Smallmouth and Big Swimbaits

[Gilgamesh]

I fish in Northern CA over the summer and as I'm sure you all know, the largemouths here have no problem hitting big swimbaits.  I'm off to Massachusetts in about a month and I'm wondering if it's worth it to bring my big 8" trout pattern swimbaits over there to throw late fall and early spring for smallies.  Thanks!

[Damn Yankee]

I fished Ma.for some thirty years, maybe scale it down a bit. Rubber worm, spinnerbait and lipless crank come to mind.The state record for lmb is 13+.The smallies love tubes.

Good luck, have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Fishin' Fool]

Bring your Keitech Fat impacts they will catch big smallies.

[Gilgamesh]

2 hours ago, d**n Yankee said:

I fished Ma.for some thirty years, maybe scale it down a bit. Rubber worm, spinnerbait and lipless crank come to mind.The state record for lmb is 13+.The smallies love tubes.

Good luck, have fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ever fish the quabbin? Any tips? Fishing was rough for me there last year.

[Dogmatic]

I follow New England swimbaiters on FB, they would probably tell you to bring your stuff. I would suggest, maybe down sizing to 6" baits, Hudd 68 and such.

[Damn Yankee]

Don't knowwhen ur going, fishing allowed to 10/15.Quabbin is too regulated for me.lots of other lakes in Ma., Ct. Tips? A craw colored spinnerbait is good in the fall.Smallies like white tubes alot, both like super flukes unweighted.Maybe do some research on other lakes in the area.Fishing is always slow in that area, I like fall the best.A little ultralight trout action can be fun.Hope this  helps, good luck!

P.s.If you fish on sundays it's not too crowded as everybodys home watching the  Pats.

[Airman4754]

6" max for smallies and spots. 168 S-Wavers are extremely productive. 

Ospreys are really good for smallies and the clear and black flake Trash Fish are awesome too.

A 5" flutter spoon is good in summer too. Run a treble free on your line at the top of the spoon. 

[Hogsticker]

Nice to have some advice from some locals. My advice and from nowhere around those parts - bring em. You'll regret it if you don't because you'll never know. Lesson #1

I've seen some real dink smallies try to eat baits 3 times there size. I caught a 3 pounder on an 8 inch Spro. Right place, right time. You just never know. Smallmouth are awfully curious critters. 

[MassYak85]

I've had 18" pickerel choke 8" trouts, that same bait to the size bass you are going to be targeting with those lures will have no issue. There's plenty of Swimbait quality fish in the state. As for smallies, there are certainly Trophy class smallmouth in the state big enough to eat them, but I agree with what other said, something like a Hudd 68 might produce better. 

[Bluebasser86]

I'd bring them.

[Crestliner2008]

I have used 8" and 6" Hudds on the Quabbin for smallies a few years back, along with some other big plugs. They will certainly hit them, no question. However, it's a low percentage game. Lots of casts.....few hits. Been fishing the Q for many decades and I know smallmouth fishing there. Swimbaiting would not my preference on that body of water. Not a large enough ROI for my liking. JMO.

[A-Jay]

On ‎7‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 1:53 PM, Gilgamesh said:

I fish in Northern CA over the summer and as I'm sure you all know, the largemouths here have no problem hitting big swimbaits.  I'm off to Massachusetts in about a month and I'm wondering if it's worth it to bring my big 8" trout pattern swimbaits over there to throw late fall and early spring for smallies.  Thanks!

Late August can be a very challenging time to target smallies - especially the bigger ones.  They go where the food is and move around a lot.  And although a fired up brown bass may "strike" at a large swimbait - an 8 inch trout may not routinely be part of it's daily diet. 

If I had only a few days of smallmouth fishing, were visiting new waters and wanted some action, I'm using a bait that more closely mimic's my target species normal diet in that lake & at that specific time of year.  In the swimbait category that would include 3, 4 & 5 inch baits that have a size, frame & shape that closely resembles whatever is available there. 

btw - some of my best smallies (4 lbs plus) routinely regurgitate 5 inch yellow perch boatside.  However, the number of Heftier bass that toss up crayfish is 3 to 1.  (Think Rage Lobster or 5 inch Berkley Powerbait Chigger Craw)

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Hogsticker]

4 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

I'd bring them.

Classic! They think they're so much bigger than they are. Gotta love the attitude!