#1

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    rippinlip
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/19 19:09:34 (permalink)
    I think the amount of rain we have in the Spring has a lot to do with the year classes down the road.The spot I was fishing today was good but not so good last year.

    You should have been here yesterday.............. Streams are made for the wise man to contemplate and fools to pass by [Sir Izaak Walton]
    #2
    spg
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 00:01:02 (permalink)
    Use to fish the river a lot.  Tiny torpedo thrown across and down stream and reeled back up stream would always produce bass especially where he water starts to flatten out after the riffles.
    #3
    fiftydollar
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 13:12:11 (permalink)
    Funny, I have started floating the Shenango the last few years and I mostly get fish between 12-16 inches. What size lures are you using? Maybe you should try sizing up. Try going further down the river.
    #4
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 13:46:37 (permalink)
    Yeah the average was more like 12(except for last year). The lures that I use weren't really small. I have caught some fly fishing on small nymphs, but for the most part I was using bigger flies and spinfishing with spinners, crankbaits, pastics, etc. I'll need to try fishing it now since its lower.



    post edited by troutguy - 2011/10/25 19:33:00

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    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 13:49:38 (permalink)
    ---------
    post edited by troutguy - 2011/10/25 19:33:24

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    SmMouthSeeker
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 16:41:33 (permalink)
    I've fished it from April to the first week of June in different places. I've caught more large mouths than smallies on small rooster tails and floating rapalas. I had to work at it most days.
    #7
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/20 17:40:59 (permalink)
    I might try fishing it sometime this week. Never fished tubes there, might have to pick some up. I fished it by the dam the week before walleye season opened and in with the tons of eyes and white bass I did get a smallie about 12in, so all hope is not lost, but I have yet to fish it downstream so far this year.
    #8
    steelhound
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/21 12:48:39 (permalink)
    I was carp fishing up there yesterday and this silly game fish jumped on my line
    #9
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/21 15:45:06 (permalink)
    Thanks for the pic steelhound. I fished French last weekend and caught a few on topwater and I really have the itch to go smallie fishing now! and Shenango is much closer to home.
    #10
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/22 11:27:23 (permalink)
    Does anyone know how many gates are open?
    #11
    spg
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/22 18:08:28 (permalink)
    724-962-4384 for info.
    #12
    kristmas725
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/22 20:55:28 (permalink)
    Gate number 4 is the only one open... I was there sunday morning. Did good on the white bass and shorter than legal eyes haha.
    #13
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/22 21:28:24 (permalink)
    Yeah just about every walleye I caught there after the opener were like 14 3/4 inches, but the week before the opener a lot were 15 and bigger haha

    lots of nice white bass in there this year
    #14
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/24 09:08:09 (permalink)
    I fished down by the bridge yesterday and upstream a bit. Didn't fish long. Picked up 2 bass, one on a crankbait and one on a wooly bugger. Both were small but did have a bigger one on. One thing I noticed yesterday was a lot of dead carp, and most of them were smaller. Does anyone know what happened? They smelled pretty bad too.

    post edited by troutguy - 2011/10/25 19:38:35

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    #15
    redneck steel
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/26 18:05:26 (permalink)
    I am guessing but it could be stress from spawning.  Again thats my guess
    #16
    woodnickle
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/26 22:50:21 (permalink)
    Ya...it sounds right.

    #17
    streamfisher
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/27 00:24:35 (permalink)
    Went there yesterday caught a lot of 13 to 14 inch waleye up by the dam useing a bugger also caught a couple nice size rainbows and some little snallmouth down by the bridge
    #18
    thunderpole
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/27 13:32:47 (permalink)
    fished the wall last night 1230 to 3am got 6 eyes 2 legal couple cats rock bass and a gill one carp no smallies on mr twister and f 11
    #19
    troutguy
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    RE: Shenango River Smallies 2011/06/27 19:48:57 (permalink)
    Fished there again today. At the dam I got 2 smallmouths, both 12in., and a walleye about 14in. Tried farther down stream closer to the bridge and caught one dink smallie and a nice slab crappie.
    post edited by troutguy - 2011/06/27 19:50:18
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