Where have all the smallies gone?

Been out every single day since the full moon and haven't hooked, nor even spotted a single smallie. Hit the Yough @ Cedar Creek saturday, nada. Yough @ Buena Vista sunday, dinky little Sauger and that was it. Been fishin the Mon every day as well and nothing but a weenie little spotted bass pokin at my Zoom fluke. 
 
Friend of mine destroyed them at the Yough on Saturday, a 21" hog even. Sunday I fished exactly how he recommended, fast reel + jerk. Granted the Yough hates me for some reason, I'm still quite surprised I haven't pulled anything out of the Mon in the past week. I've been tryin it all...have had the best luck with tubes this season, but tried everything from soft baits, spinner baits, spinners, jigs, swim baits, top waters, you name it. The majority says use fast reeling action this time of year because the fish are so lazy from the warmer water you gotta make em work for their food, but can't say this has been doing a thing. 
 
I'm under the impression that I'm just going where the smallies aren't, largely because I haven't spotted any...either top water activity nor follows. We all know what Obi Wan says about luck. 

Does it have anything to do with the cold weather?

Fast reel + jerk isn't the only method to catch smallies on the Yough River this time of year.  Live leeches or black plastic worms is awesome for catching them right now.  Drifting or slow retrieve works the best.
Try the Yough  near Jacob's creek.   

I fish topwater almost exclusively for river smallmouth

I live near the Yough Skeelol. A lot of guys are ****in that they are getting skunked on the Yough. Not sure whats up. You're not the only one.

Anyone happen to be doing any better on the smallmouth in the Yough?  Debating on where to fish this weekend.  This time of the year is usually a pretty good bet for Yough smallmouth to cooperate.
 
I couldn't keep the channel cats off of the line last week at Arthur.  I don't usually fish for channels and usually not a fan of catching them when targetting other species, but it was entertaining.

Anyone been on the Mon near Pittsburgh lately for smallmouths?  I recently bought a kayak and have been looking for opportunities to use it.  I'm considering fishing along the shore near the Duck Hollow access when I get a few hours to spare.

Brent

skeelol -
Have you noticed a ton of baby shad around?  I know years they are in large numbers, fishing is tough.  I'd guess that it is pretty hard to even know if they are in large numbers this year, with how much rain, and water likely being constantly stained.
 
Brent -
With how much rain we have been getting, I'd personally avoid "Turd Hollow" in a kayak.  That CSO pipe down there, releases on about any rain.  I'd assume the water down there is filled with raw sewage on a weekly basis this Summer.  It will clear in a few days if the river is high and moving, but sits there if the river is at moderate flow.  The placement of that pipe was pretty bad design, with the creek sandbar being right down stream, and keeping a lot of that stuff from being able to wash out.  South Side isn't much better with multiple pipes, but they seem to need a larger rain to overflow.  The short lasting heavy downpours like we have been getting lately are the worse.  Too much for the pipes to handle, but not enough to get the rivers high enough to clear.  You might be able to launch across the river, although haven't been there in a while.  In between the Courtyard and entrance to the Costco gas pumps, is a trail down to the river.  There's a small creek down there, not sure where it comes from, or if any nasty stuff in it from high water.  Might be worth checking out, if you are a Costco member or just down in the Waterfront for any reason.  The last time I checked it out, it was chained off, but I didn't see any no trespassing signs, so guessing just don't want cars down there.  I'd verify with the Costco gas station if you can park there.

Porktown
skeelol -
Have you noticed a ton of baby shad around?  I know years they are in large numbers, fishing is tough.  I'd guess that it is pretty hard to even know if they are in large numbers this year, with how much rain, and water likely being constantly stained.
 

Yes, the schools start poppin up this time of year in the Mon, can't say that I've seen anymore than last year. I did see a smallie peckin at a school a couple weeks ago...I'm guessing the fishing is worse with all the shad because it's pretty much an open buffet for the fish and they don't care for much else?

I grew up on the yough this has been a terrible year for smallies I see some caught but nothing like last year . I got limit of walleye all legal put them all back for next weekend haven't hooked another since . I blame the 10,000 canoes ! I only use double jointed shad raps