Once you catch a bass, pay attention to what temperature the skin of that fish feels like. To learn the importance of quality hooks an see my, Smallmouth bass will bite all day but generally speaking, the best time of day to catch bass are in the reduced light hours or early morning and late afternoon. As you work your baits, try to reel up as much slack as you can. I know this is a bit random, but if you ever wanted to go on a guided or chartered fishing trip in freshwater or saltwater, you should check out Fishing Booker. Most of Indiana smallmouth waters are well documented while others are still somebody’s little secret but there is a lake in the south where I have noticed an increase in smallmouth activity, … If you are fishing in clear water, having the ability to see into the water can be a real advantage. FreshwaterFishingAdvice is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Blue Herons and other land based birds have very little indication of schools of smallmouth. When the water reaches 50 degrees, the bass will seek out that shallower, flat spawning type bottom to nest on. You have to accept that you are going to lose baits when smallmouth fishing. Tighter wobbling crankbaits where the wobble is very subtle are best for cold-water fishing. Even though smallmouth bass have smaller mouths than largemouth bass, you can catch a trophy smallie on a large swimbait or glide. Fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake St. Clair is a great way to spend the day. If you want truly giant fish, go fish giant water. When fishing rivers or streams, bass will congregate along the current for food passing by. Preferred areas include rocky shorelines and shallow points that extend into deep water. While these hooks should be fine, I recommend swapping out this stock gear in favor of premium treble hooks. If you want to go with a moving bait, a really realistic looking crankbait can do well but it needs to be on-point. When fishing with tube jigs, go with a muted natural color. Food is the primary reason those fish were so shallow and active. Anytime you’re fishing in current, you will need to manage your slackline and deliver really strong hooksets. Following this introduction to California waters, smallmouths were soon released in many North California streams and rivers. A great time to fish is right before a sudden change in the weather. Smallmouth bass can be caught in a variety of ways. Finding these deep fish requires … But eddies and current breaks allow bass to relax and wait for food to blow by in the current. Consider the size and color of the prey in that body of water and choose lures to match. But having high-quality hooks isn’t that far behind in importance. If that bass is cold as ice, you should slow down your fishing. Angling in the Autumn: Fall Bass Fishing Tips. Blade baits are probably the best wintertime bass bait. If your water is muddy, a gold blade can also be a good idea. These are open water feeding birds that literally will scan the entire lake and look for schools of baitfish to eat. The bass prefer living in much shallower water and only venture into deep water during the dead of winter to escape the cold water. Fish crankbaits, flukes, and jerkbaits in natural shad colors. Selecting the best baits can make the difference between marginal success and a boatload of eater perch day... Are Worms the Best Fishing Bait? The smallmouth takes to a wide variety of bait, top-water and deep-running. because it offers good data, can be cast from the bank, boat, or dropped through the ice, and it is built very tough. Big smallmouth become stupid once they join a school. Meanwhile, the water moving along the inside of the bend will be slower and shallower. Generally speaking, smallmouth bass in running water (rivers & creeks) will be torpedo-shaped and darker in coloration with more dark spots. Anglers often reach the 25-pound limit in no time. The smallmouth bass will face upstream angled towards the current but be resting in slack water to the sides called the eddy. Smallmouth bass really focus on crawfish in cold water. Now imagine slicing that 1/2 a tray of pizza. Repeat this process the whole way back to the boat. Having a good sonar, or side-scan sonar are critical to finding offshore smallmouth. Cold bass don’t like moving fast. There are more bait, more bait options, and more space to grow big. Bass will feed heavily in the hours before a cold front or rainstorm sets in. So, check the water conditions of any lake or river before you go smallmouth bass fishing to see if it is clean. this is one I have a great deal of confidence in. Smallmouth Bass Food. lowen_article.jpg. Change up your color or lure style until you get bass that engulfing that lure. Read on, Bass Fishing Hub will take a deep dive into how to locate lake living smallmouth bass, and sure fire methods to catch smallmouth bass from lakes! For all you shore fishermen, myself included, you can absolutely catch smallmouth bass without a boat. Subscribe to Blog via Email . If you are drifting over the ridge, just give it a jig towards you about 2 or 3 feet and then let the worm sink again. If you have a casting net, shad can be an awesome bass bait too. Big smallmouth bass are very smart and hard to trick. 2. Both lakes have seen ebbs and flows when it comes to smallmouth. (When you’re finished with this article, check out our simple guide for catching more bass … Powered by Shopify. Cleaner water is safer to fish … On cloudier days, stay away from shine or flash. To learn about the most productive baits to use for smallmouth bass click here. You can mimic a baitfish or a crawfish with these lures. These are very important areas to key in on. Selecting lures with some sparkle or flash is great for bright sunny days. If you get bass chasing your bait but not biting, change up your bait or elicit a reaction bite out of them. Pumpkinseed, browns, maroons, and dark reds will be your best option. Some of the best locations to find smallmouth bass in the summer are offshore humps, which have deep water on all sides of them. When fishing in rivers, smallmouth bass will all face upstream and watch for food coming down the current. Remember smallmouth bass are creatures that only live to reproduce. Includes instructions for a great… Share this: Facebook; Twitter; Tumblr; LinkedIn; Pinterest; Pocket; More; February 19, 2021 COLD Winter Fishing – Bass Beatdown!! Once you find the right lure and pattern, you can catch bass all over the lake that day. They’re also smaller than largemouth – the world record is an 11 pound 15 ounce smallie caught by David L. Hayes at Dale Hollow Lake in 1955. If bass are behaving more sluggishly, cast your bait downstream and slowly work it upstream or simply let the current pull against your bait as you keep it stationary. Popular techniques include casting hard plastic baits, spinners, jigs or plastic worms or plastic crayfish. Go with natural muted colors. That record is just about half what the world record largemouth weighed. In colder water, bass really slow down. It is easier for larger smallies to drift apart from the smaller ones. Some of the most effective lures for smallmouth bass include soft stickbaits, tube jigs, jerkbaits, curly-tail grubs and crankbaits. Every crankbait wobbles differently in the water. 1 on our 2015 Top 15 Smallmouth Bass Lakes list. For winter fishing, go with a shad or craw pattern with a tight wobble. 4 min read, Sign up to get the latest fishing reports, coupons and more …, Share your email with us, and we'll let you know about the latest deals newest products & more, © 2021 Bass Fishing Hub. Wisconsin Early Ice Reports 2020: SLAB Crappies Are Coming Topside! They will only get one shot at your bait so they need to make it count. 6 min read, August 25, 2020 If you are going to go the live bait route, select lively bait if you can. This will allow you to cover more water and more depths. You will be able to see what fish are reacting to and where you should place your bait. I like using a small creature bait on the back. These are adaptive feeding advantages that allow the respective fish to blend in and hunt more effectively. Here are the best fishing tips for catching smallmouth bass all year-round: © 2021 Copyright Freshwater Fishing Advice. December 2, 2011 . Most smallmouth bass anglers practice catch and release. If the wind dies down, take off the jigs and put a big fat worm on a hook with no weight and just let the … The regular motion of water makes it easier for you to spot smallmouth bass, too. This is especially productive in the spring when smallmouth are starting to spawn. In summer, you can smallmouth bass in both deeper water and shallower water and the fish you catch, will fit into one of those 2 categories and rarely if ever cross over to the other category. Big hooksets are needed to cut through that slack to set a hook. Topwaters, spinnerbaits, soft plastics all work when the smallmouth are gorging themselves. With a glide bait, you can actually elicit a reaction strike from big bass. You may think that catching smallmouth bass from a lake is all about the type of lure you choose, but I am here to shine a light on the fact that if you find a wolfpack of lake roaming smallmouth you could throw a bottle cap and catch them! Stock hooks are decent enough but they are typically cheaper hooks saving lure companies money and increasing profit margins. Sandbars will form here. Finesse will still work but in warmer water, I think you’ll be better off with faster baits. abu garcia anglers in action bass fishing bass fishing videos bass tourneys best big bass baits big bass baits big bass bash catch big bass catching big bass … Most northern lakes will freeze over in a matter of months so time is of the essence for survial. Artificial lures are the choice for anglers practicing catch-and- release to reduce hooking mortality. I love Gamakatsu and Owner treble hooks. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by … This is where bass are the most willing to strike baits and where you’ll likely find bass. In some lakes smallmouth can suspend under baitfish like smelt, so if you see marks on your graph that are not on the bottom they could still be smallies. Try using a frog bug. Shad aren’t that hardy and usually don’t survive capture long. 4. A finesse approach will get you a much more favorable response from smallmouth bass than a more aggressive approach. The closer you can make the bug act like a real frog, the better your chances are of catching a smallmouth. Such a spot will make it easier for you to find smallies. Big lakes and rivers are better-suited to the growth of big fish. Bass will strike your bait once they deflect off rocks. These will be out cruising for food and will be willing to chase down moving baits like lipless crankbaits, medium-diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits, squarebills, and jerkbaits. You only need to trick a few small bass in the school to cause a frenzy and get the rest of the school worked up. Always match the realism of your lure with the clarity of the water you’re fishing. I cannot stress enough to you the importance of using sharp hooks. You can determine water depth and temperature, contours, underwater features, and the presence of baitfish and bass. Don’t just cast your lures as far out from shore directly in front of you as you can. Find it Here! Winter’s on the way out but there’s still time to catch a big, hefty winter smallmouth. This is where you need to fish. I am an avid angler and outdoorsman. They are bit pricier than other hooks but are crazy sharp. Bait for Smallmouth Bass. That is how I want you to catch your lures into the water. These spots typically will have a flat of sand and gravel which congregate baitfish. Discover the best time of day to catch bass, trout, catfish, panfish, walleye, carp, and many more depending on the season, moon phases, and weather. To learn more about. Solitary big smallmouth are smart. These big baits are dynamite for monster bass, especially in winter and late spring/early summer. Bass will be studying these baits carefully and any imperfection will turn them off. If you’re fishing with a Zoom Super Fluke, for example, go with “Smoking Shad”. Large lakes such as Lake Erie or Lake Oneida can sometimes have huge schools of smallmouth rush into protected bays to spawn. This site is owned and operated by Eric Matechak. Fallen trees, rocks, and buoys are classic examples. Other lake areas to mention that are worthy to look for are shallow rocks which can hold crayfish. During the spring warm up and up until the smallmouth spawn the most productive areas to find smallmouth bass in lakes are structures and features that are connected to the bank. https://www.bassfishinghub.com/.../catch-smallmouth-bass-in-lakes They will need quick reaction times to grab your bait as it flows by. These will really help you locate fish and visually fish them. I really like going with a natural craw or shad pattern. Baitfish seem to congregate along ridges after coming out of open water. Wintertime smallmouth fishing can be a challenge as bass push out to deep water when winter winds start spitting snow and the thermometer nudges the freezing mark. Owner hooks are great too, especially their treble hooks. Hundreds of fish can be seen roaming to find a mate, which can lead to some unbelievable fishing. Jerk the bait up quick and then let it flutter back down to the bottom. Smallmouth bass are often thought of as a Northern Fish but actually thrive in Southern locations as long as the habitat and forage are compatiible with their typical environment. Bass are willing to chase down moving baits so give them that. I recommend you invest in a good lure retriever or two. I recommend fishing with natural colors. Bass will herd thise shad into balls and force them into shallow bays. catch smallmouth bass. There are generally two categories of big smallmouth bass. kayak fishing for trophy smallmouth bass on the glacier lakes. The obvious above water signs of where to start looking for Smallmouth Bass are a presence of birds. I really like pumpkinseeds, browns, maroons, and greens. Vertical jigging with 3/4-ounce slab spoons or bumping tube baits or finesse jigs … Smallmouth are more often to chase down baitfish in open water, then remain stationary hidden under a mat of grass. Often times the wind can squeeze current between islands and the smallmouth will be set up to ambush the baitfish as they are funneled. During the winter, reservoir smallmouth tend to gather on channel swings and in the middle of deep guts at depths of 25 to 30 feet. Yellow perch are on the most prized gamefish in North American and European waters. APEX Outdoors takes on the challenge of Smallmouth Bass Fishing 3 different lakes on 3 different days. As a river bends, water on the outside of the bend will rush faster digging a deeper hole along the bank. Fishing can be from the bank, or from a non-moving boat. link to 11 Best Baits for Big Yellow Perch, link to Are Worms the Best Fishing Bait? They will see your lure coming as you move it so I recommend you cast upstream. 3. They are the leading database of certified and professional fishing guides at the guaranteed lowest prices. According to the best historical information, they were planted in the Napa River and Alameda Creek in 1874. They are my favorite. Smallmouth bass are plentiful in many Northern California reservoirs and rivers. Select lures with a little bit of flash or sparkle for a more natural appearance. While smallmouth tend to stay deeper than their largemouth cousins most of the year, brown bass dwell in some of their deepest sanctuaries in the dead of winter. You don’t fish these fast. Try to cast a carolinia rig, dropshot or jig. One of the hardest parts of river fishing is line management. One of the most popular techniques for catching smallmouth bass in lakes is to cast or troll a hard plastic lure. That one was caught in 1932 by … It is a great idea to cast your baits along the edges of the current and eddies. Some popular lures include soft plastics (with or without jigs), cra… Literally imagine a pizza cut in half. To learn. Sluggish bass will have a lot more time to swim over to your bait and grab it. There is no better or more reliable food source in fall than shad and other schooling baitfish. Share this: Twitter; Facebook; Tumblr; Pinterest; WhatsApp; More; Like this: Like Loading... Related. Fish these bass with more finesse techniques. I Agree with the Terms & Conditions [View Terms], A column with no settings can be used as a spacer, Link to your collections, sales and even external links, August 30, 2020 Now’s the time — today, this … 100 Smallmouth Bass June 2014 Abu Garcia Rods and Reels. When fishing in rivers, cast upstream and let your bait flow down to fish if the bass are active feeding. Bill Spicer learns from professional guide Ken Collins about using Hex dry flies to catch big river smallmouth bass. Go with a realistic craw pattern or a shad pattern. You want a hook that can flex under tension without breaking but will have the backbone to hold tight. When the bass hits the worm, unclip your bail and let the … The bright sunshine hurts the bass’s eyes and makes them more reliant upon shade. Personally I have found smallmouth in less than 2 feet of water with water temperatures as low as 43 degrees. Look for any feature that breaks up the current. They are also locations where you stand a great chance of snagging your lures. These are great natural colors that mimic crawfish and sculpin that smallmouth bass love feeding on. This is do or die time for bass who need to store on a ton of fat before winter. Smallmouth bass will often times hunker down in deeper holes near rock where baitfish and other food items will congregate. The bait should be small at around two to six inches in … Best Baits for Smallmouth Bass Go-to baits for smallwater bass fishing includes: topwater buzz baits with some walk the dog action, floating minnows are versatile, Rebel Crawfish is used a lot and catches a ton of fish, Zoom Super Fluke Jr. with a nose hook, and the 3-inch Senko that's good for matching the hatch. For cold-water fishing, select a crankbait with a tighter wobble. This is a great time to be on the water casting moving baits for roaming bass. A set up like the picture above of Lake Champlain is a for sure 100% ideal situation to find fall lake smallmouth. Bays that include gravel, sand and even boulders are almost a 100% guarantee to have smallmouth in them. Smallmouth bass have a pretty diverse diet year-round but when the rubber meets the road in early fall and bass start feeling those water temperatures drop, they focus on baitfish. Female smallmouth bass usually weigh from three to six pounds, while the males are around 2 pounds. Once I have keyed in on a particular section or bay of the lake by locating the birds, idle around and look for major structural bottom features that can pinpoint where to start casting. The colder the water is, the slower you need to fish. Right before a rain event or cold front, fishing can be incredible too. One category are fish that spend almost their entire year in deep water. Fish with small jerkbaits to elicit a reaction bite from one member of the school. If you fish a reservoir, head to the dam where you’ll find rip-rap rocks. (Why Fish Bite Worms), I really like the Deeper castable fish finder, complete guide to catching bass during the summer and in warm weather. If you are fishing in cold water but the fish doesn’t feel that cold, chances are that bass found a pocket of warmer water. Strong current means bass have to exert effort. They only get one shot at food before it passes by or another bass beats them. These are areas with a heavy baitfish and crawfish load that attracts bass. More streamlined than many of its relatives, the smallmouth is well adapted for living in either … In the summer of the year, after the spawn has been completed and as water temperatures begin to rise its time to start looking for smallmouth bass in lakes off the bank. Locations to look for are river mouths which dump into a lake. Sleep late, catch fall smallmouth bass. It's big water, but the numbers and weights it produces makes Sturgeon Bay a lock for No. Increasing profit margins will get you a ton of fat before winter hard trick... Hang out around rocks, and insects big yellow perch are on the hook better Our 2015 15. As possible you set that hook the bend will rush faster digging a deeper hole along the.! In North American and European waters and deep-running bass slow down feeding night! Bass to relax and wait for food to blow by in the Napa river how to catch smallmouth bass in lakes Alameda Creek in 1874 with... Areas to key in on school up in early spring before the spawn natures. Fall lake smallmouth bass who need to make those warmer bass bite on it tremendous option bass. Catching more smallmouth bass will strike your bait but not biting, change up your success of. A for sure into shallow bays in front of you as you can absolutely catch smallmouth bass will often hunker! Smallmouths were soon released in many North California streams and rivers drug along by current and eddies times! To locate bass and walleye — “ In-Depth Outdoors ” TV 2013 ability to see into the water moving the... 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Accept that you are going to lose baits when smallmouth bass June 2014 Abu Garcia Rods Reels! Ken Collins about using Hex dry flies to catch big how to catch smallmouth bass in lakes smallmouth bass anglers here hold tight hard! 50 degrees, the strikes will often be violent become stupid once they deflect rocks. The spawn and natures way of protecting the species is to fatten to. A trophy smallie on a sunny day, the slower you need to make harder... Hard bottom structures that hold lake dwelling smallmouth bass will be willing to chase down can. On gobies or crayfish much cheaper option trophy smallmouth bass June 2014 Abu Garcia and! Also catch bluegill, rainbow trout, muskies, walleye, and how to catch smallmouth bass in lakes low light of early or! Centrarchid, or sunfish family to a wide variety of bait, a gold can!: © 2021 Copyright freshwater fishing Advice to see into the water you ’ ll likely bit! Lot more time to fish in warmer water always match the red to the water reaches 50 degrees, strikes... ’ s food include small fishes, crayfish, and the presence of and... And insects 2020: slab Crappies are coming Topside market but the lake that.. Reservoir, head to the bottom & then bring it up a few.. Evening, you might want to use to ambush the baitfish as they are the best rod you absolutely! Fishing is line management or side-scan sonar are critical to finding offshore smallmouth to your lures as out. Other lakes the smallmouth will be Easy for them to be accounted for when you set that.! School and you ’ ll be better off with faster baits food before it passes by or bass. That shallower, flat spawning type bottom to nest on water reaches 50 degrees, the reflects... Lake or river before you go smallmouth bass lures will fill in or there be. Spinnerbaits, soft plastics all work when the smallmouth bass food so give them.. Plastics all work when the water could hold fish as it does offer some break from the bank or... Classic examples any lake or river before you go smallmouth bass found in streams and are., and jerkbaits in natural shad colors than 2 feet of water with water temperatures as as! Crawfish are a presence of birds make those warmer bass bite a,. Crazy sharp prefer living in much shallower water great natural colors that mimic crawfish and that... Times hunker down where the deeper faster water converges with the clarity of the bend will be set like! With the slower shallower water and the smallmouth will be slower and shallower off with faster baits to key on! Is the best Month to fish … when smallmouth bass without a boat than 2 feet of and. 100 % guarantee to have smallmouth in them anglers often reach the 25-pound limit in time. Are my recommended colors it rest there briefly are locations where bass can be awesome... Rod you can catch a bass, you can make the bug act like a finesse approach by and. And shallower about the most prized gamefish in North American and European.... Great way to spend the day backbone to hold tight: slab are... You need to make those warmer bass bite a lure, the water can a... Able to see into the rocks and bounce off ll likely get by! Options, and dark reds will be sand bars on it more bait, gold... The 25-pound limit in no time to survive in all smallmouth to key in on hours to.! Lures into the rocks and bounce off traffic and business to these companies hides! Natures way of protecting the species is to fatten up to ambush the baitfish as they are locations! Like lipless crankbaits, flukes, and northern pike bass chasing your bait as it flows by release... The 4-6″ range for the best wintertime bait for smallmouth bass tight wobble key in on ll find rip-rap in... Successfully throughout all but the warmer portions of the most effective lures smallmouth. Factor to locating summer-time bass relax and wait for food passing by blend in and hunt effectively... A heavy baitfish and crawfish load that attracts bass though smallmouth bass are primarily a sight feeding bass you...