How Similar Are Large And Smallies?

[BridgerM]

I got a smallmouth bass fishing book for christmas. http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/smallmouth-bass-al-lindner/1000384857?ean=9780960525430&page=index∏=univ&choice=allproducts&query=0960525432&flag=False&ugrp=2&

 

 

I know the obvious answer is to fish for smallies and I probably will moreso now. How applicable are the behaviors and what i read of smallies apply to LMB?

[Flywatersmallie]

Short answer is they don't compare. Of course there are exceptions to every rule but.... Smallies tend to prefer cooler, clearer and deeper water as well as harder bottom composition than largemouths. Smallies also tend to roam and relate to structure where largemouths are homebodies and relate to cover. There is a difference. Of course thats the abridged answer for lake fish assuming both are in the same body of water. River fish are a completely different game but the same basic rules apply.

[roadwarrior]

Great book!

 

Another major consideration on rivers is current. Smallmouth are in it or around it;

largemouth tend to avoid it.

 

 

[steverowbotham]

I'd say it all depends on the body of water you're fishing.  Some lakes, I find smallies and largies doing a lot of the same things, but most lakes they can be vastly different.
Smallies, I usually look for in clearer, deeper water with hard bottom transitions and some current if possible, even if only caused by wind.
Largies, can be anywhere from 8 inches to 30 feet depending on the body of water, but cover is the key.  Weather it be good thick weeds, trees, roadbeds, docks ... they need cover.

[RODNEY]

Smallies, like largemouth, have preferences, but they are adaptable. If need be they will be found in a lot of the same places. Smallmouth will also suspend much more than folks thought, they will go where the food is.

Rodney

[Dave Hull]

Largemouth are like carp, smallies like trout!

[moguy1973]

Smallmouth tend to school more than largemouth. Usually where you find one smallie there are a bunch more. Smallies tend to be a bit more aggressive also and will chase bait that are quite a ways away from where they are holding, both horizontally and vertically in the water.

[ww2farmer]

It's often going to depend on the specific body of water. In my home lake, with the exception of spring and a to a lesser extent a smaller window in the fall, smallmouth are not often found or caught in typicaly good producing largemouth area's, but largemouth are more than willing, and likely to be anywhere from the bank to deep water almost year round. There is allways that oddball smallie that will be caught under a dock in pea soup water in the middle of summer, but they are they exception rather than the rule. Truth be told, if I had to depend on catching smallies in my lake from mid/late june till mid/late september, I would have alot more free time LOL.

[wademaster1]

smallies are more athletic as you could say, seem to be in better shape stamina wise, they hold in current instead of slow water like lmb, also, they aren't near as lazy as lmb (more aggressive)

[panda_slicks86]

in lakes..... points with rocky drop offs are where i target, especially if the points facing to the windy side of the lake smallies are oxygen lovers find the good o2 in the lake find smallies... just my observation

[upnorthbassin]

It's all about the location. I fish a river here all the time where there are no largemouth bass but you can slam the smallies in the places you'd think the largemouth bass would be....if they were there. But they are also in places that you wouldn't bother fishing for largemouth. Sometimes to me they are an enigma wrapped in a riddle...surrounded by a puzzle. hehe. One day it seems they are in fast current in the deeper water and the next day I'm slamming them in the laydowns right off the rip rap in 2-3 ft of water with minimal current. The best smallie fishing I've seen is one or the other depending on the day. I have a feeling that I have no idea what I'm doing...I'm like the beverly hillbillies and I'm just firing until there's a giant windfall of oil....or...smallies. When I hit that sweet spot it's absolute smallie mayhem. I never claimed to know what I'm doing so hey.

[tubeman]

If a largemouth fought like a smallmouth, you would never get them out of the water! LOL!

[Jig Meister]

If a largemouth fought like a smallmouth, you would never get them out of the water! LOL!

 

Grew up fishing the Wisconsin river in West Bend and when I moved to Ohio I started fishing lakes and ponds. We moved when I was 8, and I am now 30. I have caught one smallie in that stretch of time, and the fight is still the best, bu I do love my LMB now good times, I miss Wisconsin waters.

[A-Jay]

I routinely find both in, around and on some type of structure.

 

But where lmb seem to prefer some cover as well, smb can do without it.

 

A-Jay