dacrawdaddy

Easily the best bait for smallmouth in ultra clear water is a Zoom super fluke jr., small clear plastic spook, drop shot 4" dragon worm by Mann's, and in the fall a bitsy bug jig w/tiny Paca chunk.

Save your gas. The closest good population of smallmouth to north Florida is the Broad River in SC. Check out the SC River Fishing website. Plenty of info.

I lived in Columbia for 15 years and can tell you that there are tackle shops all around the lake. You can contact Lake Murray Country located in Irmo,SC for specific info about tackle shops in the area that you will be staying. Dick's is located on Harbison Blvd. I don't know where you are staying but I would like to pass along some friendly advice. Crime is a MAJOR problem in the Columbia area. It had the highest crime rate per capita in the country during the 90's (FBI stats)and I know that some people would hire security to watch over their boats while staying at hotels. Stay safe and I hope you tear 'em up, it is prime time.

The 4" motor oil red flake will catch fish when nothing else will. I rig mine on a 1/8 oz slider head, let it sink to the bottom then reel in slow and steady. Can't beat the price.

I tried the Mann's super frog when they first hit the market and after about 5 casts the lead weight literally cracked and fell out. I e-mailed Mann's about this and they told me that this was a common problem with the super frog. Mann's then sent me 2 free frogs and 10 replacement lead weights. Nice of them I thought. Hopefully Mann's has corrected this problem by now. I have been fishing with hollow frogs for decades and have caught more fish on the original Snagproof frog than all the others put together, they have been around a long time. I tweak mine though, I cut the legs just above the knee and glue a short living rubber skirt into the hollow thigh and finally I wrap some lead wire around the hook for added weight. I don't know if it is the profile or size but I catch more fish on the Snagproof frog. I have experimented with other frogs side by side and always get more action on the original frog.

Broad River is located south of Forrest City on the NC SC border, Mayo River flows south out of Va west of Martinsville into NC near Hanging Rock SP, and the Uwharrie flows south of Trinity, NC through the Uwharrie NF into Lake Tillery near Morrow Mtn. SP.

Uwharrie River, Mayo,and Broad River. Pop-r, small spook, 1/8 oz buzzbait, 4"smoke grubs,4"stick worms,Rebel crawfish crankbait, and Strike King bitsy flip jig with a tiny Paca chunk trailer should get you started.

I live in Summersville about 2 miles from the lake and can tell you that it will not be necessary to fish that deep. The date of your tournament will have more to do with your presentation than anything. You have to keep in mind that the lake is drawn down 70 feet every fall to accommodate the spring snow melt and then refilled the month of April. If your tourny is early April then blade baits such as silver buddies and drop shots fished on points and rocky ledges will work. If your tourny is late April when the lake is full or nearly so, a 4" fluke fished around shallow cover is hard to beat. Watch out for floating debris because this lake is full of it as the lake fills, some areas become inaccessible due to floating logjams. Some fish can be caught on spinnerbaits and flukes around the floating logjams in 100 feet of water which is an unusual pattern to say the least. This is not a dependable pattern because some years there is not as much debris as others. The lake does have some big smallmouth but most tournaments are won with small bags of keepers. Rarely see a 5 fish limit more than 8 lbs. Lastly, there are no shad in the lake. Main forage is shiner minnows and crawfish which should help with your bait selection.

A 1/16 oz marabou jig fished 3 to 6 ft under a small float will catch anything that swims in a pond even if it is frozen. If it is windy, try to locate yourself so the wind is at your back which will aid in casting and hooksetting. Apply some scent as well and fish near the corners of the dam close to deep water.

4" stick worm has been the best for me. Don't stick to topwater baits too long. If the bass are hitting on top you will know it pretty quick. A strike king bitsy flip jig rigged with a netbait tiny paca chunk (brown and green)is my #1 bait for stream smallies. I would also like to share a tactic that works great in the heat of summer. Retrieve a 3 or 4 inch grub very fast just above riffle areas, the speed seems to turn on otherwise inactive bass. Undercut banks will usually hold the biggest bass in a small stream so keep an eye out for them. One very important thing to keep in mind when fishing small streams is to wear camo clothing and to creep along like you're hunting instead of fishing, this will help prevent spooking the bigger bass which are more wary. Hope this helps.

There have been several good techniques mentioned but for wintertime pond fishing by far the best tactic is a 1/16 marabou jig fished 4 to 6 feet below a float using 6lb. line and spinning tackle. Using this set up I have caught some of the biggest bass of my life when I lived in SC and have caught bass in WV ponds that were partially frozen. Cloudy days with a little wind are best. If possible, get the wind at your back, this helps with casting distance as well as keeping your line straight. Slowly retrieve with short pulls and long pauses so that the choppy surface water gives your jig a lifelike appearence. This will catch anything in the pond. Also, add some fish attractant to the jig, it helps.

Hello to all bass addicts. I presently live in central WV but have resided in FL., SC., and VA. I have over 40 years fishing experience and have been making homemade baits for more than 30 years. I enjoy chasing bass where ever they may live but enjoy wading for smallmouth bass in a beautiful stream most of all. I am looking forward to sharing info with fellow bassaholics.