Smallmouth VS largemouth

[Skunkmaster-k]

I can usually find the largemouth but have heck catching a smallmouth  . What are the differences in fishing for each one ? 

[siusaluki23]

Gravel points near deep water channel swings near the dam area on lakes in TX.  Get used to fishing areas with boulders and gravel and not cover oriented.

[Skunkmaster-k]

Do smallmouth hang out in deeper water?

[gim]

This is a really loaded question with so many answers.  Are you in fishing in Texas where your location is indicated?  Smallmouth may not even be present there is good numbers, if at all.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I can usually find the largemouth but have heck catching a smallmouth  . What are the differences in fishing for each one ? 

 

Instead of focusing on the differences between Green & Brown bass,

I've had a bit of success treating the brown bass like a separate deal.

In fact, I jotted down a few thought on it as it relates to the smallies I fish for locally.

You could see it here . . .

A-Jay

[WRB]

29 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

 

Instead of focusing on the differences between Green & Brown bass,

I've had a bit of success treating the brown bass like a separate deal.

In fact, I jotted down a few thought on it as it relates to the smallies I fish for locally.

You could see it here . . .

A-Jay

A few notes that turned into a novel?

Tom

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

A few notes that turned into a novel?

Tom

Well if my offering was a novel,

pretty certain just 5% of the knowledge you've put up over the years

would surpass The  Entire Encyclopedia Britannica collection several times over ! 

Just saying. 

#humbled

A-Jay

 

[Big Hands]

In my small sample size of anecdotal evidence, I catch both species in the same areas, at the same time, with the same baits. I have not been able to discern a difference that would allow me to target one over the other. Perhaps my fishery is an unusual environment that allows for that scenario, or perhaps I'm not paying attention enough to be able to differentiate. I have never fished a lake that had smallmouth, but no largemouth either, so there's that for me as well.

 

It seems like largemouth are the robins of the fishing world. Bird watchers have an acronym for when they spot a robin. It's "JAR" and stands for "just a robin". 

[Bankc]

A lot of lakes around here will have smallmouth in them, according to the OK Department of Wildlife Conservation's website.  But they're pretty rare to find in real life.  I've never seen one.  Also, they have a limit of one, which should tell you how rare they are, as Oklahoma isn't known as a state that takes wildlife conservation measures very seriously.  As I type this, they're trying to pass a bill to set a bigfoot hunting season.  But I have heard tons of stories about local anglers catching them by the dozens.  After a while, I was eventually able to figure out that when they were saying "smallmouth" they actually meant white bass. 

[roadwarrior]

What about Texoma?

[jbsoonerfan]

20 minutes ago, Bankc said:

A lot of lakes around here will have smallmouth in them, according to the OK Department of Wildlife Conservation's website.  But they're pretty rare to find in real life.  I've never seen one.  Also, they have a limit of one, which should tell you how rare they are, as Oklahoma isn't known as a state that takes wildlife conservation measures very seriously.  As I type this, they're trying to pass a bill to set a bigfoot hunting season.  But I have heard tons of stories about local anglers catching them by the dozens.  After a while, I was eventually able to figure out that when they were saying "smallmouth" they actually meant white bass. 

There are a lot of smallmouth in the southern part of the state. I have caught them in Arbuckle, Murray, Texoma and even Eufaula.

[jimmyjoe]

   Because I fish from shore, I am restricted to certain locations. In those locations, the only difference I notice between smallmouth and largemouth is that I catch largemouth in slow current locations and faster current locations, but I catch smallmouth in faster current locations ONLY. Same lures.

 

   jj

[Skunkmaster-k]

8 hours ago, A-Jay said:

 

Instead of focusing on the differences between Green & Brown bass,

I've had a bit of success treating the brown bass like a separate deal.

In fact, I jotted down a few thought on it as it relates to the smallies I fish for locally.

You could see it here . . .

A-Jay

That was excellent. Feeding windows, boat position, cover, depth, and more . Thoroughly informative. Thank you 

[scaleface]

I fished a river that had good populations of both . Smallmouths preferred  current and  largemouths liked lazier water . I havent caught enough smallmouths in lakes to form a good opinion . 

[Boomstick]

On 3/5/2021 at 2:00 PM, A-Jay said:

 

Instead of focusing on the differences between Green & Brown bass,

I've had a bit of success treating the brown bass like a separate deal.

In fact, I jotted down a few thought on it as it relates to the smallies I fish for locally.

You could see it here . . .

A-Jay

Well I have nothing to say here, only to second that finding them can be extremely difficult, specially on lakes with a ton of good structure.

 

This is like Smallmouth Bass Fishing 101 along with 102 and Advanced Smallmouth Bass Fishing rolled up into one post.

[Skunkmaster-k]

On 3/5/2021 at 12:53 PM, gimruis said:

This is a really loaded question with so many answers.  Are you in fishing in Texas where your location is indicated?  Smallmouth may not even be present there is good numbers, if at all.

Yep . I really am in Texas . I know smallmouth are in the lake I’m fishing,because my wife keeps catching them in front of me. I just haven’t been able to figure these little buggers out , yet . 

[chuck-norris-707]

I live in FL and I fish a large lake with a lot of covered area and many over hanging trees and deep area but I have fished the lake for about 2 years and I have not caught a smally. 

[Scott F]

35 minutes ago, chuck-norris-707 said:

I live in FL and I fish a large lake with a lot of covered area and many over hanging trees and deep area but I have fished the lake for about 2 years and I have not caught a smally. 

I’d be very surprised if you did. There are no smallmouth bass in Florida.

[chuck-norris-707]

Just now, Scott F said:

I’d be very surprised if you did. There are no smallmouth bass in Florida.

thank you I didn't know I was wondering why I wasn't I like catching huge largemouth 

[J Francho]

This map shows the range.  The orange is it's native range, with the red showing the extended range.

[chuck-norris-707]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

This map shows the range.  The orange is it's native range, with the red showing the extended range.

 

crazy FL has nothing didn't know that thank you J

[The Maestro]

If I could just give you one take away when comparing smallmouth to largemouth it's that smallmouth will not only tolerate current but will actively seek it out.

[Biglittle8]

On 3/5/2021 at 2:00 PM, A-Jay said:

 

Instead of focusing on the differences between Green & Brown bass,

I've had a bit of success treating the brown bass like a separate deal.

In fact, I jotted down a few thought on it as it relates to the smallies I fish for locally.

You could see it here . . .

A-Jay

I never get tired of looking at the pictures of those big smalls! Haven't fished for them in 26 years since I moved to N.C. 

[TnRiver46]

On 3/5/2021 at 5:18 PM, Bankc said:

A lot of lakes around here will have smallmouth in them, according to the OK Department of Wildlife Conservation's website.  But they're pretty rare to find in real life.  I've never seen one.  Also, they have a limit of one, which should tell you how rare they are, as Oklahoma isn't known as a state that takes wildlife conservation measures very seriously.  As I type this, they're trying to pass a bill to set a bigfoot hunting season.  But I have heard tons of stories about local anglers catching them by the dozens.  After a while, I was eventually able to figure out that when they were saying "smallmouth" they actually meant white bass. 

I’m interested to see how many big foot tags they sell 

[Alex from GA]

A couple of summers ago our power went out in GA, where we live, and we decided to take a trip to see the northern states.  We took our trailer and a kayak to fish for smallmouth because I don't get many chances in GA.  We went to VA to fish the rivers and they were blown out so we continued north.  PA rivers were blown out also but we camped by a small lake for a couple of days and all I caught were some LMs.  We continued north to NY and camped and fished and caught smallmouths.  I used the same technique I use 90% of the time I fish all over the country.  6 or 8 lb line with a finesse worm and 1/16th or 1/8 oz weight texas rigged.  Caught smallmouths in a couple of lakes in Maine along with LM.  On the way back home a couple of weeks later we stopped @ Elkhorn Creek in KY, which is famous for SM.  I made a 4 mile float and probably caught 30+ fish including a sauger, which was a first for me.  For me the SM were where I would fish for LM in lakes; rivers they were in the faster water like everyone else says.  BTW my personal best SM was caught in the Savannah River at Augusta, GA.