Smallies in 8' deep or less very clear water.

[cyclops2]

They can see the sunlight reflecting off of my lines. The plastic lips of lures. The treble hooks. The split ring in the nose. And a few other things.

 

  Oh well

[Sphynx]

FC line might help, if your not already using it, but I agree entirely that in those gin clear fisheries, it's tough sledding on anything not finesse, even then it can be a challenge. 

[cyclops2]

I have to cheat. I can not fool them They FEAR the sound of my engine.  Just like all the cormorants do.   They are there !!   NAAHH  NANNY BO  BO  

You got my brother. But you will not get me.  Each year I teach them more. Each year they incorporate that learning into their survival genes.    ?

[Tatsu Dave]

In two words drop shot.........or stay with present techniques but get some light # test FC and eliminate any terminal tackle possible. Wow Good Luck, where I fish you can't see more than 2-3' down all the time. 

[cyclops2]

Excellent advice.

I am down to Ande 4# New spool last year. I keep it in a clothes drawer away from heat / cold / sunlight.  I keep the rod in a dark corner & carry it back & forth to reduce U V rays weakening it. I have put unreal pressure on the big ones to try keeping them out of weeds now 2 ' thick.  But I need to cast 75 to 100' floating lures. I can see and or hear the strikes at that distance. But I can NOT SET the hooks with so much Mono laying on the water. They simply SQUEEZE THE HOOK ...TIGHTLY.... then let go after a long battle ?  They seem to be the ones I catch & release and Then release the hook when they have PLAYED WITH ME !!!!

 

2 of you stated the bass boat dumps them in 1 spot. I believe that the last contest put a BUNCH of bass into the bay.  ALL but 1 were lightly hooked in the edge of the lower lip.I netted all those. Most had helpers trying to pull the lure from the fish.  Greed or helping ?

 

I respect Their intelligence. I Have the tiniest trebles cut down to 1 crushed hook.  The locals have taugh the new guys to Throw the lure when there is no pulling at all. Yesterday was back to normal. Struggle first 50'  or open mouth when I put the net in the water.  I will leave them alone for the next couple of weeks & go to other good places and say hello.

[Jig Man]

I find a lot of smallmouth in shallow clear water.  I have my best results with a Zman TRD on a 1/16 oz head using 6# fluorocarbon line.

[cyclops2]

Totally agree with the clear water in lakes or rivers. I would find a mob of bass in the clear creek water when the Delaware River in western N J was high & muddy.

 

ALL of  the different size and types  fish would fill the first clean spot out of the main stream.

1 time there was a 4 to 5 foot carp just resting under a fallen down tree.

[Finessegenics]

I think long casts are really the key in clear water. If you can see them, they can see you. The trouble you’re having getting a good hookset at that distance could be offset by braid to fluoro. Less stretch in the setup that way.
 

What baits are you throwing though? I imagine a tiny ned jig or hair jig would have a thin and sharp enough hook that a hook set isn’t really needed. Just reel down until you feel the pressure and give it a little snap. Some people advocate for a “reel set” but i never quite got the hang of that. 

[gim]

42 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I think long casts are really the key in clear water. If you can see them, they can see you.

Agreed, stay back from the target your casting at and creep up there stealth mode. Don’t come roaring in with the outboard. Trying to fish at low light periods might help too. Sunrise, sunset, or cloudy/rainy days are your friend.

[MickD]

2 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

I think long casts are really the key in clear water. If you can see them, they can see you. The trouble you’re having getting a good hookset at that distance could be offset but braid to fluoro. Less stretch in the setup that way.

Yes yes yes!  Braid less than 15 pound test with a FC leader about 5 feet long will do it.  The light braid will cast very well (make sure you fill the spool properly on your spin reel) and facilitate long casts and better hook sets and the FC leader about 10-15 pound test will be nearly invisible)  Ned rig, tubes, and white Keitech 3.8 fat swim baits on  a 3/16 or 1/4 oz jig (try slow and steady along the bottom and snapping them off the bottom).  If they are there, this will work.  LONG CASTS.

 

3.5 inch tubes, usually watermelon, white, or watermelon/candy work well too.  Experiment with retrieve from slow drag to hopping.  Often with all these lures  on long casts the fish will strike on the fall before you even start the retrieve.  

2 hours ago, Finessegenics said:

give it a little snap

Yes yes yes!

[cyclops2]

I am out of 4 # braid.  I really have caught so many that a solid tight line counts as a  caught bass.  My 1.5" lure in the wind reduces me lipping a lot of them needlessly. I have a set of no hook lures. If I am just practicing getting them to bite. To me getting them to bite is the real challenge now. The 4 # monofilament at 80 to 120' out really gives them a chance to just bite & release.  I really have reached that level of enjoyment............ Unless I am fishing for some other seniors who still enjoy the process of receiving 5 legal sized bass or perch for a meal.  Then I use the single small treble tail  hook.

A after sundown in special areas is a sure thing if I fail morning or afternoon on my limit for them.  It feels so good to see old fisherman smile at a stringer of 5 fish.  ?

 

Mick you are right about them waiting for a lure to fall and swirl as it hits. Very common with schooling fish. I casted a big floater into a medium wind. It went upward 50 feet  ? 2 instant swirls as it hit the surface. I watched and smiled.....Enjoyed the misses & forgot to pull the line.   Oh Well.  ?

 

  THe site is merging my replies to save space I guess.  So you will not see my replies to each of your posts.  Never saw a site do this before.

[Dye99]

8 hours ago, Jig Man said:

I find a lot of smallmouth in shallow clear water.  I have my best results with a Zman TRD on a 1/16 oz head using 6# fluorocarbon line.

This...

[cyclops2]

Latest reply to Dye 99

 

All of you have convinced me to use / try  a Zman TRD & head.  Fish get smart about using the same lure too often.

 

Edit      My age is REALLY showing.  That is a plastic cigar for fish !!   No wonder they like them.

[MickD]

21 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

If I am just practicing getting them to bite.

I am curious about how long they hold on after biting a no-hook lure.  Knowing this might help me figure out missed fish, and whether I should slow down on the hook set.  Can you describe your experience? thanks

[cyclops2]

This year the smalls have been different.  There have been only 2 or 3 hed butting attacks. I can feel the hit with no body hooks to snag them.  All the fish are only nipping the tail hook and getting hooked in the lower lip.

 

The no hook is just a light tap now.  They are biting the wire loop at the end of the lure. Almost like a lure bumping a strand of weed. I was in a different next bay. Lots of bites & lip jobs Bass & perch. I am doing a LOT of trolling. It is more productive to find & hook up. The no hook is a blast at night with a surface floater.  ?

 

NEVER delay setting the hook with a lure !!. My 4# does not allow setting a hook in a smallies jaw. At 60' + feet. No hook ups from directly behind & centered in the jaw. The hook is in the lower left side of the jaw almost always.