Anyone Here Have A Technique For Landing Big Smallmouth?

[basslover12345]

I'm looking for a few people to interview for my Article for Bass Angler Magazine, here are my questions, you will be featured in the article with your name:

Questions:

1. With Smallmouth, is stretch in your line good or bad?

2. Do you go on the safe side, and go with heavier line?

3. How much torque (or bend) do you keep in your rod when fighting the fish?

4. Do you use a Graphite or fiberglass rod for smallmouth?

5. What's the shortest rod you'll use for smallmouth?

6. How Light/heavy is the tackle you use for smallmouth?

7. Are you keeping your rod tip up or down when fighting the fish?

8. Do you sharpen your hooks for smallmouth?

9. How hard is your hook set? What determines how hard/soft you set the hook

10. Are you setting the hook immediately after feeling the bite, or do you wait?

11. When you hook a smallmouth with a little bit of line out next to the boat, how do you not break off?

12. Do shallow water smallmouth fight harder than deep water smallmouth?

13. How do you deal with a Smallmouth's rapid movements/flashing?

14. Does Braid help with fighting smallmouth?

15. Where do you typically find that your hooking the smallmouth at ( Corner of mouth, etc.)

16. Does the type of line affect how you set the hook?

17. Since smallmouth have smaller mouths, do you use smaller hooks?

18. When a smallmouth is running, do you let your rod bend too much?

19. Is a shorter or longer rod better for fighting smallmouth?

20. Do you have any tricks on getting a smallmouth that is running side ways to tire out?

21. Do you take any precautions after swinging them in (I've had the line break once the fish hits the dock and flops)

22. Is a stiff, short rod better or worse?

23. Do you see any difference in how aggressive smallmouth are in clear water vs. dirty water?

24. What size smallmouth is easiest to fight/land?

25. How do you handle a smallmouth that eats a bait on the fall in deep water?

26. How do you keep the smallmouth from bending out a light wire hook?

27. When a smallmouth is trying to go under the boat pulling the rod tip down, what do you do?

28. How far will you let a smallmouth run?

29. How do you set the hook when you have a lot of line out when casting into deep water?

30. How much line do you typically have out for your hook set?

31. What type of knot do you use for smallmouth?

32. How do you keep your thumb and index finger from slipping when back reeling?

33. How do you prevent line from tangling when Back reeling?

34. Have you ever tried Back reeling combined with changing the angle of the rod pull from left to right?

35. How “forgiving” are the rods you use?

36. Do you ever nose hook plastics for smallmouth?

[MarkH024]

Do you have any proof that you write for BAM? Im not saying you do or don't. I am just curious.

[Sam]

The young man pens the articles and submits them to BAM for consideration.

It is a wonderful learning experience to write articles. I used to write for insurance journals and the CPCU program and learned that you can gain a lot of knowledge by seeking the input from others who are specialists in their fields and careers.

What you have to look to do is to rewrite and make changes to compress the article. You also have to connect the first and last paragraphs. Check out some of the articles you read in magazines and the best writers make this coupling with the first and last paragraphs.

There are a lot of questions that are being asked and a pro will see the questions and say "no thanks." However, we have some wonderful people on the Forum who may be able to help the young fisherman with his queries so he can create the outline for the article.

[MarkH024]

  On 9/9/2012 at 1:54 PM, Sam said:

The young man pens the articles and submits them to BAM for consideration.

Thanks for clarifying.

[roadwarrior]

Questions:

1. With Smallmouth, is stretch in your line good or bad? I use Yo-Zuri Hybrid #4. The "stretch" comparable to fluorocarbon.

2. Do you go on the safe side, and go with heavier line? No. Line diameter has a major impact on the bite.

3. How much torque (or bend) do you keep in your rod when fighting the fish? Maximum bend with measured drag.

4. Do you use a Graphite or fiberglass rod for smallmouth? Graphite.

5. What's the shortest rod you'll use for smallmouth? 6 1/2' - 7'

6. How Light/heavy is the tackle you use for smallmouth? Both. 1/4 -3/8oz jigs, but full size jerkbaits, topwater and other hard baits.

7. Are you keeping your rod tip up or down when fighting the fish? Always up.

8. Do you sharpen your hooks for smallmouth? My hooks are kept sharp for all fishing. I replace hooks, never sharpen them.

9. How hard is your hook set? What determines how hard/soft you set the hook. Snap set

10. Are you setting the hook immediately after feeling the bite, or do you wait? Immediately

11. When you hook a smallmouth with a little bit of line out next to the boat, how do you not break off? Proper drag setting

12. Do shallow water smallmouth fight harder than deep water smallmouth? No, they are the same.

13. How do you deal with a Smallmouth's rapid movements/flashing? Medium Power rod and a reel with a smooth drag set properly

14. Does Braid help with fighting smallmouth? I do not use braid when targeting smallmouth

15. Where do you typically find that your hooking the smallmouth at ( Corner of mouth, etc.) Generally in the jaw joint, but not always

16. Does the type of line affect how you set the hook? No

17. Since smallmouth have smaller mouths, do you use smaller hooks? No, except when using live bait (minnows)

18. When a smallmouth is running, do you let your rod bend too much? Maximum bend

19. Is a shorter or longer rod better for fighting smallmouth? Longer

20. Do you have any tricks on getting a smallmouth that is running side ways to tire out? She's pulling drag or coming my way. Always maximum pressure.

21. Do you take any precautions after swinging them in (I've had the line break once the fish hits the dock and flops). I would never treat a fish that way.

22. Is a stiff, short rod better or worse? I don't own any.

23. Do you see any difference in how aggressive smallmouth are in clear water vs. dirty water? None

24. What size smallmouth is easiest to fight/land? They all fight hard, but fish over 5 lbs are significantly different than smaller fish.

25. How do you handle a smallmouth that eats a bait on the fall in deep water? Set the hook when ANYTHING feels "different".

26. How do you keep the smallmouth from bending out a light wire hook? Proper drag setting. That has never happened to me.

27. When a smallmouth is trying to go under the boat pulling the rod tip down, what do you do? Get around to the other side!

28. How far will you let a smallmouth run? As far as she can under maximum pressure.

29. How do you set the hook when you have a lot of line out when casting into deep water?Reel down qickly while lowering the rod tip. Then a snap set.

30. How much line do you typically have out for your hook set? 25-30 yards

31. What type of knot do you use for smallmouth? Depends on the lure/hook. Palomar on single hooks; 16-20 (Pitzen or Duncan) for most lures.

32. How do you keep your thumb and index finger from slipping when back reeling? I don't backreel, I fish a reel with smooth drag.

33. How do you prevent line from tangling when Back reeling? n/a

34. Have you ever tried Back reeling combined with changing the angle of the rod pull from left to right? n/a

35. How “forgiving” are the rods you use? I prefer Medium Power

36. Do you ever nose hook plastics for smallmouth? No

[mod479]

I'm no pro, just an enthusiast of brown sunfish.

Questions:

1. With Smallmouth, is stretch in your line good or bad? Depends on what you're using to catch them, a little stretch can be good when crankin' for smallies.

2. Do you go on the safe side, and go with heavier line? No, I use 4, 5, and 6lb test co-poly/fluorocarbon. Proper drag setting is key.

3. How much torque (or bend) do you keep in your rod when fighting the fish? As much as I can unless they are flying through the air, then I "Bow to the fish".

4. Do you use a Graphite or fiberglass rod for smallmouth? Graphite

5. What's the shortest rod you'll use for smallmouth? 6'6"

6. How Light/heavy is the tackle you use for smallmouth? 1/8oz to 3/4oz when it comes to jigs. 2-6" jerkbaits/topwaters. 2-6" soft plastics of all types.

7. Are you keeping your rod tip up or down when fighting the fish? Up, or to the side...always keep pressure on them!

8. Do you sharpen your hooks for smallmouth? Only if I am short on hooks...99% of the time I replace them.

9. How hard is your hook set? What determines how hard/soft you set the hook? I always set the hook the same, reel down some and set it firmly.

10. Are you setting the hook immediately after feeling the bite, or do you wait? As soon as my brain registers something different I set the hook.

11. When you hook a smallmouth with a little bit of line out next to the boat, how do you not break off? Ensure proper drag settings before I ever cast my bait, or back reel (spinning setup) if the fish makes a run right by the boat.

12. Do shallow water smallmouth fight harder than deep water smallmouth? They all fight hard for their size, regardless of deep or shallow. River smallies fight harder than a compareble lake smallie in my opinion, those fish fight the current their entire lives.

13. How do you deal with a Smallmouth's rapid movements/flashing? Not sure what you mean by flashing, but when a smallie makes a rapid move, I let my drag handle it.

14. Does Braid help with fighting smallmouth? I only use braid dragging tubes in deep water (25'+)

15. Where do you typically find that your hooking the smallmouth at ( Corner of mouth, etc.) All over, top of the mouth usually.

16. Does the type of line affect how you set the hook? No, I always set the hook firmly and keep pressure on the fish.

17. Since smallmouth have smaller mouths, do you use smaller hooks? No, caught them on 5/0 hooks before. All depends on the bait I'm using.

18. When a smallmouth is running, do you let your rod bend too much? Always keep as much pressure on the fish as I can until it starts taking drag.

19. Is a shorter or longer rod better for fighting smallmouth? Longer rod is better for controlling smallies.

20. Do you have any tricks on getting a smallmouth that is running side ways to tire out? Keep pressure on the fish.

21. Do you take any precautions after swinging them in (I've had the line break once the fish hits the dock and flops) I dont swing fish.

22. Is a stiff, short rod better or worse? A stiff short rod is good for certain techniques and baits.

23. Do you see any difference in how aggressive smallmouth are in clear water vs. dirty water? Not in my experiences, they're almost always pretty aggressive.

24. What size smallmouth is easiest to fight/land? Dinks, the big ones are always crafty.

25. How do you handle a smallmouth that eats a bait on the fall in deep water? Set the hook when something feels different, and set it hard.

26. How do you keep the smallmouth from bending out a light wire hook? Drag settings

27. When a smallmouth is trying to go under the boat pulling the rod tip down, what do you do? Pull him back up or let the drag do the work if he wants to pull down hard enough.

28. How far will you let a smallmouth run? As far as it wants to go.

29. How do you set the hook when you have a lot of line out when casting into deep water? I set it firmly after reeling down the slack.

30. How much line do you typically have out for your hook set? Anywhere from 5 to 50 yard.

31. What type of knot do you use for smallmouth? Palomar for most situations

32. How do you keep your thumb and index finger from slipping when back reeling? Not sure, its just natural at this point. If its cold and wet, I wear gloves.

33. How do you prevent line from tangling when Back reeling? You can slow the spool down with your rod holding index finger if you have to. It's much easier to just rely on your drag system.

34. Have you ever tried Back reeling combined with changing the angle of the rod pull from left to right? Yes

35. How “forgiving” are the rods you use? Most of my rods are medium action, so they tend to have some give to them.

36. Do you ever nose hook plastics for smallmouth? Yes, on a dropshot rig.

[greyleg33]

1. With smallmouth, is stretch in your line good or bad?--Some stretch is advisable. I use fluro.

2. Do you go on the safe side and use heavier lines?--No. Mostly I go with lighter lines.

3. How much torque do you keep in your rod when fighting the fish?--I fight the fish very gingerly on anything with trebles and a little more roughly with single hooks.

4. Do you use a graphite or fiberglass rod for smallmouth?--Graphite.

6. How light/heavy is the tackle you use for smallmouth?--Everything from 1/8 to 1 oz.

7. Are you keeping your rod tip up or down when fighting fish?--up.

8. Do you sharpen your hooks.--No.

9. How hard is your hook set. Firmly and a little more so with plastics.

10. Are you setting the hook immediately after feeling the bite, or do you wait?-- Immediately.

11. When you hook a smallmouth next to the boat withh little line out, how do you not break off?-- Drop rod tip and hope for the best.

12. Do shallow water smallmouth fight harder than deep water fish?--No.

13. How do you deal withf. a smallmouths rapid movements. Fight in the normal fashion.

14, Does braid help with fighting smallmouth? I never use braid.

15. Where do you find you're typically hooking the smallmouth?--In the lips with cranks and in the cheeks with plastics.

16. Does the type of line affect how you set the hook?--No, though I imagine it would if you used braid.

17. Since smallmouth have smaller mouths, do you use smallerhooks?--No. A 6" smallmouth thinks nothing of attacking something nearly as large as

itself.

18. When a smallmouth is running, do you let you rod bend Too much? No. A graphite rod-not a lot of give-combined with fluoro-not a lot of stretch-means you give the fish a lot of head.

19. Is a shorter or longer rod better for controlling smallies?--Longer. See above.

20.Do you have any tricks on getting a smallmouth that is running sideways to tire out?--No tricks. Play as normal.

21. Do you take any precautions after swinging them in?--I lip all caught fish.

22. Is a stiff, short rod better or worse?-- I only use a short rod when surrounded by brush. Not ideal habitat for smallies.

23. Do you see in difference in how agressive smallies are in clear vs dirty water?--No

24. What size smallmout is easiest to fight/land?--Smaller.

25. How do you handle a smallmouth that eats the bait on the fall in deep water?-- Set the hook.

26. How do you keep a smallmouth from bending out a light wire hook?-- As previously stated, I play them very gingerly.

27. When a smallmouth is trying to go under the boat and pulling the rod tip down, what do you do? Keep working him.

28. How far will you let a smallmouth run?--It's up to the fish, not me.

29. How do you set the hook with a lot of line out in deep water?--With vim and vigor.

30. How much line do you typically have out on your hook set?--10/30 yds.

31. What type of knot do You use for smallmouth?--I use a knot of my own construction

(after many hour of testing).

32. How do you keep your thumb and index finger from slipping when back-reeling?How do you prevent line from tangeling when back-reeling?Will answer 32&33 together. I presume this is about spinning reels. Never had any of these problems back-reeling a spinning reel. Simply keep tension on the line at all times and there will be no problem. I always back-reel and never use a drag. I believe it gives you a more positive control of the fish. Same thing with my casting reels. Most of them have selective anti-reverse and can be back-reeled. The ones that can't I just release the spool and thumb the spool when the fish is running hard.

34. Have you ever tried back-reeling combined with changing the angle of the rod from right to left? Yes

35. How forgiving are the rods you have?--Most of my rods are med/mh.

36. Do you ever nose hook plastics for smallmouth?--Dropshot only.

[SudburyBasser]

In a past life I was a journalist and did many of an interview for newspapers and magazines...36 questions is way too many to expect a subject to answer :-)

[Big John]

1. With Smallmouth, is stretch in your line good or bad? Not sure, i dont like stretch personally but there are situations it would help.

2. Do you go on the safe side, and go with heavier line? I use the lightest line i feel i can get away with.

3. How much torque (or bend) do you keep in your rod when fighting the fish? As much as i can

4. Do you use a Graphite or fiberglass rod for smallmouth? I have never used fiberglass, but I am also not against it

5. What's the shortest rod you'll use for smallmouth? The shortest rod i own is 5 feet, so 5 feet i guess

6. How Light/heavy is the tackle you use for smallmouth? depends on the situation, i use a lot of ultralight tackle though

7. Are you keeping your rod tip up or down when fighting the fish? whatever direction keeps a decent bend in my rod

8. Do you sharpen your hooks for smallmouth? dont own a hook sharpener, never had a problem with it

9. How hard is your hook set? What determines how hard/soft you set the hook I try to "cross their eyes" when i set the hook

10. Are you setting the hook immediately after feeling the bite, or do you wait? as soon as i feel something different

11. When you hook a smallmouth with a little bit of line out next to the boat, how do you not break off? never fished smallmouth from a boat

12. Do shallow water smallmouth fight harder than deep water smallmouth? i wouldnt know, but river smallies fight harder than lake smallies in my opinion

13. How do you deal with a Smallmouth's rapid movements/flashing? hold on tight and keep the rod loaded

14. Does Braid help with fighting smallmouth? i have caught them with braid, fluoro, and mono. im less concerned with line at this point though

15. Where do you typically find that your hooking the smallmouth at ( Corner of mouth, etc.) almost every one i have hooked is dead center of the top jaw

16. Does the type of line affect how you set the hook? nope, i set it like my life depends on it

17. Since smallmouth have smaller mouths, do you use smaller hooks? i caught a 10" smallie one a jerkbait almost as big as the fish, so not really

18. When a smallmouth is running, do you let your rod bend too much? im not sure there is a "too much" i have never broke a rod and i am not gentle

19. Is a shorter or longer rod better for fighting smallmouth? my understanding is a longer rod wears them down faster

20. Do you have any tricks on getting a smallmouth that is running side ways to tire out? nope, i just hold on and enjoy

21. Do you take any precautions after swinging them in (I've had the line break once the fish hits the dock and flops) never swung one before, typically i net them and drop my rod

22. Is a stiff, short rod better or worse? not a clue

23. Do you see any difference in how aggressive smallmouth are in clear water vs. dirty water? never noticed really

24. What size smallmouth is easiest to fight/land? i would imagine the smaller they are the easier they are

25. How do you handle a smallmouth that eats a bait on the fall in deep water? havent fished any deep water for bass

26. How do you keep the smallmouth from bending out a light wire hook? not sure, never bent a hook on a bass

27. When a smallmouth is trying to go under the boat pulling the rod tip down, what do you do? never fished for bass from a boat, but if they try to go under a dock i put more pressure on them to try to keep them away from possibly tangling me on the dock

28. How far will you let a smallmouth run? as far as it wants too

29. How do you set the hook when you have a lot of line out when casting into deep water? never fished "deep" water for bass

30. How much line do you typically have out for your hook set? anywhere between 5 feet and 50 feet i guess, they hit lures the second they hit water sometimes

31. What type of knot do you use for smallmouth? i use a palomer for everything at this point, i have yet to have one fail

32. How do you keep your thumb and index finger from slipping when back reeling? i have not back reeled

33. How do you prevent line from tangling when Back reeling? n/a

34. Have you ever tried Back reeling combined with changing the angle of the rod pull from left to right? n/a

35. How “forgiving” are the rods you use? im not sure what you mean, but i use from a 5 foot ultralight to a 7 foot medium-heavy.

36. Do you ever nose hook plastics for smallmouth? i have, there is a d**n i fish sometimes where you can just sit on the concrete with a nose hooked fluke and catch them

[Sam]

On rivers, a small black/blue bitsy jig.

On lakes a drop shot rig.

Have fun.