Fishing for Smallmouth Bass

Fishing for smallmouth Bass can certainly differ from largemouth fishing.One reason is it’s easier to approach and fool a largemouth than a smallmouth because smallies respond unfavorably to the presence of a boat or the glimpse of an angler. To make things worse on that end, they also more often live in clearer water. Don’t for a second think that smallies can’t see you, not even in deep water.In approaching a point or bluff that might have smallmouths, the trick is to move in as slowly and quietly as possible. Ease the throttle on your big motor some distance from the spot you want to fish, so that a heavy wake doesn’t roll over the area. Then work in from the side you don’t intend to fish and get the boat right up against the bank using your trolling motor. Most of the time you work from the shallow to the deep, so your lure will be pulled up the point from the deep to the shallow. Fish seem to hit better in this direction, and it is much easier to keep the bait near the bottom.


With the boat near the bank, make a series of fan casts, retrieving the lure slowly so it is just off or skipping along the bottom. When you have covered the area, ease the boat into deeper water about 50 feet or so and repeat the fanning. Move again and cast the new area. Most anglers don’t work deep enough on these points, and it is good to remember that, although the fish might be a little shallow early in the morning or on an overcast day, they could just as well be in 20 to 30 feet of water.


When fishing over these flat points, always cast as far as you can. The bait should be allowed to sink to the bottom and you must remain alert while the bait is falling (maintaining a tight line), because a smallmouth could suck the bait in on the way down. I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to me and if you’re not ready you will miss setting the hook and lose the fish. If a fish doesn’t strike, the retrieve should be slow, permitting the lure to skim the bottom. You can check the depth of retrieve by periodically dropping your rod tip. The lure should hit the bottom within the count of two or three, or you are fishing to fast and too high off the bottom.


Smallmouths are creatures of habit, living in the same places year after year after year. Once you find good smallmouth territory, the schools will be there next year at the same time. They don’t range very far during the entire year, moving deeper or shallower with the seasons.Finally, the clearer the lake, the lighter the line you should be using. You will catch more fish in clear water on 6-pound test than you will on 10-pound test; and you’ll discover that by eliminating terminal tackle, such as swivels, and using a small bait, you’ll increase your chances of hooking a trophy smallmouth. Less is more when it comes to catching big smallmouths Just remember that big smallmouths prefer small baits worked slowly along the bottom. They may occasionally hit a larger bait, but that is an exception. I hope this helps you with your Fishing for smallmouth Bass.