Cold Water Smallmouth: Finesse Jigs Under Foam Pockets

Jet Boat Smallmouth Guide Mike Breeding of Grateful Guides hosted me on the Susquehanna River for a fun day of smallmouth fishing when the water temperatures were hovering around 37 degrees. I tested out my new hand poured, painted and tied finesse jig with excellent results. If you want to learn patterns and presentations for smallmouth on the Susquehanna River, booking a trip with Mike would be an enormous boost to your skill set.

[@rogereaster7673]

Great video. I have been fishing with Mike for about 6 years. He is a childhood friend of mine. Because of him. I have learned to become a better smallmouth fishermen. Mike is very knowledgeable. He loves to teach the way. He is like a smallmouth jedi. Thanks for sharing

[@TheLittleStuff]

Mike is such a good dude.

[@VinnyV_01]

Enjoying the video and the fishing. My Mother lived in New Cumberland for 30 years, the bridge in background looks like you're close to that area. I wish I had fished "the longest non-navigable river in the world", as my Step-Father called it.

[@TheLittleStuff]

It’s a special place on earth.

[@jhoffman81]

God Damn Gerdie, a rockproof, an ultrex and a nrx. LIVING THE DREAM 😂

[@pabassfisherman]

Hi Jeff, just came across your videos for the first time. They are great and informative. I love our Susquehanna! It’s truly a gem. Thank you for taking the time to make us all better anglers. Hope we see each other on the river someday!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Right on Buddy! I fish all over the country, and you are correct - the Susquehanna is special.

[@ryandoll3684]

I was waiting for this one 🎣 It was cool to see how Mike approaches his winter fishing! That point @ 25 min and eddy choice “back eddy “ was very cool and makes a lot of sense to me.Obviously the Susky is wayyy bigger than my river but all this can be scaled down and used on any small river 🎣 Thanks for all the new Stuff Jeff your the man.I have became a successful winter smallmouth fisherman from all your old videos

[@TheLittleStuff]

Ryan, that last comment does my heart good. You are a beast of a smallmouth angler! The older content was when I was most committed to drilling down to one type of fishery. But there’s more to learn. I’ve been reinvigorated in being home a little more this winter. Much more winter river smallmouth content to come!

[@CARPEATBREAD42]

This is amazing! Gotta love winter fishing. All the rivers in western PA are really high right now and watching this is torture haha

[@TheLittleStuff]

High water pushes them into predictable spots. Susquehanna fish bite well in muddy water. It’s a big river. It stays high and muddy for a long time, so they learn how to find food in that level of turbidity.

[@underdogoutdoors]

I drove past that bridge this past weekend & recognized it from hundreds of smallie video's! Rapala Xrap is my go-to as well. Enjoyed your video, got yourself a new subscriber.

[@MikeB-68]

ask mike about stevie the seagull on the MD Delaware line!😀

[@mickp9513]

This was the most informative video yet! I went out today and got a few using what I learned here. Appreciate your videos!

[@TheLittleStuff]

That’s awesome Mickey! It makes me happy to know that I am helping.

[@randyb1927]

Love those jigs. Midwest finesse has made it's way here. I just ordered some Brian Schmidt Ned Dread jigs myself and can't wait to try them. Thanks for your great video.

[@TheLittleStuff]

I caught a few on that jig today!

[@riverrat92]

Nice video. Great informative video as always! Keep ‘em coming.

[@TheLittleStuff]

Thanks Shon! I have a few scheduled releases coming soon.

[@glenndaugherity6187]

Would love to come out and experience that river for smallmouth Jeff ! You have a great channel very informative ! We have the Kankakee River here in Illinois that’s not as big but a great smallmouth fishery.

[@riverrat988]

That jig you tied looks amazing

[@TheLittleStuff]

They have been eating the heck out of it! I have tied up a mess of them.

[@stephengoss4123]

Mike Breeding is awesome at Smallmouth fishing. I fish with him once to twice a year. What rod are you using Jeff is that the legend extreme ? if so what length, action and power?

[@TheLittleStuff]

7’ medium fast.

[@2575bike]

Jeff Nice rig Going to try some Nice video some great information thanks for sharing

[@TheLittleStuff]

Hey Philip, I released a video back on 12/22 that shows how I make the jigs. It might help. Also, the Z-Man Shroomz Micro Finesse Jigs also present similarly with that trailer.

[@2575bike]

@@TheLittleStuff Jeff saw them already Big fan of your work ..love going to the Susquehanna heading out with trolling motor this year. Sorry not the torqeeto got the Newport vessel 180

[@Dave-ny9el]

I appreciate all of the info since I have never been a Winter smallmouth fisherman (SW Ohio). I still have a bunch of questions. I'm not sure of what the modification was that you made on the jig head that you poured. I am also a tackle geek. I see that Mike Breeding was using a G Loomis rod but which model? How about you Jeff? How about your tackle? Rod, line reel and such?

[@TheLittleStuff]

I use a St Croix Legend Xtreme spinning rod, 7’ medium fast. The modification to the Do-It Mold was to add a collar to be able to tie a skirt to. I have a video of the modification that was released on 12/22.

[@Rookie_bass_fisherman]

Love the video! Is that the conowingo dam behind you guys?

[@TheLittleStuff]

No, that’s the Rockville Bridge in Marysville, PA

[@Rookie_bass_fisherman]

Ohh ok. Your further than I thought. Im from Lancaster pa. Enjoy your videos tho!

[@chuckvinson1]

That rig you’re fishing Jeff, looks like a Ned Dred tied by Brian Schmidt. I bet yours works better because of the offset hook.

[@TheLittleStuff]

It’s a sticky little hook Chuck.

[@ndsoc26]

How long a leader do you run for jig fishing? Mono or Flouro?

[@TheLittleStuff]

It’s fluorocarbon, 15 lb, about 4 feet. I retie and whittle it down to about 2 feet before I put a new one on.

[@TheLittleStuff]

Here is the video on that tie: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooDWe4uqg9OLp7c

[@mcarmen299]

Do you find the weedless ned head to be worth it on the river?

[@TheLittleStuff]

The head on the jig I tied is so incredibly good at holding fish - keeping them hooked. I think that I’ve caught over 100 fish on them since I started using them. I’ve lost three hooked fish on it so far. For me, that’s a really great hookup to landing percentage. The hook design is just really effective. It will straighten out if you horse a huge fish with it, but in many ways, it’s good because it also straightens out when you snag wood - you don’t break off. You get the jig back, you can bend the hook back and keep fishing it. I am working on finding a wider bodied trailer that wouldn’t snag wood as much. The Palmetto BugZ does a good job not letting the jig roll over, allowing the hook point to bury in wood. I can not say the same for the smaller Bat WingZ trailer. But man do they eat that trailer! I did trim the claws 🦞 on the larger Bat WingZ trailer as the head of the chunk is wider. That may be my answer. Time on the water will tell.

[@mcarmen299]

@@TheLittleStuff Do you find you like them more than your dragging heads? Also thanks your cold water videos are super informative

[@basandy13]

Do you sell the finesse jigs that you make?

[@TheLittleStuff]

Nope. Z-Man makes a micro finesse jig that is similar. I like the Moccasin Craw color

[@rodlinvon-hugenstine5142]

Pizzazz

[@mickp9513]

This was the most informative video yet! I went out today and got a few using what I learned here. Appreciate your videos!

[@TheLittleStuff]

Glad it helped!