Potential spawning grounds

[bass,n bob]

I'm from the NE. When mapping for new smallmouth spawning grounds what's the minimum depth you look for that's near potential areas?? I'm talking about a lake that has water 30ft or more deep.
I have no idea how far the sm travel to spawn or how deep their wintering grounds are.

[gall]

I can't say much for lakes but the waters I fish I seen beds in anywhere from mere inches to a few feet deep. That being said the deepest waters I fish are around 10ft deep. It seems to me that with moving waters they will travel pretty good distance. Also a big one is water clarity, some beds I saw where down a couple feet but the water clarity was excellent. I wish I could be more help there. I know some more experienced buys will probably chime in. 

[tkunk]

I've seen them spawn between 3 and 15 feet.

[jbmaine]

I'm close to you in southern Maine so the waters you are talking about should be similar to my experience. I have found SM beds anywhere from 1-10+ ft. In all cases they were close to deeper waters, 15+ ft. or more. In all cases the beds were on a hard bottom, gravel, rocks. I have seen bed after bed on a hard bottom. Move another 20 ft. to a smooth, muddy bottom and no beds. In this picture all the light spots behind me were SM beds.

                                                                  Jim

[MickD]

Travel is not an issue to smallmouths.  Studies have shown they travel many miles in big water.  I would not consider it a factor when looking for spawning areas.

[Turkey sandwich]

Depth and convenience to wintering areas play a part, but they're entirely relative from one body of water to another.  Current also plays a big factor in moving water.  Bottom composition is going to be one of the biggest things to key on.  Smallmouth generally prefer areas with stone/gravel bottoms, weed edges or moderately to sparsely weeded flats, or even sand over mud, silt, or decaying materials like leaves.  

 

If you think of areas that offer protection for eggs/fry that will warm up quickly, you're on the right path.  If you can find these areas near spots where you know fish are wintering, even better.

[SWVABass]

What I’ve seen here is pretty much inline with @Turkey sandwich. I have never found them in the backs of long creeks spawning. Mostly in small cuts or even on the main lake where it is sheltered. From 15-3’ deep. If fish a reservoir that’s about 90’ deep, with clear water in the spring.