New to Smallies

[TexRex]

I've fished for Largies all my life and what I here about Smallmouth Bass is that they give a better fight, so I wanna know all there is to know about smallmouths without having to read a ton, because I don't have time.

Can you give me the obvious differences between the fish, because I have like ZERO knowledge on Smallies.

- Do they bite the same lures? Also, what are the best lures?

- Do they make the same movements during season changes?

- Are they as shallow as Largies in the Spring/Summer?

- Are they structure based fish? (I'm pretty sure they are.)

- Also, is baitcasting or spinning gear preferred? (Or does that depend on the lure like for Largies?)

I'm really clueless about these fish. Anything would be helpful, thanks!

[Smallieseeker]

I would suggest taking the time to read as much as you can this is the best forum on the net to study. It's not something you can really learn over night

[TexRex]

1 hour ago, Smallieseeker said:

I would suggest taking the time to read as much as you can this is the best forum on the net to study. It's not something you can really learn over night

I guess I should haha, but do you mind answering some of the basic questions asked above. They don't have to be detailed. Thanks!

[lecisnith]

2 hours ago, TexRex said:

I've fished for Largies all my life and what I here about Smallmouth Bass is that they give a better fight, so I wanna know all there is to know about smallmouths without having to read a ton, because I don't have time.

Can you give me the obvious differences between the fish, because I have like ZERO knowledge on Smallies.

- Do they bite the same lures? Also, what are the best lures? Yes.  Tubes, jig, jerkbaits, yadda yadda

- Do they make the same movements during season changes? Similar

- Are they as shallow as Largies in the Spring/Summer? often

- Are they structure based fish? (I'm pretty sure they are.) Often 

- Also, is baitcasting or spinning gear preferred? (Or does that depend on the lure like for Largies?) depends on the technique. 

I'm really clueless about these fish. Anything would be helpful, thanks!

There's some simple answers.  Extensive research is your best bet...

[Crestliner2008]

Just like there is no "wonder lure" to fish with, success targeting any species requires study and investment of your time on and off the water. There are no short cuts. If it were that easy, they'd call it "catching" instead of fishing.

Tons of great information on this site however, right at your fingertips. About the shortest route to success there is.

 

[Frenchman83]

One of the most important aspects to smallmouth is location, location, location.  Learn the local systems and find where the fish are.  For lures jig&craw/tube, senkos, crankbait/jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, super spook Jr. 

[mrmacwvu1]

The same lures work for both species

Smallies in river systems relate much different to current then largemouths

they spend more time in current and therefore I think that makes them fight harder 

[TexRex]

Thanks everybody for your input!

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassresource.com/content/search?SearchText=smallmouth+bass&BrowsePageLimit=30

 

[Robeng]

Put sugar on a 10 foot stick and dip it down in the water. Stand on one leg and sing "I'm a catchin me a smallie today"!  

LOL.Couldn't resist. Sorry.  

Extensive great info on this website and videos. 

Good luck.  

[bowhunter63]

Once you get hooked there is  no going back.

[Zachary Nute]

20 hours ago, mrmacwvu1 said:

The same lures work for both species

Smallies in river systems relate much different to current then largemouths

they spend more time in current and therefore I think that makes them fight harder 

I disagree. I have seen Largemouth behave just like Smallmouth in river systems. I believe that if a Largemouth and a Smallmouth lived in the same stretch of river, they would take on the same behaviors. Now, if you're referring to the differences between a Smallmouth living in a river and a Largemouth living in a pond, I would agree.

But to answer the question for TexRex, I would say that Smallmouth prefer a smaller profile and much more of a finesse presentation than a largemouth likes. Many people would disagree with the downsizing of lures to catch Smallmouth, but its true that you will catch more fish downsizing. I'm not saying that throwing a big wave bait wont catch you a Smallmouth, but you wont have nearly as much luck with it. Hope this helps!

[Turkey sandwich]

Smallmouth are much different in current! Most fish like some degree of current as it brings them food and oxygen.  Because of this, even in slight current, you'll almost always find fish facing into it.  Largemouth do not do as well in colder water or faster current.  Smallmouth show a strong preference for it.  

Also, fish in rivers, be it Largemouth, Smallmouth, walleye, or even trout, tend to be more aggressive than their stillwater counterparts because the current requires them to swim constantly and maintain a higher metabolism.  That said, they typically stay much leaner for the same reason.  For example, a 20" small mouth from Lake Erie can hit 6lbs while that same fish in a river system may only reach 4.5. 

 

As for bait size, yes and no.  I've caught Smallmouth on full-size Spooks and have also had days where grubs and Mepps spinners were the only things getting bit.  Size is about water clarity, forage, and time of the year, just like Largemouth.

["hamma"]

Smallies are different to a point. They prefer cooler waters than largemouth (they spawn earlier) The name itself tells one that smaler baits will work, but then yet ive caught 3 to 4 inch smallies on a full sized zara spook,.  when they spawn they usually bed deeper in lakes than the largemouths. and will do so with deeper water close by. They tend to be a bit more agressive than their green counterparts, and ive noticed that when i have a tough day on a lake, like after a front moves in, if i go to a river, the smallies are hitting where the buckets "seem" absent. 

Smallies seem to move seasonally the same in a lake or pond, just deeper and sooner than buckets, 

As for gear? that depends on what lure you choose to use.,... of course lighter lures dictate a lighter rod but you still need "some" backbone for jigs and worms. If im throwing a 1/4 oz jighead with a grub i use at least a med. action spinning rod.

 but then thats me and everyone has their preferrance

Hope this helps some

[lmbfisherman]

I don't change size just for smallies.  I use the same lures as I do largemouths.  In last year using same baits I caught a 2 to 1 ratio of smallies than largies.  Previous year it was about 1 to 1.  

[fishingfan25]

Throw jerkabaits, thats all i have to say about smallies... and maybe include some pink in your colors 

[Nate Stonefish]

On 4/3/2016 at 9:11 PM, TexRex said:

I've fished for Largies all my life and what I here about Smallmouth Bass is that they give a better fight, so I wanna know all there is to know about smallmouths without having to read a ton, because I don't have time.

Can you give me the obvious differences between the fish, because I have like ZERO knowledge on Smallies.

- Do they bite the same lures? Also, what are the best lures?

- Do they make the same movements during season changes?

- Are they as shallow as Largies in the Spring/Summer?

- Are they structure based fish? (I'm pretty sure they are.)

- Also, is baitcasting or spinning gear preferred? (Or does that depend on the lure like for Largies?)

I'm really clueless about these fish. Anything would be helpful, thanks!

1- I have caught smallmouth on a big DT16. Throwing bigger baits gets bigger fish.  Best techniques for me are:  Jerk baits Drop shot  Grubs 4"/  & swimbaits 4-6"  on a roung jig head, Big pre rigged swimbaits.(for trophy smallies) Tubes,  deep diving plugs to square bills, spinnerbaits, rattle traps, hairjigs and the spinbait 80.

2 - you`ll have to doresearch on the body of water you will be fishing.

3 - I have caught smallmouth in August on a 4ft flat. (30 ft or so was the drop off)  But I only fished the flat.

4 - If you find an isolated rock in smallmouth water. Cast around that and you will more then likely catch a fish or two. Smallmouth are here today gone tomorrow fish as well. So finding them is the name of the game. Pretty easy to catch once you find them.

5 -  I use both. Like you said, it depends on what you`re throwing.  

Another thing to remember Smallmouth rely on their sight to feed first. So keep that in mind when choosing colors. My Go to Color is firetiger. When that don`t work I throw something translucent. Hope this gets you going in the right direction. Tight lines and heavy bags! 

[Fishin' Fool]

On 4/3/2016 at 9:11 PM, TexRex said:

I've fished for Largies all my life and what I here about Smallmouth Bass is that they give a better fight, so I wanna know all there is to know about smallmouths without having to read a ton, because I don't have time.

Can you give me the obvious differences between the fish, because I have like ZERO knowledge on Smallies.

- Do they bite the same lures? Also, what are the best lures?

- Do they make the same movements during season changes?

- Are they as shallow as Largies in the Spring/Summer?

- Are they structure based fish? (I'm pretty sure they are.)

- Also, is baitcasting or spinning gear preferred? (Or does that depend on the lure like for Largies?)

I'm really clueless about these fish. Anything would be helpful, thanks!

Smallmouth are more bottom oriented. They tend to feed down not up like largemouth.  Just when you think you're on then you're not especially in the summer because they roam to follow baitfish. The water is more clear up north thats why people use spinning gear and lighter line up here but casting gear has its place too.