I live in N.H.,where all the bass fishing is locked up due to hard water(except ice fishing which I don't do), with one nice exc

[shaneruckus]

I live in N.H.,where all the bass fishing is locked up due to hard water(except ice fishing which I don't do), with one nice exception...a warm water discharge from a power plant on the Merrimack river. I've heard people say live minnows will catch smallmouth all day, but I'm wondering what artificial lures to use, and any input on patterns would be useful. The water supposedly remains in the 60's in this one section.Thanks everybody!

[johnmerwin]

There are lots of ways to catch smallmouths in the kind of water you describe. For starters, I'd try an old reliable -- a 3-inch chartreuse, curled-tail grub on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce round-head jig, fished on 6-pound-test mono. Use the heavier version in faster, deeper water. Be careful, though. While power-plant discharges are often good fishing spots, after 9/11 access to many such areas became increasingly restricted. Don't get into more hot water than you've bargained for....

[shaneruckus]

Thanks for the input. Just one thing, The lightest line I have is 14 lb floro (vanish). I do have the jig heads you describe, as well as the grubs. The water in this section is slow moving and around 12- 15 feet deep, so any other possible options you might suggest? The smallmouth here are good sized, between 2 and 5 lbs!

[Alex Pernice the fly rod winner]

use a float and fly jig under a slip bobber, the steel head marabou jigs work well too, set you're stop to the depth of the water you're fishing so the jig contacts rises in the bottom. I fish smallmouth all year and this seems to work best in the winter.

[Alex Pernice the fly rod winner]

And you can tip the jig with a minnow.

[shaneruckus]

Hey, thanks a lot, I'll try all these ideas and post my results. I generally fish for largemouth, and so my gear is all mostly geared that way, so I appreciate all the responses!

[Charley]

If live minnows work well, try minnow imitating lures or swimbaits. Just jigging a swimbait looks a lot like a live minnow wiggling on a hook.

[ETangler]

Gummy minnows on a flyrod or a rapala minnow- an oldie but a goodie.

[Skeeb]

try jigging that area with bass jigs. Also try anything that looks like the minnows that people catch the smallies with...

[nigins]

I like the marabou jig idea posed by Alex. Curly tail jigs are a great bet too. I fished a lot on Lake Erie's warmwater discharges before they were patrolled. We always used crawfish or tube jigs. You can rig the tubes any way you want really. For the slower water I would say drop shot rig or texas rigging with a really light weight. Make steady pause and swim type retrieves. Those fish are feeding on baitfish that are being spewed out from the plant both dead and alive or wounded. "Match the hatch" so to speak and nail them smallies!

[smallgamehunter25]

Glad to know im not the only one on here from NH

[kylepountney]

try a purple and white rubber worm.

[jcmesq]

Match the hatch!