Crestliner2008

X2 - And after 64 years, I'm still kickin' with a great physical report from my doctor! We use to shine up half and silver dollars with mercury and most schools let the kids handle the stuff in science projects. I've been pouring lead weights all my life. So far, no ill effects. Maybe after I'm dead they'll find something? My name is....uh....what was that question again?

The drop shot rig can be used from the bank. The problem you run into is snagging the sinker. If you go with a pencil weight, you should be O.K. though. Just use the lightest sinker you can get away with; 1/16 oz. - 1/4 oz. tops. Just enough to keep bottom contact. Try 8# test line for starters (I'd recommend a quality fluorocarbon line). You may have to go down to 6# test if the bites are not forth coming. Lot's of folks cast this rig, even from a boat. However, I fish it vertically most of the time, because I'm fishing deep water (25' - 35') humps and targeting roaming bass. I lock on a school of bait (using my sonar) and anchor. The fish keep coming around and around to the same spot. I do cast it when fishing shallower water in the spring and fall. From the shore, you need to select a good ambush point, with direct deep water access. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

This should help you

Whenever I fish deep (25' - 35') humps for smallies, I usually drop shot, spoon 'em, or jig. But often times, especially in the mornings on these same structures, I'll toss a 100 Sammy. Incredible results sometimes! But it's a hit or miss scenario....it either works or won't, depending on how high the bass are suspended.

I'm from western MA myself. Is this river in the east? Regardless, be careful of any ice on the edges....can be very dangerous if you are fishing from shore! I'd target any deep pools or large eddys, just above the dams, if there are any dams? Fish slow and deep this time of the year. If you have a boat, so much the better. I'd be using the drop shot or blade baits slowly jigged off the bottom. If all else fails, try a 4" Senko drifted into any eddy or Fat Ika rigged in reverse with a 4/0 EWG worm hook and presented in similar fashion. Good Luck!

Not knowing this lake - water clarity/temp/target fishing depths - I'd say you were doing too much fishing and not enough searching. You have electronics on your boat. Do you know how to use them? I'm not trying to be sarcastic, just that lots of people have sonars, but don't know how to 1) set them up properly or 2) what to look for if they are set-up properly. Fact: ...."you can't catch fish where they ain't!" Buck Perry, circa 1960. That being said, don't worry about where the bass are. Worry about where the BAIT is. Find balls of bait on, or adjacent to deep(20' - 30') water humps (using your sonar) and you WILL catch bass. I'd recommend that, once you find some good bait balls, anchor and use 1) drop shot (do NOT over-work the quivering....deadsticking is sometimes much better) and 2) Senkos, rigged wacky style. If neither of these presentation produce for you, I'd then - and only then - figure they are suspended for whatever reason. Even in this case, find bait and then use a wacky rigged Senko on a SLIP BOBBER, set at the depth that you find bait/bass cruising (or suspect they are cruising). Alternative presentations could be spoons or blade baits. This strategy should produce for you. Good Luck!

I prefer to work that in reverse....casting shallow and walking my jig down toward the deeper water. This way I can vertically jig prior to re-casting. Sometimes this yields some pretty big boys where we fish, including a laker or two!

#8 lb. test is tops for me for any smallie fishing (DD cranks or blades) but 6# test is my staple. As far as swimming the jig goes, I wish he'd have tried just a plain ball head jig with a grub for comparison. When the smallies are on bottom and chasing, you can't beat this jig/grub. Not sure I've ever experienced a situation where smallies ever "needed" bulk to inspire a strike. I rely more on depth and speed control.

Great day for sure! Congrats!

Fine looking smallmouth bass! You're making me very jealous. We've still got ice flows on our rivers

I've use Reel Magic for 2 1/2 seasons now and find it's best application is in cold weather. I spray the guides and the spooled line. This helps with freezing. I've also heard that L&L is suppose to be a superior product. So, I guess I'll give that whirl this season and see if I find any difference. Good thread folks, thanks!

I posted here last year of using Goodies for Senkos. They work fine and are real cheap. I posted pictures of how I used them too. If interested, you can do a search on my posts. If you can't find it, I'll try to re-post if necessary.

Great pictures! You got some really nice smallies there! What river is that?

The really great part of this show is that it is reality TV! No BS or canned fishing segments. It's what everyone is up against each time we go out fishing. Now Mike has everything at his disposal for equipment, is a professional tournament angler and is place on some tough waters. He success and/or lack thereof, makes us all feel better about our time on the waters. I like this show!

Wow! Pretty soon they'll be putting individual eye lashes on lures!

One tip which you might want to consider, with regards to the hook. There are two types of nose connections; one is a barbed straight piece of metal. The other is a screw type. Get the screw type with these baits. The barbed metal will not hold in the head.

Your money will be better spent on the regular Pointer. X2. Great post RW! I've never had any luck with the larger 128's, the 78's or 100's do me best.

What are the water temps? Do the lakes freeze over? I always fish ice out by using a blade on the deeper drops, close to shallow flats. You can also use jigs or the drop shot. We're talking 20'+ here. Once the water temps get up to 48 - 50 degrees, focus on shallow pre-spawn flats, adjacent to the same deep water. Hard jerks rule this time of the year, but keep a tube rod handy. Lots of variables, but this should get you into some fish.

I like poppers when fishing a river for smallies, but prefer the walking baits (Spooks or preferably Sammy's) for lakes & reservoirs. Color doesn't seem to factor into the equation, but post-spawn, up to & including the fall period, produce best for me with top waters. And do NOT forget the original, floating Rapala! Twitched on the surface, this bait can be dynamite at times.

A great bass fisherman is that guy that you can go fishing with and have a great time doing so! You can laugh, have fun ranking on each other and catch a few bass as well. What more could you ask?

With 2' of ice over all the waterways, I'm more or less hibernating until ice out....hopefully in about another month!

Just my opinion, but after 30 years of using 1/2 doz. Ambassadeur reels, I'm convinced it's one of the best value purchases out there. And they won't break the bank. Pair up a 5500-C with a BPS rod, within your budget constraints and you'll have an outfit which cannot be outfished by anyone.

For more years than I care to remember, I've used kerosene to clean bearings. Then compressed air to blow off residue. Then a quality oil soak overnight. I've never had a problem.

The banning of lead is getting to be everywhere these days. Just have to suck it up! I don't use the expensive tungsten weights. I'm sorry, a buck+ for a sinker! Not in the cards for me. I do use steel, however. Works well, is cheap and environmentally friendly....and does away with the lead. Back to tungsten - if it ever comes down to sinkers, whether one fisherman or another is successful, I'll give up fishing!

Your approach to fishing for smallies with spinnerbaits would be predicated by the time/period of the year. Early on, I agree with RW that the more vertical, on-off bottom retrieve with the heavier 3/4 - 1 oz. models is a great approach. (Don't overlook blades though!) Warmer water periods, smallies can be taken with a lot more productive presentations; drop shotting, tubes, crank & jerkbaits. JMO.