Smallmouth Bass Advise?

[Silver/Fish]

A friend has invited me to go fishing this summer in "a prime smallmouth area." Conditions are: small rock-filled stream (river) running into a large (deep and clear) lake. <br /><br />Do I stay with the same baits that have worked well for largemouth? e.g. Texas Rig? What other tactics should I use?

 

[brownies]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Watermellon green, Smoke gray, Pumpkinseed brown...Tubes with a small tube head. Fish em like a Texas rig worm. (like a crawfish moving about).<br /> Tons of other stuff that works, but...tubes and tube heads are cheap and they work.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Originally posted by Jonathan Q.:<br />Do I stay with the same baits that have worked well for largemouth? e.g. Texas Rig? What other tactics should I use?

Yes, basically, just downsize, They like spinners more than largemouth, roostertails work great for Smallmouth. Wacky rigging a small 3-4" Senko type bait will work well also.

 

[KCLOST]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Bitsy Bug Jigs with a small 101 pork trailer work very well in streams like you may be fishing. I tear em up with that bait in the Arkansas Streams... Go with the color of the crawfish in the stream, probably brown /greenish...<br /><br />Gold and Black Rapalas work well also...<br /><br />Grubs, tubes, craw-like baits also...

 

[brownies]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

I've not tried the Little Senko deal yet, but, I've not been "creek fishing" in a while either.<br /> But, as much fun as I've been having the Senko's on the lake with largemouth...well...It's the reason I've been saving them when they get too short.<br /> Senko's are too darn high...I'm gonna use em down to inch before I get rid of em....lol.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Hellgrammites if you can find them. I was fishing a narrow rocky river in WV when a friend of mine turned me on to them. Un-freaking believable. I was fishing the normal stuff having a little bit of luck. He was pulling a fish every other cast with the hellgrammites. I gave in, put one on, and couldn't keep the smallmouth off the hook. Another cool thing about them is they're durable. They're like little pieces of leather with legs and pincers. On average I was probably catching ten fish before I had to re-bait. If you can find them at the bait store, definitely give them a try.

 

[Fishin' Jeff]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Nightcrawlers work good for me.

 

[Gone]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

+1 on the Hellgrammites! Look for them under the rocks in the stream and wear gloves. The pincers are wicked.

 

[Ripfence]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

On the James River in VA I had good luck with varous weedless lead head jigs and even crankbaits. RatLtraps worked well but I had to fight off the Flathead catfish long enough for the smallmouths to bite them.<br /><br />I looked for areas of calm water near areas of fast moving water, and would sometimes cast upstream up on the rocks and then let the bait fall down into the current. These fish are ambush feeders and will sometimes school up and wait for baitfish to come jetting out of a sluice.<br /><br />Good luck and let us know how you do.<br /><br />

Originally posted by Jonathan Q.:<br /> A friend has invited me to go fishing this summer in "a prime smallmouth area." Conditions are: small rock-filled stream (river) running into a large (deep and clear) lake. <br /><br />Do I stay with the same baits that have worked well for largemouth? e.g. Texas Rig? What other tactics should I use?

 

[b.gagnon]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

I have always had good luck with Yum Crayfish, Sencos, and small hair jigs.

 

[kentuckybassman18]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

try jig's crayfish color's, brown, blue/black, green/orange, and use a crayfish trailer on it, and i all so catch alot of smallmouth on senko worms, white,green,brown,smoke silver, and yes tube baits works good to just use something that looks like a crayfish brown in colors, or you can use the crawfish made by mad lures look just like crawfish! hope this will help ya!!

 

[jayhan]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Originally posted by Jonathan Q.:<br /> A friend has invited me to go fishing this summer in "a prime smallmouth area." Conditions are: small rock-filled stream (river) running into a large (deep and clear) lake. <br /><br />Do I stay with the same baits that have worked well for largemouth? e.g. Texas Rig? What other tactics should I use?

 

[jayhan]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

A six inch watermellon zoom lizard,carolina rigged works pretty good for me.If they are on the beds,try a suspending jerk bait,and hang on tight!

 

[Bassackward]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Don't neglect the old Tiny Torpedo or the Smithwicks Devil's Horse...fantastic topwater baits for smallies and man do they smack the be-jabbers out of em!!

Smallies are sooo much fun to catch..enjoy.

By the way...this is my first post!!! I just bought my first boat...a 02 Lund Mr. Pike 17 and the lakes here in SE Wisconsin just got rid of their ice...can't wait!

Good fishing all!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

A six inch watermellon zoom lizard,carolina rigged works pretty good for me.If they are on the beds,try a suspending jerk bait,and hang on tight!

Yah- a friend showed me that last year. It works, but bass fishing is a whole different game to me (as compared to the trolling I have done for years). Lotsa learning for me to do! Must be a New England thing?

Silver/Fish: Your profile doesn't say where you are from, but I have done OK with Shadraps and Rooster Tails with a pinch of night crawler here in the northeast. Original Rapalas trolled in steep "s" turns across the river mouths too. Hits 'em hard in June, July.

 

[Bard1]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

I lived on lake Eire around Buffalo for years. I love live bait. I would run a three way swivel, run 2' of line to a weight that works for your water.Use about 3' on the center ring with a floating jig head, this works best on a drift. shiners,big minnows,night crawlers.

 

[Starcraftguy1]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Mepps Aglia inline spinner silver blade #2 size.I have used them all over in about 5 states.They work anywhere.Been using them for smallmouth and muskys for 30 years.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

In the river I like marabou jigs in yellow and chartreuse or lead head with a crawler. Floating stickbaits if it's a big enough river (100 yds wide or more).

In the lake at dawn and dusk I love top water (Rappala 13G floater, Hula Popper, Jitterbug or any fave) right up to the shoreline around docks, rocks logs etc. This works best on still water and don't be afraid to let the lure sit there for 5 - 10 seconds after you cast but BE Ready!

If fishing is slow hit the low end of drop offs and go slow with crawlers or leaches on 1/8 to 3/16 oz lead heads.

Smallmouth bass fishing = 100% FUN!!

Downside: at some point you have to go home!

Good luck, and as already said keep us posted when you get back.

p.s. where legal salamanders make great bait.

 

[John_S]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Well, I hope he has caught something by now. 2006 is a long time to go between bites!

PS: My top producing river smallie lure is green pumpkin tubes. The 3.25 - 3.5" ones. And good fishing should start here on the NY Susky in a couple of weeks.

Last April:
http://joefish.homestead.com/FirstBlood2008.html
http://joefish.homestead.com/DoubleDown2008.html

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Smallmouth Bass Advise?

Well, I hope he has caught something by now. 2006 is a long time to go between bites!

Well there is a little egg on my face!