dtruesdell24 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 I want to start fishing for smallmouth this year in addition to largemouth. Is there much of a difference in equipment like rod strength, line, lures and stuff like that. Do you throw mainly the same lures or will a smallmouth not take some of the big lures you throw a largemouth like a frog? Quote
spartyon8 Posted March 12, 2014 Posted March 12, 2014 Different equipment...no. Strategy, structure and cover...yes! 1 Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted March 13, 2014 Super User Posted March 13, 2014 I use smaller lures when fishing for smallies. Equipment differs as well due to different structure type that smallmouth prefer like rocks, islands, humps and slightly deeper water. You don't have to use heavy line either. 8lb will work all around. Smallmouth IMO are way more fun to catch than largemouth. They fight twice as hard and you're not constantly picking weeds off your lure. You may get snagged once or twice though. Quote
dtruesdell24 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Posted March 13, 2014 I use smaller lures when fishing for smallies. Equipment differs as well due to different structure type that smallmouth prefer like rocks, islands, humps and slightly deeper water. You don't have to use heavy line either. 8lb will work all around. Smallmouth IMO are way more fun to catch than largemouth. They fight twice as hard and you're not constantly picking weeds off your lure. You may get snagged once or twice though. So what would you say is the best all around for smallmouth? I guess my MH with 30lb braid and H with 50lb braid are useless for smallmouth fishing. They'll have to stick to largemouth, pike and lake trout. Quote
Stingray23 Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 They only difference for me is the structure. I look for steep drop offs and rock/gravel for smallies. The equipment and lures stay the same. 1 Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 13, 2014 Super User Posted March 13, 2014 Where you fish for smallies may have effect the type of equipment you use. The river fishermen I hang around with usually use spinning gear and 10 pound test is as heavy as most will use. Smallies are aggressive and will hit lures of almost any size but for the most part, baits that are slightly smaller than what you might use for largemouth are normal. 4 and 5 inch senkos are the common sizes. Because smallies don't hang out in the shallow, lily pads, frogs are not commonly used. Skirted jigs pitched into cover is also not common, but swim jigs work well. I use the same spinnerbaits for smallmouth that I do for largemouth. I like slimmer crankbaits more that the wide body baits for bronzebacks. In lakes, during prespawn, the smallies I fish for like smaller jerkbaits as small as 65's which closely resemble the minnows they are feeding on. Smallies go deeper in summer in lakes so baits that probe the depths like drop shots and Carolina rigs are common. Quote
Super User Jar11591 Posted March 13, 2014 Super User Posted March 13, 2014 So what would you say is the best all around for smallmouth? I guess my MH with 30lb braid and H with 50lb braid are useless for smallmouth fishing. They'll have to stick to largemouth, pike and lake trout. 7' MF with 6-8lb fluoro or mono, throwing 4-5 inch senkos, hulagrubs, smaller cranks and jerks is how i fish for smallies....Oh yeah, and the Chugbug. Quote
Super User ww2farmer Posted March 13, 2014 Super User Posted March 13, 2014 No different equipment in general for me. But I tend to use my spinning rods more. 3 Quote
Siebert Outdoors Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Typically the only difference is location and structure. Sometimes there is no difference. Quote
motodmast Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 So what would you say is the best all around for smallmouth? I guess my MH with 30lb braid and H with 50lb braid are useless for smallmouth fishing. They'll have to stick to largemouth, pike and lake trout. 50lb braid for lake trout lol those setups are more than fine for smallmouth, i just tie a fluorocarbon leader onto my braid cause the water i fish in is really clear Quote
Pumba1239 Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 Scott im not sure if just where you are but frogs in both rivers and lakes do well for me. Pulled my personal best from lily pads. But pulled lots from deeper water as well. Quote
dtruesdell24 Posted March 13, 2014 Author Posted March 13, 2014 50lb braid for lake trout lol those setups are more than fine for smallmouth, i just tie a fluorocarbon leader onto my braid cause the water i fish in is really clear I tie a lighter leader for lake trout. I just cannot afford multiple setups. Quote
NEjitterbugger Posted March 13, 2014 Posted March 13, 2014 The only reason why equipment would change would be for the change in location from where you may find a LM versus a SM. That would then affect what you would present to them and how you'd do that. Quote
basscatcher8 Posted March 14, 2014 Posted March 14, 2014 All my heavy stuff is for pulling fish out of trees and grass. Unless I'm in the river and they are nosed into the bank which happens from time to time in high water I have my spinning stuff out for smallies. I prefer it that way though. Quote
SENKOSAM Posted March 15, 2014 Posted March 15, 2014 No difference. Both species are caught on the basic use of line, rod, reel, lures. Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted March 16, 2014 Super User Posted March 16, 2014 No difference in equipment, like others stated just the location maybe different..and the same! I don't downsize anything really. Quote
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