Does anyone else exclusively target smallmouth?

[Vilas15]

Heard somebody was asking for pics on a ruler?

[Sphynx]

On 10/27/2020 at 9:46 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

 

 

 

I don't think the head size looks goofy at all. Most smallmouth look very proportionate to me but I'm biased admittingly.  

I absolutely think they have goofy small mouths for the giant members of the species, don't mistake me for disliking smallmouth, because I don't, but I certainly think the proportions on a bucketmouth are more sensible and visually appealing...that said I definitely think that the barring when well pronounced on a bronze back is the more attractive color and pattern.

[soflabasser]

On 10/30/2020 at 3:07 PM, Vilas15 said:

Heard somebody was asking for pics on a ruler?

Nice smallmouth bass. I prefer seeing bass on a measuring board since it shows the true size of the bass. Even weight scales can be off if they are not properly calibrated.

29 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

I certainly think the proportions on a bucketmouth are more sensible and visually appealing.

I agree. You should see the mouth of a 26 inch or longer largemouth bass.

[Vilas15]

1 hour ago, soflabasser said:

Nice smallmouth bass. I prefer seeing bass on a measuring board since it shows the true size of the bass. Even weight scales can be off if they are not properly calibrated.

I agree. You should see the mouth of a 26 inch or longer largemouth bass.

But there's something about a nice fat smallie especially when they have a beautiful bronze coloring. The smaller mouth makes them perfectly football shaped.

[soflabasser]

7 hours ago, Vilas15 said:

But there's something about a nice fat smallie especially when they have a beautiful bronze coloring. The smaller mouth makes them perfectly football shaped.

They are a pretty fish that is for sure. As for football shaped bass I have caught largemouth bass that looked they swallowed a football. Both of them are very fun to catch and any day you catch one is a good day of fishing. 

[ww2farmer]

Every lake I fish has healthy thriving populations of both. 

 

Time of year dictates what I target.

 

Smallmouth are the main focus in sub 50 degree water, and Largemouth are the main focus in 70+ degree water. Between 50 and 70, I'll fish for both in the same day.  I'm blessed to live in an area where I can catch tons of 3-5lb class  fish of both species, with the occasional 6+ lber of either color.

[Arobb2012]

I don't target smallmouth bass i just prefer to fish rivers where they are. My local lakes that have smallmouth are over fished and highly pressured. I choose to fish rivers that I don't see many people fish but I know they are.

[Hollada]

Primarily target smallmouth bass.  Pound for pound they are 5X the fight of a ditch pickle.  I also can’t stand beating the bank and mucking through thick weeds.   Give me an open water smallmouth bite on st Clair or the st Clair river any day over beating the bank or flipping docks on some inland lake.   Or any of the hundreds of glacial lakes in Michigan that are loaded with smallies as well.

[bowhunter63]

I fish Smallies 90 percent of the time. I love fishing rivers here in the Ozarks and they go hand in hand. But we have some spots here too. They really stretch your string . 

[MassBass]

I like smallmouth because to me sm are a big water fish. Vast lakes, mighty rivers; these are the haunts of the smallmouth. I prefer to fish big water when I have the opportunity.  

[clickityclack]

Unfortunately, smallies don't live in Birmingham, AL or the immediate vicinity so I don't have the option. However, we do have redeye bass and I would much rather have the option to exclusively target them if I had to choose only one. I know many people (almost all of whom have no experience with redeyes) think it's ridiculous when people say this but I truly belive it: pound for pound redeyes fight harder than smallies.  I feel very lucky to have to opportunity to fish for these amazing fish on a regular basis. 

 

Side note: The people who post pics of Rock Bass/Goggleeyes online and identify them as redeye bass may be the death of me. It drives me insane (stupid, I know). Rock Bass are the Drums of Bass. They have zero fight in them. Huge losers. The complete opposite of redeyes. 

[J Francho]

Redeye = Coosa (Micropterus Coosae)?

[roadwarrior]

14 hours ago, clickityclack said:

Unfortunately, smallies don't live in Birmingham, AL or the immediate vicinity so I don't have the option.

Pickwick is not too far from you.

 

[clickityclack]

6 hours ago, J Francho said:

Redeye = Coosa (Micropterus Coosae)?

Yes....sort of...lol. Recently, genetic studies have confirmed four new species that are all restricted to their respective river drainages (above the fall line): M. cahabae (Cahaba River), M. Tallapoosae (Tallapoosa River), M. warriorenis (Black Warrior River) and M. chattahoochae (Chattahoochee River). 

 

 

4 hours ago, roadwarrior said:

Pickwick is not too far from you.

 

Yep. That's where I get the majority of my smallmouth action. Actually, the beast in my profile pic was caught on Pickwick right below Wilson Dam. It's my PB. Wish I could make the pic quality better, but haven't had the time to try and figure it out yet.

[TnRiver46]

22 minutes ago, clickityclack said:

Yes....sort of...lol. Recently, genetic studies have confirmed four new species that are all restricted to their respective river drainages (above the fall line): M. cahabae (Cahaba River), M. Tallapoosae (Tallapoosa River), M. warriorenis (Black Warrior River) and M. chattahoochae (Chattahoochee River). 

 

 

Yep. That's where I get the majority of my smallmouth action. Actually, the beast in my profile pic was caught on Pickwick right below Wilson Dam. It's my PB. Wish I could make the pic quality better, but haven't had the time to try and figure it out yet.

I camped there at McFarland once but the wind was too brutal for me run anywhere downriver . Fun anyway though, got some smaller fish and white bass