Two Presentations for Clear Water Smallies, 5/20/17

[Will Wetline]

The air temp was 52º and the water temp was 60.2º at 7:30. The north wind was blowing about 20 MPH. I much preferred this to the 97º heat two days ago. I didn't know how this radical change would effect the smallmouth's appetite, though.

 

I love the way smallies try to rip the rod from my grip when they attack a 1/2 oz. tandem willow spinnerbait burned a foot under the surface. Didn't happen this morning. Maybe they'd like a Spin Bait 80 sashayed deeper. That got the cold shoulder too. Alright then, I'd nag them with the Ned rig.

 

 

 

 

Action wasn't fast - a fish would move up every half hour or so. This was my third trip with this 3/32 oz. mushroom jig head and Z-Man Finesse TRD and it is now secure on my "go-to" list. 

 

Late morning the wind calmed to maybe 10 MPH. Smallies like a Super Fluke Jr. behaving erratically (worked like a Spook) over rocks on a breezy day. You can argue with me if you like, but I say this presentation is as exciting as topwater. It drives the bass mad and sometimes the same smallie will attack the Fluke several times before you get a solid hookup. 

 

 

 

 

Next outing I will take the few minutes needed to apply sunscreen so my face won't match my shirt.

 

Let's look at this trip's tools for snookering smallmouth, top - bottom:

 

 

Zoom Super Fluke Jr. with #1 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap Red. The smallies will chew the red off. I don't care. Gold plating is just fine with us.

 

The Ned rig. The several other colors I've tried worked too. That slightly bent hook is an Eagle Claw 500BP ("Lil' Nasty"). It's plenty sharp and it's inexpensive: $5.55/100. I haven't lost a fish because one bent out, but I have turned the points on several. For the next batch I mold I'll be using Owner 5313s in size 1 at the budget busting price of $30.62/100. These are one size smaller than the ECs I've been using but made from a heavier gauge wire.

 

This well used Duo Realis Spin Bait 80 accounted for one smallmouth. It will get more play when post spawn smallies are hungry and cruising flats.

 

All up it was a fun day on Quabbin with 15 smallies. None were big (3.24 lbs. best), but all were feisty. 

 

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

Nicely Done ~ 

I wish my spin bait looked like that . . . . 

Congrats

A-Jay

[Paul Roberts]

Nice report.

[Bluebasser86]

On 5/25/2017 at 7:35 AM, A-Jay said:

I wish my spin bait looked like that . . . . 

Me too, most of the marks on my spin bait are from the zebra mussel covered rocks. Actual marks from fish are very few and far between. 

 

Will I'm surprised you're having points roll on the Lil' Nasty hooks? It's very rare that I even bend one, but I haven't bought any for several months after ordering my last 1,000 pack, maybe they've changed them a bit since I ordered last, I hope not though. I did have a customer snap one right below the head on a hookset last week, but I've poured several thousand and only had a handful break like that. 

 

Great fish and report as always

 

[Will Wetline]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

Me too, most of the marks on my spin bait are from the zebra mussel covered rocks. Actual marks from fish are very few and far between. 

 

Will I'm surprised you're having points roll on the Lil' Nasty hooks? It's very rare that I even bend one, but I haven't bought any for several months after ordering my last 1,000 pack, maybe they've changed them a bit since I ordered last, I hope not though. I did have a customer snap one right below the head on a hookset last week, but I've poured several thousand and only had a handful break like that. 

 

Great fish and report as always

 

 

Blue-

 

My home water is ideal for the Spin Bait: it's got a healthy population of smallmouth swimming in water so clear you can see bottom in 20' on a bright day.

 

Re the Eagle Claw Lil' Nasties - I am not faulting the quality of this hook. I'm dragging them through rocks of different sizes and shapes and when I don't hang and break off, I do damage hooks. This is a price I'm willing to pay because there are big smallies that hang out in this habitat and, often enough, they intercept the bait before it hangs. I just have to be diligent about inspecting hooks after every presentation that that got hung but I managed to get back. I will do the same when I'm fishing the heavier wire Owner 5313s. I'm molding 5313s because I want to to be able to safely put more pressure on the huge smallies in my imagination on 8 lb. line and land them. 

[jbw252]

Another great chronology of one of your fishing trips.  Thanks for sharing with us.