Shh...Smallmouth Bass Question

[notime]

I know this isn't a freshwater forum, but it appears many of you guys/gals are well versed in many aspects of fly fishing and I need your help. In two weeks I am going to be fishing the St. Lawrence river about 20 minutes east of Alexandra Bay. I've done some smallmouth fishing on the river, but have only had limited success. The area we vacation/fish is near small islands and anywhere from 3 foot to 10 feet deep with a steady current. The water is very clear. I am going to use a flourocarbon leader this year. Any thoughts on flies and/or technique would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[DAQ]

I have always done well with dark wolly buggers, weighted and unweighted, and hoppers.

[windknot]

I have had good bass success in the Concord River with smaller, #4-8, clousers. If memory serves me, Bob Clouser designed the deep minnow for smallies in PA. The occasional pickerel picks them up too. Another website has some good suggestions for freshwater deceivers, I think its Raske's Streamer page. Hoverbugs and small gurglers for topwater. (Sounds amazingly like a saltwater box sized in half!)

[Mark Cahill]

The times I've fished 'em...

Everything is better in chartruese.

[gsmith]

Try some crayfish imitations bounced along the bottom.

[AlderBrookFarm]

Sneaky Petes and deer hair froggies work well too. Don't forget to fish structure, overhanging trees, shade/sun lines, sand bars, weed flats, lilly pads. If the dragon flies are out and about then top water is a pretty good bet usually. I've had really good luck with a foam dragon fly that I tie. Nothing gets the old ticker racing like a bass crashing your fly before it hits the water. If you can, pick topwater flies that have weed guards. Good luck, we're headed up north mid week and I can't wait.