offsidewing Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 I usually do a good bit of my serious fishing in spring and early summer. Recently my family has traded it's Myrtle Beach summer vacations for trips to the lake house in Maine. Normally when I fish this lake it's spring or early summer and it doesn't take much to get into good fishing. It has clear water, rocky shores, and plenty of submerged humps, points, and drop off to hold fish. Since we started going again in August, the techniques we use in June don't apply in August. Two years ago we went out every day with crank and spinner baits and caught 4 smallies all week. Last year we researched lures and techniques a little better and loaded up the tackle box with soft plastics. We started getting 8-10 fish a day in water less than 10 feet. It was fun, but it seemed like every smallie we caught no matter where we were in the lake was exactly 15 inches. I did manage to hook two beauties easily in the 20" range, but lost them BOTH at the side of the boat (I was in my cousin's boat that day and he didn't have his net). We tried going after the big smallmouth in 20+ feet of water a couple times but all we had were senkos or worm harnesses which didn't allow us to have effective presentation at those depths. Our long time source of information at the bait shop suddenly developed amnesia when we pressed him for suggestions attacking deep water smallies in the spots we knew held fish. So, long story short, in a lake that holds a good number of smallmouth, what lures/baits would you suggest for going after them in 20+ feet of water in the summer months? The lake has clear water, rocky shores, and plenty of submerged humps, points, and drop offs that hold fish. I have a spinning and casting set up for plastics, and a couple set ups for crankbaits. I'm leaning towards jigs and trailers based on the gear I already have, but I am open to any suggestions. The Black/Blue flake and Green Pumpkin colored soft plastics were effective in the shallower water, should I use the same color combos in the deeper water with jigs/trailers? Thanks for the advice and suggestions. Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 11, 2015 Super User Posted March 11, 2015 Read up on how to fish a Drop Shot rig. You'll be bagging those Smallies Big Time. A-Jay Quote
Super User Scott F Posted March 11, 2015 Super User Posted March 11, 2015 Split shot and a leech. 1 Quote
stepchild Posted March 11, 2015 Posted March 11, 2015 As stated above, drop-shot would be my first choice. Something I found helped me last year was upping the size of my baits as the season wore on. Don't be afraid to go to 5-inch baits or bigger. Not that it discourages smaller fish (because they still bite) but I believe either they don't see baits that size very often and commit to it, or it's closer to the actual size of baitfish they're targeting. Either way, give it a shot! I would also look at other options such as a Rippin' Rap and yo-yoing it back to the boat just to get a reaction. I use the 1/2 oz. model. If you're talking mid-to-late August, don't be afraid to look in places where you'd expect the fish to be in the fall, as the bigger fish seem to be the first ones to make the move. Good luck! 1 Quote
Super User scaleface Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 My first choice would be tubes on 1/4 ounce jg heads . Quote
Mothercanucker Posted March 12, 2015 Posted March 12, 2015 Same as stated. Drop shot then tubes Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 I believe you are allowed two rods/rigs per fisherman where you are. If that is the case, then I would focus my primary presentation on the drop shot and the secondary on float fishing a wacky rigged Senko with a slip bobber (see corresponding "Sticky" above). Of course, this is predicated upon you having a sonar and the working knowledge of it, so that you can find those locations, out deep, where the odds are in your favor. Use 5" Senkos (color doesn't matter) and set your bait about 2' off the bottom. Use 4" Roboworms on the drop shot (again, don't get crazy with color) and you're good to go. Just remember one thing. With two fishermen doing both these presentation at the same time in a boat, you might find yourself in a real "fire-fight" - like having 3 or 4 big smallies on at one time, jumping all over the place! Done it many times with these very presentations. Buckets of fun. 1 Quote
Super User J Francho Posted March 12, 2015 Super User Posted March 12, 2015 Drop shot, tubes, jigs, jigging spoons are my favorites. Quote
offsidewing Posted March 13, 2015 Author Posted March 13, 2015 Thanks everyone for the recommendations! Looks like I'll be adding some dropshot gear to the tackle box! Quote
GEORGE6149 Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Read up on how to fish a Drop Shot rig. You'll be bagging those Smallies Big Time. A-Jay WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR GOOD READING ON THIS SUBJECT?????? THANKS Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 16, 2015 Super User Posted March 16, 2015 WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST FOR GOOD READING ON THIS SUBJECT?????? THANKS Hello George and Welcome to Bass Resource ~ This should help - right from the "Articles" section here. There are several more there as well. A-Jay http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_fish.html http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/dropshot_bass_fishing.html Quote
BasserJim Posted March 16, 2015 Posted March 16, 2015 Another member of the drop shot club reporting for duty. Love fishing a drop shot 1 Quote
Chad L Posted March 20, 2015 Posted March 20, 2015 I gotta go against the grain here, I would be dragging a lizard or craw imitation on a Carolina rig. You could even get creative and use a wacky senko on the Carolina rig. Quote
zeth Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 Drop shot, Football jig, Carolina rig, split shot, crankbaits, spoons, topwater... I've caught a lot of smallmouth over open deep water on topwater in the summer/fall. The list goes on. That stick bait you have would work well in 20+ feet. I have caught them in 50' on a stick bait but I add weight a lot of the time. You can always turn that stick bait into a flick shake rig to get it down deeper or just be patient. Cast it out and let it fall straight down. Use fluorescent braided line and a fluorocarbon leader and watch your line for movement. When the line moves you have a fish. Reel in and reel set the hook or if texas rigged (it shouldnt be in deep clear water) set the hook. Also use a spinning rod to make this technique work. Quote
fisherrw Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 A dropshot is my fav deep water bait other wise a deep crank such as a 10xd Quote
Dogmatic Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 Anyone ever use RediRigs "instant down riggers". A very easy way to get your baits down deep. http://www.redirig.com/InstantDownriggers-2.aspx Quote
Mothercanucker Posted March 23, 2015 Posted March 23, 2015 Drop shot with these babies.Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm Reins Bubble Shaker Jackall Cross Tail Shad Jackall Super Pin Tail 1 Quote
wuchr20 Posted April 23, 2015 Posted April 23, 2015 Definitely a drop shot rig will catch you some fish. Quote
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