Smallmouths -- cioudy skies

[bass,n bob]

I would like just some basic info on deeper lakes. During nonspawn time:
 

Knowing that smallmouth are a bit more active when it's sunny, basically how do you fish differently when it's a cloudy day? Is it more of a depth, retrieve speed thing, or type of "bait".

[TnRiver46]

They are more active when it's snowing sideways where I fish. They are much more inclined to chase lures with clouds, they stay tight to cover and bite slower baits better in the sun. This info is for deep reservoirs on the TN river system and doesn't seem to apply in natural lakes up north (although I have only bass fished up north for one week, just going by what guys on here say). Are you fishing natural lakes or manmade? Which part of the USA? Also, river smallmouth can behave nearly opposite of their lake brethren. They eat the same baits just at different times and places and conditions 

[bass,n bob]

Sorry, I'm up in NH, and I usually fish natural lakes.

[Boomstick]

I find fishing natural lakes in Vermont that on cloudy day in the middle of summer, they're still more likely to chase. In milder weather, not as much unless it's about to rain.

[TnRiver46]

Well I can't help much there as I have never been north of Philly on the east coast. Decent rule of thumb: bright sky bright wild color lures. Couldy sky natural color lures. 

[TOXIC]

The only thing I change is the color of my bait.  On St Clair the smallies bite better in the sun.  Taking a Senko for example, they tear up a Green Pumpkin Black Fleck (297) when the sun is out.  When it gets cloudy I switch to a Baby Bass (305) and the bite is crazy.  I will admit, color can be very location specific though.  And that is bassackwards from the school of thought to go darker with cloudy skies.

[J Francho]

I don't think I can tie activity to whether it's cloudy or sunny, or a color preference.  Some days they like the darker colors, others the lighter green or silver colors.  I will say that I choose the gold Hopkin's Shorty spoon on cloudy days more often then the silver.

[Boomstick]

5 hours ago, J Francho said:

I don't think I can tie activity to whether it's cloudy or sunny, or a color preference.  Some days they like the darker colors, others the lighter green or silver colors.  I will say that I choose the gold Hopkin's Shorty spoon on cloudy days more often then the silver.

I think barometric pressure has more to do with it to be honest. Like if it's cloudy because rain is incoming, the bass will be active.

[Dwight Hottle]

On 4/27/2018 at 1:12 PM, J Francho said:

I don't think I can tie activity to whether it's cloudy or sunny, or a color preference.  Some days they like the darker colors, others the lighter green or silver colors.  I will say that I choose the gold Hopkin's Shorty spoon on cloudy days more often then the silver.

Silver spoons when sunny and brass or copper when cloudy. Works on all sight feeders. I have been on a good bite under sunshine with silver spoons that suddenly stopped when cloud cover moved in. The bite resumed as soon as we switched to brass or copper. Works like a light switch. I figured this out when fishing for lake trout but it holds true for pike, walleye & smallie too.