Smallmouth Question?

[Quarry Man]

Today I was fishing a 125 acre lake from a boat. I was throwing a spook up shallow near lilies and docks. wasn't getting bit. Random cast out in the middle of the lake, 1lb smallmouth, a fish i didn't think was in this lake. If I want to catch more, where should i target? And will offshore sallies school up? Caught right in the middle of the left cove near south lake drive.

 

 

[Turkey sandwich]

what lake is it?  and it depends on a bunch of things.  there is no simple "fish spot x with a crankbait" answer.

[Bluebasser86]

Smallmouth tend to roam a lot. Find a giant school today, they'll all be gone tomorrow. They do tend to like offshore areas and seem to be more structure oriented than cover oriented like largemouth are a lot of the time. A walking bait fished fast over shallow, rocky points and flats is one of my favorite ways to find and catch smallmouth. 

[RoLo]

Bass turn 'off' and 'on', far more often than they move 'in' or 'out'  (it's an illusion)

 

Roger

[NHBull]

I see your in the north East.  Anglers are going crazy trying to figure it out this yr.  Very little spawning going in so far and a lot of suspended lethargic fish.

Last week, a gentle caught 25 in an area of Squam and NOTHING since!  Your not alone

 

Today a few of us are all going to drop shotting.....who knows?

[OkobojiEagle]

12 hours ago, Quarry Man said:

Today I was fishing a 125 acre lake from a boat. I was throwing a spook up shallow near lilies and docks. wasn't getting bit. Random cast out in the middle of the lake, 1lb smallmouth, a fish i didn't think was in this lake. If I want to catch more, where should i target? And will offshore sallies school up? Caught right in the middle of the left cove near south lake drive.

 

 

IF there is a good population of smallmouth; and I have reservations about that due to size and depth of this lake; I would be looking for any area with large rock.  Without finding any rocky areas I'd fish the heck out of the area northwest of the blue marker dot.  Sharp drop off along the shore, mid-depth flat area with quick drop to the deepest area of the lake.

 

 

oe

[Jig Man]

Here in MO I have been catching smallmouth close to points.  We have flooded lakes and they were in about 8-10 fow before the rains.  Now they are in about 20 fow which is right where they were.  They basically haven't moved for close to a month.  We have caught over 300 of them on the Ned rig.  They are on the points for a time them move back down the bank maybe 100 yds then back toward the point.

 

They don't seem to be associated with cover or structure at this time and are close to main lake and secondary points.  They aren't everywhere but when I have found them they are generally there the next time that I go.

 

The Zman TRD has been the best bait that I have used on 6# fluorocarbon line.  Different colors work better on different days so I keep 4 rigged up all the time.

 

The lake I am fishing is a highland reservoir with lots of clear water.

[OkobojiEagle]

46 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

Here in MO I have been catching smallmouth close to points.  We have flooded lakes and they were in about 8-10 fow before the rains.  Now they are in about 20 fow which is right where they were.  They basically haven't moved for close to a month.  We have caught over 300 of them on the Ned rig.  They are on the points for a time them move back down the bank maybe 100 yds then back toward the point.

 

They don't seem to be associated with cover or structure at this time and are close to main lake and secondary points.  They aren't everywhere but when I have found them they are generally there the next time that I go.

 

It appears to me the smallmouth are relating to those points.

 

oe