Does anyone else exclusively target smallmouth?

[MGF]

My wife and I enjoy fishing local rivers far more than the local lakes. I'm sure there are largemouth in the river we fish the most but in 24 years of fishing the river I've never caught a LM. Yesterday we visited a little river (more of a creek) that I just started fishing and I was pleasantly shocked when I caught a fat 18" LM.

 

So I almost exclusively target SM because I almost exclusively fish my local river and just don't find many LM.

 

Last year I put the Lowrance in the boat for exactly one lake trip with the grandkids where we primarily chased crappie. The weather is threatening to bring this season to an end pretty soon (for me) and I haven't used it yet this year. The river is just too shallow, especially this year.

 

All that aside I have lived my entire 61 years within spitting distance of Lake Michigan and I have never fished it. I just never had a boat that was big enough to seriously consider it. I've done a ton of diving out there but no fishing. 

3 hours ago, scaleface said:

Some folks like Maryann others Ginger . I prefer Ginger .

I could never make up my mind. As it turned out it was never an issue.

[Ohioguy25]

57 minutes ago, BassNJake said:

Location is important here.

I live near Norris Lake, it is made up of 2 rivers that come together and are dammed the Powell and the Clinch rivers.

The small mouth fishing is great but most all of the time it is in water deeper than 12 feet.

 

I never saw the study that showed most smallmouth fisherman fish rivers, so that might be a reach.

When I lived in NE Ohio for every guy that was fishing for smallies in any of the rivers up there; there were 10 times that many chasing smallies on lake Erie.

Well obviously NE Ohio is a bad example being right on one of the best smallmouth lakes in the country. Smallmouth are a riverine species, their primary habitat are streams and rivers. That they are adaptable and have sizable representation in large lakes as well is incidental. A big part of the allure of smallmouth fishing is the natural beauty and fresh flowing water quality of rivers, many of which are spring fed vs the vast, flat emptiness of manmade lakes/reservoirs and putrid stagnant farm ponds (yes I realize there are equally crystalline lakes and dumpy polluted rivers.)

[Spankey]

3 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

What part?

Well you some what make it sound Largemouth don’t get lock jaw and always are ready to take something. 
 

I’ve caught some nice fish this year. But I’ve been dealing big time with fish with lock jaw or they’ve been wearing a mask. No numbers of fish at all. 

[Ohioguy25]

1 minute ago, Spankey said:

Well you some what make it sound Largemouth don’t get lock jaw and always are ready to take something. 
 

I’ve caught some nice fish this year. But I’ve been dealing big time with fish with lock jaw or they’ve been wearing a mask. No numbers of fish at all. 

Although I realize largemouth can be a challenge as well I would attribute this almost entirely to covid lockdown and the insane number of people fishing 

[Spankey]

25 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Although I realize largemouth can be a challenge as well I would attribute this almost entirely to covid lockdown and the insane number of people fishing 

I hear ya. And I do agree. I have to to some degree because it’s a fact people and pressure are up. 
 

But in my case I am very taken back by not catching smaller bass. The 11” and under crowd. Those fish will take a 5” kit tail worm usually as quick as a 15” fish. 
 

I don’t want to get your thread off track. 
 

Note: You are to be commended for putting in all the thought you do with these smallies. 

[gall]

So living in pa (central PA) you can go fish for either but for me smallies are my favorite without a doubt. No fancy electronics cause the river is usually pretty shallow running especially atm. I use both casting and spinning gear just comes down to what I'm throwing. Also light Line is way more fun and of course high risk high reward feel also.

[Vilas15]

9 hours ago, Mike L said:

staring at a screen all day trying to catch a 2lb fish by wiggling a worm in its face in 20 fow

 

matching wits with 8 lb mama on a bed for an hour. 

Literally the same thing, except one is harrassing a fish trying to spawn. Also can't compare a 2 lb smallie to an 8 lb largemouth, of course the bigger fish is more exciting.

 

I only target smallmouth because there are very few largemouth in the lakes I fish.

[Ohioguy25]

3 minutes ago, Vilas15 said:

Literally the same thing, except one is harrassing a fish trying to spawn. Also can't compare a 2 lb smallie to an 8 lb largemouth, of course the bigger fish is more exciting.

 

I only target smallmouth because there are very few largemouth in the lakes I fish.

His comparison is invalid because a smallies natural habitat is not even a lake, they thrive in rivers. 

[roadwarrior]

7 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

His comparison is invalid because a smallies natural habitat is not even a lake, they thrive in rivers. 

What?  You live in Ohio...check out the Great Lakes. Have you followed A-Jay in Fishing Reports?

He's the guy who catches those "little bitty" smalljaws and they are ALL from a lake.

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/profile/13860-a-jay/?wr=eyJhcHAiOiJmb3J1bXMiLCJtb2R1bGUiOiJmb3J1bXMtY29tbWVudCIsImlkXzEiOjEzOTA2MiwiaWRfMiI6MjYyMzI5NH0=

 

[Spankey]

8 hours ago, Ohioguy25 said:

His comparison is invalid because a smallies natural habitat is not even a lake, they thrive in rivers. 

It’s not like Smallies just got introduced to lakes a few years ago. The lakes are their natural habitat. They certainly seem to be adapting pretty well. 

 

They are different than a Largemouth. But Largemouths can survive/adapt in a river system and Smallies can survive/adapt in a lake impoundment. 
 

Being a smallmouth guy most of my life, I’m more apt to roll that way. A lot of time and years fishing that way but I enjoy fishing those Greenies as well. 

[gim]

Smallmouth seem to reside (and thrive) in clearer water than their green cousins.  I've caught a lot of LMB in pea soup stained waters where it seemed like no fish could ever find a lure.  I can't say the same about SMB.  In fact, when the rivers are high and murky in the spring here, its not even worth trying.  I've tried it a couple times and it was futile.

[Manly Studson]

I prefer moving water—not sure why. So creeks and rivers call to me. SMB are the primary target. Still, my PB LMB came out of a creek known for SMB. I’d rather catch many SMB and an occasional LMB than the other way around. Spotted bass show up too.

[shimanoangler]

I am with you, smallies are the fish that I pretty much solely target every time I hit the water.  That said, I live in an area where I have many bodies of water that hold only smallies.   I just love the attitudes of smallies.  They act like they are always ticked off, and that attitude shows up every time you hook one.  They get airborne and simply won't give up, even when in the net.  And I prefer to fish the bodies of water that smallies tend to occupy in my region.  These lakes are deep, clear and cold bodies of water.  And with smallies being visual feeders, their ability to see long distances when fishing clear water, you really have to pay attention to your presence to make sure your boat doesn't spook the fish. I think that is the challenge and strategy that smallies fishing has that I don't find when fishing the green fish.    

[Ohioguy25]

On 10/20/2020 at 5:49 PM, Manly Studson said:

I prefer moving water—not sure why. So creeks and rivers call to me. SMB are the primary target. Still, my PB LMB came out of a creek known for SMB. I’d rather catch many SMB and an occasional LMB than the other way around. Spotted bass show up too.

I’ll tell you why, because I’m the same way - moving water is more exciting and scenic than a flat stagnant lake or pond and rivers are naturally occurring and wild.

[J Francho]

I'm not even exclusive to bass, let alone one of them.

[soflabasser]

Fishing for smallmouth bass in rivers is fun but I prefer multi species fishing over fishing for only 1 species of fish.

On 10/19/2020 at 1:00 PM, Mike L said:

I’ve read everything there is to read about how great SM fishing is. 
How hard they fight and all that. 
 

But staring at a screen all day trying to catch a 2lb fish by wiggling a worm in its face in 20 fow with a spinning rod and 8 lb test line just doesn’t do it me. 
 

Personally, Give a H/F BC with 80lb braid trying to out smart a 10lb beast buried up in a 2 ft thick mat

I also enjoy catching lunker sized largemouth bass on heavy bass tackle but it is still nice to catch smallmouth bass in a river with beautiful scenery all around you. Smallmouth bass like spinnerbaits which most people consider a fun lure to fish with. 

[Junk Fisherman]

If I had my choice I would go smallmouth fishing over anything BUT I fish cooling lakes that are largemouth-only and some other small inland lakes that do not have smallmouth.  Plus, early in the year the largemouth fishing heats up a good month or so before the smallmouth become fishable.  The portion of Lake Michigan closest to my house is unfishable if the wind is coming from the east or north so there are many weekends that smallmouth fishing it out.  I would much rather largemouth fish in my boat than wade or kayak smallmouth fish in rivers.  But in the summer when I have the choice of going north and smallmouth fish or going for largemouth, I always fish for smallmouth.

 

I fish for lakers in the winter too.  So I guess to answer your question, no I don't fish specifically for smallmouth but they are clearly my favorite.  

[Fallser]

I just like fishing.  Smallies are my favorite, followed by big bluegill.  Most of the creeks and rivers around here have smallmouth and largemouth in them.  So do the lakes.  Since I don't own a boat, I'm dependent on my fishing buddies to get me out on the lakes and sometimes the rivers.  Winter is my off time.  If I get a warm day, mid-forties or higher I'll go fish for trout.  I start fishing for trout in late March and do that through the end of April.  Then I transition over to warm water, smallmouth will be my main target, but I'm not going to get upset if I only catch panfish or largemouth.  I fish warm water through the end of September, maybe early October.  October through November I take a ride down the shore and hope I run into some stripers and bluefish on their way south.   The only time I really focus on smallmouth is when I head up to a lake in Northern Ontario.  That's where I've caught my biggest smallmouths.  So to sum it up I don't fish exclusively for smallmouth

[A-Jay]

On 10/21/2020 at 8:40 PM, Ohioguy25 said:

I’ll tell you why, because I’m the same way - moving water is more exciting and scenic than a flat stagnant lake or pond and rivers are naturally occurring and wild.

Just found this one.

Entertaining read so far that surely includes some interesting perspectives; especially by the OP.

Although I routinely fish waters that have quite a varied mutli-species population, I do mainly target Brown bass.

While there's some decent green bass fishing (mostly somewhat south of me) the more local lakes are super fertile and do support some true trophy size smallmouth; that will always get my attention. 

The past few seasons I've been able to connect with a some of these freak pandas.

It's always a very special event for me when I do and I never take it for granted. 

I think it's fair to say that I have a healthy (or unhealthy depending on how one looks at it) addiction to fishing for them.

Additionally there's a distinct possibility that I may have, on the rarest of occasions,

over indulged in the Picture posting of said brown bass, perhaps ever so slightly.   

However, this particular thread just seems to be begging for at least a few.

So here's some of my past efforts to feed my addiction.  

Finally, it should be noted, that there may be many ways to describe the various inland lakes

these brown bass all came from, however stagnant, certainly is not one of them.

A-Jay

 

[padon]

On 10/19/2020 at 1:14 PM, Finessegenics said:

Fair enough, but that is an inaccurate representation of smallmouth fishing as a whole. Like LMB, there are the "shallow" fish and those that feed offshore. SMB may not live in heavy cover the way LMB do but they still feed around it. In fact, I don't think they live anywhere, they're always moving. 

 

It just seems like it's trendy to "video game" fish nowadays but it's not the only way to target smallmouth. I'm far from an expert but I think the experienced smallmouth anglers on here will agree with me. 

t

Quote

he thing is here thats what you have to do to catch largemouth in lakes in summer.or you can go to the river throw flukes and topwaters and catch 3lb smallmouth.

 

49 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Just found this one.

Entertaining read so far that surely includes some interesting perspectives; especially by the OP.

Although I routinely fish waters that have quite a varied mutli-species population, I do mainly target Brown bass.

While there's some decent green bass fishing (mostly somewhat south of me) the more local lakes are super fertile and do support some true trophy size smallmouth; that will always get my attention. 

The past few seasons I've been able to connect with a some of these freak pandas.

It's always a very special event for me when I do and I never take it for granted. 

I think it's fair to say that I have a healthy (or unhealthy depending on how one looks at it) addiction to fishing for them.

Additionally there's a distinct possibility that I may have, on the rarest of occasions,

over indulged in the Picture posting of said brown bass, perhaps ever so slightly.   

However, this particular thread just seems to be begging for at least a few.

So here's some of my past efforts to feed my addiction.  

Finally, it should be noted, that there may be many ways to describe the various inland lakes

these brown bass all came from, however stagnant, certainly is not one of them.

A-Jay

 

good lawd !!!

[Ohioguy25]

49 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Just found this one.

Entertaining read so far that surely includes some interesting perspectives; especially by the OP.

Although I routinely fish waters that have quite a varied mutli-species population, I do mainly target Brown bass.

While there's some decent green bass fishing (mostly somewhat south of me) the more local lakes are super fertile and do support some true trophy size smallmouth; that will always get my attention. 

The past few seasons I've been able to connect with a some of these freak pandas.

It's always a very special event for me when I do and I never take it for granted. 

I think it's fair to say that I have a healthy (or unhealthy depending on how one looks at it) addiction to fishing for them.

Additionally there's a distinct possibility that I may have, on the rarest of occasions,

over indulged in the Picture posting of said brown bass, perhaps ever so slightly.   

However, this particular thread just seems to be begging for at least a few.

So here's some of my past efforts to feed my addiction.  

Finally, it should be noted, that there may be many ways to describe the various inland lakes

these brown bass all came from, however stagnant, certainly is not one of them.

A-Jay

 

Nice fish, but they look deceivingly big how you are holding them. Or are they really that big??

[TnRiver46]

8 minutes ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Nice fish, but they look deceivingly big how you are holding them. Or are they really that big??

If you dig deep enough he weighs every single one on camera and posted the videos to this site. If memory serves, those fish pictured all between 5 and 7.5 lbs .  If catching giant smallies on spinnerbait, jerkbait, and chatterbait in a big wide open lake isn’t for you, I’d be very surprised 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Ohioguy25 said:

Nice fish, but they look deceivingly big how you are holding them. Or are they really that big??

A good photograph is one that communicates a fact,

touches the heart and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it.

It is, in a word, effective.

Best part is you get to decide for yourself.

I know because I was there.

A-Jay

[billmac]

It's hard to say.  Where I live has many more smallmouth than largemouth, so I mostly catch them by default.  On smaller bodies of water, I basically fish where it looks fishy.  I'm really just targeting fish, so either largemouth or smallmouth (or walleye or pike) are welcome.  Over my life, I've caught thousands of smallmouth, so catching a largemouth is a bit of a treat.  On the St. Lawrence, I would normally target smallmouth, because I have as much of a chance to catch a trophy smallmouth as a mediocre largemouth.

[Jermination]

I pretty regularly target smallmouth around here year round. Fishing a lot of tournaments throughout the year makes it tough to strictly go after smallmouth because a majority of the lakes in our area have a 1 keeper limit from may-october. If i'm going fishing for fun i almost always target smallies just because the hunt is something i can't get enough of. I think a lot of it is determined by where ya live, I live in the south but fish a lot like the northern guys. Their style and tactics are usually more in line with smallmouth fishing than largemouth