huskybass

Don't overlook a zoom super fluke or super fluke Jr in pearl white. My go to bait for big smallmouth.

It really depends upon what bait you are using. I use baits from 1/16 oz. up to 4 ounces. Different rods/reels and lines for different purposes. A great all around smallmouth setup would be a St. Croix Avid 6'6" mediium rod paired with a Team Daiwa Sol 2000 and 8 lb. excalibur line. You could fish many different types of baits with this setup.

The 30.35 lb. limit was anchored by a 7.15 lb. lunker. That means their other 4 smallmouth AVERAGED about 5 pounds 13 ounces. Simply amazing.

The nicest spinning reel I have ever used is a Team Diawa Sol 2000 or 2500. Match it up with a 6'6" St. Croix Legend Tournament medium power rod and you will have a GREAT smallmouth combo.

- As long as the fish are in 10' of water or less, I would go with a soft jerkbait. In deeper water, I would use a tube or spider grub. Light line and long casts though are the key, I think.

I only fished Crescent Lake once, I caught this funny looking green thing. I remember catching a handful of very ordinary Smallmouth there as well.

Fished Maine the first week of June. Caught many real nice smallmouth on spinnerbaits and various soft plastics up to 5 pounds 5 ounces. Water temps ranged from 56 to 71 degrees. Hit 16 lakes over the 9 day period. Here are some photos from the week.

What baits do you prefer for smallmouth in waters that are extremely clear? The reservoir I fish is clear enough to see bottom in 20' on a calm day. The forage base is rainbow smelt and crayfish primarily, with some yellow perch mixed in. I have a handful of favorite baits, but I am always open to new ideas. Thanks in advance.

I got this 5-1 Smallmouth this afternoon in about 10' of water off a steep drop in Massachusetts. The bait was a Spider Jig fished on 6 lb. fluoro line and a Medium light 6'6" St. Croix Legend Tournament Rod paired with a TD Tierra 2000 reel. She was released right after the photo was taken.

Open the Maine Atlas, pick a lake. Find a rocky shoreline. Throw hard and soft jerkbaits, tubes and spider jigs on 6 or 8 lb. line. You WILL catch smallmouth.

Super Fluke weightless on 6 lb. test. Best of luck.

Great trip and report. Congrats.

Beautiful fish and photos as always Chris. Congrats.

Here's another beast at 5 pounds and only 19" that a friend caught, very thick fish.

Very nice smallie, congrats. I would not be surpised if she went 6 pounds.

Thanks Kent, here's a photo of the replica, done by Richard Benedict in Kendall, NY:

My two longest went 22.5". No photo of the one I caught in 2002, but here's the one from the spring of 2008. Caught on a soft jerkbait and 6 lb. line. Released right after a few photos. I got a replica mount.

THe LC Sammy 100 and 115 are great smallmouth baits.

Sammy 100 or 115.

Go with the 100, it is much easier to walk than the 85. The 115 is great too. Aurora Pro Blue is a very good color in clear water.

My best SMB of 2008 at 6-4 My best LMB of the year at 7-7

Kent, Sorry to read this. I check my line often and retie at least a handful of times throughout the day. Hope you get her next time!

Here are some with nice markings:

Replicas are a bit more expensive, but I think they look better and last longer... plus you get to release the fish.

I believe he gets $18 per inch.