Texas Smallies!

[Lil'skeeter]

I see this is a big smallie forum (due to geographic locaions) and could use some help finding the elusive (for me)Texas smallie. I do know hey like gravel bottoms, (rocks?) jigs and tubes.

     I've been fishing in North Texas for twenty years and haven't hooked one yet. Granted I haven't gone after them exclusively but you would think I would've come across some by now. I really want to target them this year. I've been unemployed for a year so I really can't afford a guide.

    Do they migrate seasonly similar to largemouth? For some reason I'm thinking they tend to stay a little deeper.......I'm not sure why but that's the mindset I have. I know most of you could probably find them with out any problems but me, I'm clueless! HELP !!!!

Thanks in advance....Ron

[Shane J]

That's news to me that there are smallies in Texas. Well, if there are, look for them deeper, and in rockier places, and with a jig.

[roadwarrior]

Surprises me, too!

 

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/smb/

 

 

[gripnrip]

I caught my first smallie this last year.  Man what a rush.  I hear there are some monsters in Texoma.  Good luck in your quest! 

[cbass12]

Caught my PB smallie out of Texoma about 5 years ago. We were there in mid-march and didn't catch many, but the few we did catch were very nice. Caught them all on small swimbaits while we were trying to find stripers.

[Lil'skeeter]

These are the lake nearest to me. Lake records, Lake Whitney 7.72, Bridgeport 7.41, Texoma 7.06, Possum Kingdom Lake 6.80, Eagle Mountain 5.41, Grapevine 4.75. Nothing like you guys up north have but I'd settle for a 4 - 5 lb. smallie any day.

 I think Whitney, Texoma, Possum Kingdom and Bridgeport have the largest populations and all four are about a hr. and a half away. Grapevine is only 40 min away and on a Texas forum I have seen several pictures of some nice ones. I guess I need to go out and try to find a gravel-rocky point and chunk a jig or tube.

[bighed]

Texoma smallmouth are fairly easy to come by.  Pretty much from Highport back to the dam on any rocky shore.  They mix in well with the lm on this lake.  We've caught them on dropshot, shakey heads, crankbaits, jigs, jigging spoons, etc.  Just not on bigger baits like a DD22.  They used to be mostly down on the dam end of the lake but I think being relocated by tourneys has changed that.  I've also caught a couple out of ray roberts which is a bunch harder to do.