Night Fishing Smallmouth

[Bluebasser86]

Anybody night fish for smallmouth? I've tried a time or two but just can't seem to get much for results. I night fish for largemouth pretty often during the summer months and have very good results but I've only managed to occasionally catch a smallmouth and usually not when I'm fishing for them. Normally when I start night fishing for largemouth I switch to larger baits in dark solid colors but the same approach doesn't seem to work for smallmouth. I've mainly fished a jig and spinnerbait for them at night but most of my fish have come on shakyheads. I don't like treble hooked baits at night so I haven't fished any spooks or poppers for them. Anybody with some experience have any pointers?

[newriverfisherman1953]

My largest smallmouth came off of a black jitterbug at night.  I love using it.

 

 

[Revival]

I wasnt specifically fishing for smallmouths at the time, but at night they would always hit a black spinnerbait with a single Colorado blade.  If I remember correctly, they also hit a Senko or two using the Junebug or watermelon color.

[Derriick]

Got on a school of smallies off some chunk rock one night on a black deep diver.

[NEjitterbugger]

Topwater is awesome for smallmouth at night, Damiki d pop and jitterbugs are my favorite. If you don't like trebles at night maybe you could switch out the hooks on a jitterbug or whatever bait your throwing to a single gamakatsu octopus hook ( I have never done this, just a thought). If you do try this make sure the action of the bait is still good, I would think it may affect the movement. Don't forget about some soft plastic topwater baits as well...

 

I do the same thing as you said, going with bigger baits for largemouth at night. For smallies I haven't really tried upgrading the size of my bait. A good suspending jerkbait seems to slam them. The the smallies (and largemouth) will move higher up in the water column and a good topwater or jerkbait will satisfy.

 

Once you get one or two on a jerkbait or topwater then I would start fishing the bottom with soft plastics of your choice. On a jig, texas rig, caralina rig, etc.

[Bluebasser86]

Topwater is awesome for smallmouth at night, Damiki d pop and jitterbugs are my favorite. If you don't like trebles at night maybe you could switch out the hooks on a jitterbug or whatever bait your throwing to a single gamakatsu octopus hook ( I have never done this, just a thought). If you do try this make sure the action of the bait is still good, I would think it may affect the movement. Don't forget about some soft plastic topwater baits as well...

 

I do the same thing as you said, going with bigger baits for largemouth at night. For smallies I haven't really tried upgrading the size of my bait. A good suspending jerkbait seems to slam them. The the smallies (and largemouth) will move higher up in the water column and a good topwater or jerkbait will satisfy.

 

Once you get one or two on a jerkbait or topwater then I would start fishing the bottom with soft plastics of your choice. On a jig, texas rig, caralina rig, etc.

Hadn't ever thought of a jitterbug for some reason. That wouldn't be as dangerous since I'd already be reeling all I'd have to do is speed up to dig the hooks in. I might have to try one while I'm out Thursday night!

[Catch 22]

Ditto what Rivaval said on the SB. It must also scare the crap out of them becasue I`ve  seen them rocket across the water as to be running scared.

Catch 22

[Kevin22]

Just don't set the hook. Start reeling until the rod loads and then just pull back keeping pressure. Let the fish fight to the boat and there should be no problems. Wear a headlamp if you want and click it on when you get a fish so you can see what is going on. 

[tytay89]

Do you use Night line n a high power led black light ?

[Bluebasser86]

Do you use Night line n a high power led black light ?

Nope, I wear a headlamp and use it as little as possible. I actually managed to catch several nice smallmouth on a Zoom Ol' Monster worm and some smaller ones on a chatterbait and 1/2oz jig. I wasn't really just fishing for them but they were mixing in with the largemouth so they were a nice bonus. Nothing going on with the topwater so I didn't break out the jitterbug this time but I'll have to give it a try. 

[tytay89]

Are you fishing from shore or a boat?

[Bluebasser86]

Are you fishing from shore or a boat?

Boat

[tytay89]

With the top waters it wouldn't be "as" necessary... but if you fishing more then once or twice at night and fish with three people and everyone's throwing spinners and jigs then it gets tough. With the black light and everyone having clear/ clear blue line it's makes it a game changer. Your line glows like a lightsaber the biggest up side is everyone can see each others line and where to cast. Another perk is you can see the slightest tap in you line Or say you keep thinking you got a bite but with the black light u can see it was only a bat swooping past. Another is if you get knotted up just hold line in the black light .. You also look like a space ship if you run with the black lights. You may already know this but i got hip to all this few years back and it's really my favorite way to catch pig smallys.. Here some from July

[Bluebasser86]

Yeah I've fished with black lights before. I fish almost nothing but floro so they don't really help with me though. If I did nothing but night fish it wouldn't be a problem to change over. I'm dealing with pretty limited space in my little boat and the edges are higher than most bass boats so the light doesn't shine out over the edge like it would in other boats. We only fish 2 out of my boat so we've just been alternating between worms and jigs and doing pretty well.

[tytay89]

a light bitsy bug or hair jig with a pork chunk Around rock done me well.

["BRB"]

Hadn't ever thought of a jitterbug for some reason. That wouldn't be as dangerous since I'd already be reeling all I'd have to do is speed up to dig the hooks in. I might have to try one while I'm out Thursday night!

Using a jitterbug at night is probably one of my biggest childhood memory when it comes to fishing. My family and I used to camp a lot on a creek packed with smallmouth. I seem during the day the biggest one you could catch was a pound and a half, but a night with the jitterbug three pounders was common and I caught my PB with one that was just over five pounds on one. If you like to catch them on top water during the day, you got to try night time. During the day,  you see the splash, and at night you hear it.

[Bluebasser86]

I night fish a lot during the summer, just never for smallmouths. The jitterbug did catch me a few smallmouth when we went but mostly it was catching white bass. White bass are no fun to unhook from trebles in the daylight, they really suck to unhook at night. 

[A-Jay]

It's been a decent summer for spinner baits for smb.

 

A-Jay

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

You can throw a Jitterbug all night long and catch smallies. I usually have a black Colorado blade spinnerbait and black ribbon tail worm tied on as well.

[Basshammer]

Yes, i always use something black when fishing for smallies at night, they seem to show up for smallies a lot better than any other color.  Black lizards are very good and a black senko works nice also.

[Basshammer]

i always do good with something black at night for smallies.  My favorite is a black lizard or black senko worm.