Hells Canyon float

[troutcandy]

I'll be floating Hells Canyon in a couple of weeks. I've never floated the snake river before, but I hear the small mouth fishing can be spectacular. Can anyone give me some advice on what type of lures to use?
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[Belasko]

The usual suspects for smallies. Crankbaits, jigs, tubes etc. I've always used either grub type patterns or tube jigs in natural colors. My brother in law will also catch them on spinner baits. If you've caught SMB's before just do what you've done in the past and you'll be fine. I've even caught them backtrolling crankbaits for steelhead and drifting roe!
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[troutcandy]

I don't normally fish for bass. I love to catch fish on my ultra light. Someone told me a while back that Blue Fox makes a spinner that the bass love. I just can't remember which spinner he was referring to.
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[Belasko]

I don't know about Blue fox (I have yet to catch a fish in them) but Panther Martin has a bunch. Go with those in holographic colors, black, silver blade with yellow body. If you have a medium weight spinning outfit (I would recomend one for some of those beasts) buy a pack or two of 1/8 oz and 1/4 oz jig heads and a few packs of Mr. Twister meenie tail grubs in black, pumpkin pepper, motor oil, and chartreuse. Also get a few tube jigs in the same type colors. The Mr. Twisters are cheap, usually $1-$2 per 25 pack and the jigs usually aren't bad either. I've also noted that wally world will sell bass spinner baits for around a $1 if you wanted to try that. Basically you could be well set for bass for about $20-$30 for the weekend. However you'll probly spend thousands going after them the next several years.[crazy]
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[beatbiker]

We did a Hells Canyon float/Sturgeon trip last year. There were lots and lots of bass. Jigs seemed to work the best, but that was in August. I always bring along some panther martins because they catch trout and bass.

Next time I go I am going to bring a fly rod, and a set of binoculars (lots of bugs, some good wildlife; deer, rams, bear etc)
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[troutcandy]

Made it back Sunday from a 3 day float. The river was running high and fast. It rained every day. The water water murky and the fish were'nt biting. I managed to catch a few very small bass and one 14" trout on the first evening. Idaho Power increased the flows to 35,000 cfs from the 23,000 cfs from when we launched. Power boaters weren't doing much either. Still had a good time.
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