Jar11591

For me, fishing is all about odds and percentages. Lure color, size, style and depth as well as time of day, location, weather and water conditions all change your odds. When I seek "answers" I'm simply looking to increase my chances of catching fish. With fishing nothing is guaranteed.

My absolute favorite type of fishing is top water for smallmouth. There is truly nothing better than fishing in a crystal clear northern lake on a morning when the lake is smooth as glass and seeing a bronze back come up to clobber the popper. It's addicting.

I guess the best one can do is seek advice from people who have been more successful than oneself. Almost as good as an answer if that's the best you can do right? And not to be cliche but it's called fishing, not catching. Haha -Jar

Storm Chugbug in Tennessee Shad color has been the most productive for me.

Interesting...so a more subtle approach for LM? I do catch them on topwater occassionally, it just seems like smallies are far more willing topwater biters. Wierd thing is i fish for largemouth a lot more, and i dont have a problem catching them with other methods, just cant get consistent with the topwater.

AMEN!

My all-time favorite smallmouth lure is the Storm 2.5" Rattlin' Chugbug in Tennessee Shad color, provided of course the conditions are right for topwater. Senkos and Hula grubs always work as well.

Does anyone else feel like smallmouth are significantly more willing to bite on topwater than largemouth are? I have fished for both species extensively and it seems like during evening and early morning hours, the smallmouth cant wait for the popper to hit the water before exploding on it. But in largemouth lakes that i fish in, it seems fairly rare to get a strike on topwater, whether its a buzzbait, popper, walking stick or a frog i throw over the lillies, even in spots i know there are fish. Any ideas/input?

I actually had a ton of luck trolling for largemouth this past summer. Most of the lakes i fish are small so we always do at least a couple trolling runs around the lake. Its a great way to locate fish. Even caught three 30+ inch Northern Pike and a dozen big bluegill and crappie. Another great thing about trolling is you run the lure by so many different fish, you never know what is gonna be at the end of your line.

"is that a Red Snapper?!" "I have no idea" haha too funny

Hey Everybody...New guy here from Upstate New York. I mainly fish Adirondack Mountain lakes as well as the local ponds and rivers. I try to be on the water 7 days a week and usually am. Cant do much fishing during the winter in NYS so right now im going crazy counting down the days!