People who have fished the north and the south, how does your tackle/strategy change?

[caposa]

Being from Canada, I've noticed many of the tackles suggestions people swear by both here and on other platforms like Youtube just aren't as effective up north. Obviously up here you want to go with less visible line and more natural colours due to water clarity, but what else?

 

For example, I bought a couple chatterbaits last summer after hearing so many guys rave about them, and so far I've caught a grand total of ZERO fish on it. However, I'll throw a spinnerbait of the same colour with the exact same trailer, and I'll crush.

Edited May 27, 2020 by caposa

[Vilas15]

Are you fishing smallmouth, largemouth, or both? I fish only smallmouth in relatively cler natural lakes so I have learned to ignore anything regarding flipping/punching, frogs, t-rigs, heavy jigs, chatterbaits. Theres people fishing largemouth in farm ponds which does not apply to my situation. Especially with baits you need to know on what basis is someone making that recommendation.

 

Another thing is I fish lightly pressured areas when you consider the fact that probably 1 out of 5 boats or less is actually even targeting bass. If i put a good bait in the right areas it will probably work. I dont get wrapped up in the details of bait paintjobs or plastic flake color or "the other 4 guys in front of me used a certain bait so if I draw a stripe on it with a sharpie mine will be something different".

[Scott F]

21 minutes ago, caposa said:

Being from Canada, I've noticed many of the tackles suggestions people swear by both here and on other platforms like Youtube just aren't as effective up north. Obviously up here you want to go with less visible line and more natural colours due to water clarity, but what else?

“Obviously “? Not at all obvious to me. I fish up north a lot in very clear water. I never even consider the visibility of my line, or choose natural colors. Bass don’t read Bass Resource or watch YouTube videos so they don’t follow the rules the people who post follow. Successful fishermen are successful not because of the lures they choose, but because of where they use them.

[Finessegenics]

This is complicated to answer but as a Canadian angler I do agree with you. To a certain degree. 

 

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that you’re probably exclusively fishing for smallmouth and the “heavy cover” techniques don’t really work for them because they don’t frequent heavy cover as much as LM...think flipping jigs, texas rigs, frogs. Use your intuition and experience to judge what’s right for your present situation. 
 

Also, just trying to duplicate other people’s success on YouTube with certain baits is a recipe for disappointment. Especially that a lot of the youtubers are there purely for entertainment and not exactly education. We rarely know the conditions they’re throwing the bait in, what kind of lake they’re on, etc... And there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m just pointing it out. If you want a more northern outlook on bass fishing then I strongly recommend The Smallmouth Experience on YouTube. 

Then again there are many many American anglers fishing the exact same waters you would find in Canada. Think of the clear natural lakes anywhere in the northern states. They have the same winters as us. They have some success on the baits that might not work for you, but I’m sure if you keep fishing the chatterbait, you’ll eventually get bit. 

 

 

[Smalliefan2]

For me, the difference is many on You Tube are not fishing natural bodies of water. I lived in the north east, and almost everything fished was natural. I live in Tennessee now, and almost everything is resvivors. Big difference in clarity, and current. Chatterbaits are a big deal here, very effective. I use the same techniques on the clear lakes here , like Dale Hollow, as I did on natural lakes in the north.

There are techniques and baits my fishing partners use, they don't work for me even when we are the same boat. Try things, and if they don't work, fish to your strengths. 

[Vilas15]

3 minutes ago, Smalliefan2 said:

For me, the difference is many on You Tube are not fishing natural bodies of water. I lived in the north east, and almost everything fished was natural. I live in Tennessee now, and almost everything is resvivors. Big difference in clarity, and current. Chatterbaits are a big deal here, very effective. I use the same techniques on the clear lakes here , like Dale Hollow, as I did on natural lakes in the north.

There are techniques and baits my fishing partners use, they don't work for me even when we are the same boat. Try things, and if they don't work, fish to your strengths. 

That was a big difference for me when I realized often those on youtube were describing reservoirs where the general layout is the same with river channels, main lake points, back bays. Some seasonal movements apply to natural lakes but there can be so much variation in the structure and layout that sometimes you've just got to figure it out yourself where fish move to at different points in the season. Current is a non issue here but the wind can play a bigger role with larger round shaped lakes compared to thinner long reservoirs.

[Fishingmickey]

Waiting for AJay to chime in on how a chatterbait doesn't work up north with a few of his chatterbait smallies from lake Menderchuck.

FM

[RoLo]

I've fished a great deal from south Florida to the upper provinces (MB - ON - QC)

At any latitude you can find murky water & clear water, shallow & deep lakes, natural lakes & reservoirs. 

In and of itself, whether a waterbody lies in Florida or upper Ontario, has no direct bearing

on my choice of lures, line or techniques.

 

Roger

 

 

[NYWayfarer]

I just caught a Smallmouth on a chatterbait in ultra clear water here in the Northeast the other day. They do work here. Not my favorite bait for Smallmouth. I have much more success using them for Largemouth in ponds.

 

The main difference in fishing the northern waters and the south is line and rod size. I use 6 and 8lb line on spinning gear and 10 and 12lb line on baitcasting gear. Southern boys would blanch at such light stuff. 
 

If I were fishing the Great Lakes or heavy cover I might consider heavier gear.

[LCG]

I have only fished in Ontario. As previously mentioned not all northern water is clear. I have fished ponds, rivers, and lakes. Some clear and some dirty.

 

I have caught big smallmouth in Lake Superior, Lake Simcoe, and Lake St. Claire on Texas rigged worms and creatures, jigs, chatterbaits, and more finesse techniques such as Ned, neko, weightless, and drop shot. 

 

The bass are not usually as large as in the south ie 10lb largemouth in ponds and the weather patterns are obviously not the same. But I use both spinning and casting lines from 6lb to 30lb braid, and most of the stuff I have learned here and on YouTube have worked out pretty well. 

[A-Jay]

On 5/27/2020 at 9:44 AM, caposa said:

Being from Canada, I've noticed many of the tackles suggestions people swear by both here and on other platforms like Youtube just aren't as effective up north. Obviously up here you want to go with less visible line and more natural colours due to water clarity, but what else?

 

For example, I bought a couple chatterbaits last summer after hearing so many guys rave about them, and so far I've caught a grand total of ZERO fish on it. However, I'll throw a spinnerbait of the same colour with the exact same trailer, and I'll crush.

 

22 hours ago, Fishingmickey said:

Waiting for AJay to chime in on how a chatterbait doesn't work up north with a few of his chatterbait smallies from lake Menderchuck.

FM

Past few seasons I've put some heavy hours in throwing a vibrating Jig at Brown Bass.

I've learned quite bit in both my successes and my failure.

Perhaps the biggest tactical advice I can offer when using these baits for specifically for targeting smallmouth - 

Is fish the bait more like a jig and less like a spinnerbait; meaning Low & slow.

you'll see you catch rates rise quite a bit. 

 

As for the North South thing.

I will routinely harass the local brown bass population and also have no problem introducing myself to the Mutant Mexican Bass down at Lake Baccarac - every chance I get. 

Which if all goes well will be in 139 Days & a wake up.

 

A-Jay

 

[soflabasser]

15 hours ago, caposa said:

However, I'll throw a spinnerbait of the same colour with the exact same trailer, and I'll crush.

Spinnerbaits are a lure I have done well with both in South Florida and in northern waters. Another good lure that works well in both southern and northern waters is the jerkbait.

[Cgolf]

Not sure if we are North enough, but fishing in N WI, Eagle river area, the bass must not see a lot of pressure. I fish my standard baits for largies and do very well in moderately clear water where you can see bottom in 12-13 feet if calm. Standard baits for me though are generally a menace or ugly otter on a 1/4 oz slider head so I am not a knock them out with your weight kind of guy before hooking them.

 

One thing I will agree with is those stupid chatterbaits, they just don't seem to work up here, while spinnerbaits can crush them if the bass are chasing. No idea why, just hope I can bust that theory this year on vacation when I will try them yet again. Think I have caught less than 5 bass on them and 1 40"ish musky.

[MIbassyaker]

I haven't fished in the south, but in my experience, chatterbaits/bladed jigs catch at least largemouth bass just fine in the north. As always, it is a matter putting them in the right place, at the right time, under the right conditions. In fact I prefer bladed jigs over spinnerbaits in clear water when it's calm, and when vegetation is fouling spinnerbait blades too much. Among other things, bladed jigs in dark colors make excellent bluegill imitators, which are often the main baitfish forage in many northern natural lakes (as opposed to, say, shad).

 

There is so much variety to northern waters, with both man-made and natural lakes of all ages, as well as big and small river systems, it doesn't make much sense to generalize about "north vs. south" -- A deep, clear, rocky smallmouth lake can be 2 miles from a shallow, swampy largemouth haunt...and both can be just down the road from a reservoir/impoundment with good populations of both species. All three may fish differently depending on habitat (substrate? vegetation? water clarity & stain? depth?), forage species (bluegill? perch? shiners? alewives? gobies? shad?), or presence of other predator species (pike? muskies? bowfins? catfish? trout?).  Much more useful to be specific about which kinds of waters and which kind of habitat you're talking about.

[Cgolf]

12 minutes ago, MIbassyaker said:

I haven't fished in the south, but in my experience, chatterbaits/bladed jigs catch at least largemouth bass just fine in the north. As always, it is a matter putting them in the right place, at the right time, under the right conditions. In fact I prefer bladed jigs over spinnerbaits in clear water when it's calm, and when vegetation is fouling spinnerbait blades too much. Among other things, bladed jigs in dark colors make excellent bluegill imitators, which are often the main baitfish forage in many northern natural lakes (as opposed to, say, shad).

 

There is so much variety to northern waters, with both man-made and natural lakes of all ages, as well as big and small river systems, it doesn't make much sense to generalize about "north vs. south" -- A deep, clear, rocky smallmouth lake can be 2 miles from a shallow, swampy largemouth haunt...and both can be just down the road from a reservoir/impoundment with good populations of both species. All three may fish differently depending on habitat (substrate? vegetation? water clarity & stain? depth?), forage species (bluegill? perch? shiners? alewives? gobies? shad?), or presence of other predator species (pike? muskies? bowfins? catfish? trout?).  Much more useful to be specific about which kinds of waters and which kind of habitat you're talking about.

Agreed, we have water that is so green, that the boat spray is even green to waters you can see bottom in over 20 feet. Rivers are generally murky except the trout streams that are very clear. I grew up near a clear water lake so I am at home on that type of water and love fishing it. I know it can be intimidating for some. In general I have found clear water doesn't necessarily mean you have to finesse fish with cobweb test line and micro baits to get a lot of bites. Just wish all of our lakes had reeds to fish, that would be a perfect world.

[BassNJake]

I have to wear more sunblock now that I live in the south.

I feel obligated to wave because everyone waves down here

 

As far as fishing goes, its the same.

You fish as light of a line as you can get away with in the clearer lakes with more finesse tactics.

As the water darkens, the gear and baits gets upsized

[Bird]

13 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

I have to wear more sunblock now that I live in the south.

I feel obligated to wave because everyone waves down here

 

As far as fishing goes, its the same.

You fish as light of a line as you can get away with in the clearer lakes with more finesse tactics.

As the water darkens, the gear and baits gets upsized

That pretty well sums it up.

As long as a bass can stay wet, he'll remain a predator. 

[Armtx77]

Spent a good bit of time in the BWCA of Minny...way up 5here towards the Pigeon River...Seagull Lake...etc

 

Been living in the DEEP SOUTH for 15 years now and got back into bass fishing about 3 years ago. The only big difference is that you can get away with bigger or maybe heavier gear in the south. Doesn't mean you will catch more fish, but throwing frogs and punching through mats of vegetables is not done well with Medium action spinning rods.

 

I fished a Killer Craw(bizzbait) on a 1/8oz swivel head last weekend. This was out the back of the boat in a buddies club tournament.  7ft ML/F HMG Spinning rod and 1500 BG spooled with 10lbs 832 Coastal Camo and there some marsh bass with busted lips and crossed eyes.

 

My buddy curses every time I bring a spinning stick on his boat, but it just catches fish.

 

[Way north bass guy]

I live right beside and fish Georgian Bay a lot, and there aren’t many places more clear than “ the bay”, especially on the outside big water part. I also spent about ten years fishing tournaments in the Kawartha lakes, many of them are super shallow/weedy and have about 6” of visibility in the summer. There isn’t much for baits that I haven’t caught bass on, either brown or green, and you’d be surprised by what will work if you give it a try. I’ve had some phenomenal days on gin clear water with big, gaudy, noisy lures, and some great days on pea soup coloured waters with tiny tubes and light line. They’re bass, not brain surgeons, if you give them a chance to eat, and they’re in the mood to, you’ll catch em. 

[Michigander]

I went down to Kentucky Lake for the Triton Boat Owners Tournament the other year and ended up catching a bunch of smallmouth. I did what I do up here in Michigan... which also tends to catch a bunch of smallmouth..... So maybe it doesn't matter much? I did learn that trying to fish ledges without Spotlock is a huge pain. Remedied that at least. ?

[Vilas15]

7 hours ago, cgolf said:

Not sure if we are North enough, but fishing in N WI, Eagle river area, the bass must not see a lot of pressure.

In over near St Germain. Saw the most bass boats Ive ever seen this past weekend. About 5 on the lake at once ?

[Cgolf]

32 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

In over near St Germain. Saw the most bass boats Ive ever seen this past weekend. About 5 on the lake at once ?

Fished one of those lakes once, didn't catch anything. Eventually need to get the retirement home up there, wife doesn't buy that we need it in our mid 40s;) Yeh other than a local with a ski doo jet boat that has no concept of others on the lake, even when we have been up there over the 4th of July hardly any boats.

 

The only downside is some of the locals are a little territorial. Was night fishing for walleye once, saw what I thought was a boat a ways down with no lights and sure enough 20 minutes later they dropped the trolling motor and moved a couple 100 yards away before turning on their lights. They then sat there watching to make sure we didn't go to their spot for 30 minutes before heading out. We have gone enough years to essentially be locals;) and fish spots for walleyes that even locals don't hit.

 

Really liked lake Chetek the one time we tried it, just not a water sports friendly lake, and Lake Mccormick before that, not much other than crappies there. 

[papajoe222]

My tackle selection is basically the same north and south. What changes drastically for me is the different structure. Up north it’s some form of cover on a structural element like a point or bottom transition. Down south, I target more combinations of structure like where a creek channel swings against a bluff, or a rock pile at the inside turn of a point. In the rare instance cover exists, that spot gets imbedded in my memory bank.

[Cdn Angler]

In Ontario. 

 

The bass don't get as large.

 

They see fewer lures/anglers.

 

More SMB than LMB.

 

They have less time to eat due to cold.

 

We have more natural lakes vs reservoirs.

 

We have more vegetation in many of our lakes.

 

Many small creeks or ponds don't hold fish as they completely freeze in winter. 

 

Winter fishing for bass is not an option. 

 

Less fish in total due to cold. 

 

We aren't allowed to fish pre spawn or during. 

 

Chatterbaits, deep cranking, big swimbaits, treble hooks for LMB in summer, lizards/bluegill for bed fishing, big colorado blades etc. All of these are still possible at times and do "work", just not as much as in warmer climates.