Smallmouth Tackle Quandry

[tcal4404]

move around tossing a jerkbait and see if you can find some bigger fish. Every body of water is different but I've been able to find some healthy ones right up on the bank this spring just covering ground. Frustrating part is they can be in a different part of the lake the very next day with very similar conditions. 

[Dangerfield]

You want a Smallie Killer grab a Megabass Dark Sleeper. 1/2oz will do you justice for smallies but TBH I caught a 4lber on the 1oz versions.

[mike33667]

doesn't seem like you really have any questions just want to gripe and be a smart a$$ when members give their advice.  

 

30 smallmouth over the course of a couple months i'd be d**n happy to catch them on anything they will eat. 

 

i have found that if i don't use a rod i don't catch many fish on it, maybe you should try that with your panfish rod.

 

 

[Rahlow]

I used to enjoy walking the banks and catching bass on rooster tails and curly tail grubs on 1/8 oz crappie jigs,,,,

[Drew03cmc]

On 5/9/2018 at 7:52 PM, Heron said:

That’s nice....and I can toss the same bait quite a ways further, on a 7ft Light rod with 4lb mono. 

 

I like that better

If you have options for rods, don't complain. In fact, people have come to this thread and offered sound advice and you have done nothing short of being rude. If you can't or haven't figured them out yet, perhaps it's just not meant to be.

[MikeInWyandotte]

For throwing lighter lures (1/2oz or lower) I'm automatically using spinning gear.  Don't like using baitcasters for lighter lures because it's a pain in the a$$ to deal with backlash and birds nests.  I usually reserve my baitcaster for lure weights of 1/2oz and above... typically spooled with 20lb PowerPro and I always have a floro or mono leader tied on via double uniknot.   For lighter stuff, I found it really helps to use Seaguar Smackdown Braid, 10lb test.  This stuff is as light as dental floss, very limp with ZERO memory, and casts light lures a very long way effortlessly.  And since it's 10lb tests you aren't going to get broke off.  Again, with my spinning gear, I typically have a floro or mono leader tied on, usually 6-7lb test.  Works great, has the versatility to throw weightless wacky worms, swim jigs, tubes, crankbaits, etc etc.  Also my go to for drop shot.  The key though is the thin braid for your main line, can't emphasize this enough, makes a world of difference.

[Bdnoble84]

On 5/28/2018 at 4:11 PM, mike33667 said:

doesn't seem like you really have any questions just want to gripe and be a smart a$$ when members give their advice.  

 

30 smallmouth over the course of a couple months i'd be d**n happy to catch them on anything they will eat. 

 

i have found that if i don't use a rod i don't catch many fish on it, maybe you should try that with your panfish rod.

 

 

 

21 hours ago, Drew03cmc said:

If you have options for rods, don't complain. In fact, people have come to this thread and offered sound advice and you have done nothing short of being rude. If you can't or haven't figured them out yet, perhaps it's just not meant to be.

Glad i’m not the only one who thought this.

[Boomstick]

Your issue sounds strange at a first glance but you didn't mention your smallmouth gear. You could be fishing frogs, spinnerbaits and cranks, which will get smallies on the right time of the day and year, but often smallies like smaller baits and vertical presentations, which I think might be what's happening here.

 

Think drop shot, ned rig, shaky head, etc.

[Turkey sandwich]

On 5/29/2018 at 11:38 AM, MikeInWyandotte said:

For throwing lighter lures (1/2oz or lower) I'm automatically using spinning gear.  Don't like using baitcasters for lighter lures because it's a pain in the a$$ to deal with backlash and birds nests.  I usually reserve my baitcaster for lure weights of 1/2oz and above... typically spooled with 20lb PowerPro and I always have a floro or mono leader tied on via double uniknot.   For lighter stuff, I found it really helps to use Seaguar Smackdown Braid, 10lb test.  This stuff is as light as dental floss, very limp with ZERO memory, and casts light lures a very long way effortlessly.  And since it's 10lb tests you aren't going to get broke off.  Again, with my spinning gear, I typically have a floro or mono leader tied on, usually 6-7lb test.  Works great, has the versatility to throw weightless wacky worms, swim jigs, tubes, crankbaits, etc etc.  Also my go to for drop shot.  The key though is the thin braid for your main line, can't emphasize this enough, makes a world of difference.

One suggestion to help with your casting gear, use heavier braid.  Braid under 30lb can be difficult to manage on a casting rod and will often sinch down on itself.  You'll be amazed how much easier your gear will handle lighter lures with just that small change.

[Spankey]

On 5/11/2018 at 6:51 PM, PatrickKnight said:

In the river I fish a small smallie is as different from a large smallie as it is a carp.

 

They feed differently, live differently, and act very different.

 

You have to fish for larger fish. I can have a 30 fish day 10-15 inch fish or a 1 fish day 18-20 inch fish based on how and where I fish.

I hear you brother. I've been there many times over the years. I've seen my home stretch of water change and turn over the years. I believe on the rebound the last few years. I generally go home happy as hell on the solo 20" day. Hard day of fishing but landed a beauty.

[rejesterd]

"let the fish tell you what they want" is a bad way to think about the process imo, especially if you're looking for bigger fish.  They don't act the same way.  It sounds like you're mainly focusing on soft plastics rather than larger power baits like jerkbaits, crankbaits, and spinnerbaits.  If you go out for a couple days and only throw those types of baits, you'll start to see why the game isn't about "giving the fish what they want".. it's about triggering their natural instincts to bite, even when they aren't currently feeding.  

[MikeInWyandotte]

On 6/11/2018 at 4:39 PM, Turkey sandwich said:

One suggestion to help with your casting gear, use heavier braid.  Braid under 30lb can be difficult to manage on a casting rod and will often sinch down on itself.  You'll be amazed how much easier your gear will handle lighter lures with just that small change.

Yes, I've experienced the sinching down phenomena for lighter braid.  But there's a fix to that too, a tip I read from Hank Parker.  Tie on a 1/2 oz bell sinker and fling it out there.  This would represent a maximum cast distance.  Then place a piece of  tape over the line that remains in your spool.  Problem solved, that's how I can now get away with using 20lb test on all my baitcasters...  works great too!

[Bdnoble84]

What kind of tape are you using? Masking tape?

[Further North]

On 5/9/2018 at 4:32 PM, Heron said:

Btw, No Im not looking for smaller baits to use, per say.....instead, I want my fish to eat my larger baits that I purchased, just for them.

Sounds like counseling is in order here...but I'm not sure if it should be for the fish, or for you... ?

[Black Hawk Basser]

The only opportunity for smallmouth locally for me is in a relatively small river.  Fish caught generally range from 10" to 17".

 

Over the years, I have found that the most effective baits are in the 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" range.  In my experience, when I upsize to "normal" sized cranks and plastics, I rarely catch anything, although the average fish caught is bigger.

 

That said, all of my biggest smallies have still come off of the smaller baits, i.e. #6 xraps, husky jerks, 1-5/8" Bomber Square A's.  I believe size of forage is very important here.  And I'd rather have a mess of action for smallies than one bigger fish(I differ on that for largemouths).

 

IMO, a perfect smallmouth rod for these tactics is a ML with fast action.  I use a 6'3" Quantum Smoke ML for my river work.  The length is great to avoid overhanging trees, and it's strong enough to handle the occasional 20"+ walleye or catfish.