Harbor dock smallies

[Kongming]

I started recently going to harbors to find my first smallmouth with zero success.  I've had 1 chase my lure but the rest swim away when they see my bait.  So far I have tried ned TRDs/craw/tubes, paddletail swimbaits, and crankbaits.  Any suggestions on lures/baits to get smallies to react?  I'm going back out there today and will bring my senkos.  Also there aren't many openings under the docks for me to skip under so I try getting as close to the docks possible but it seems like only rockbass will take the bait.  

[Dwight Hottle]

Try a jerk bait. Most harbors have limestone or crushed rock break walls and the smallies frequent them. Remember smallies are highly curious. If you see them following you need to change up your retreive. Either stall it or speed it up. 

[Kongming]

On 8/30/2022 at 9:11 AM, Dwight Hottle said:

Try a jerk bait. Most harbors have limestone or crushed rock break walls and the smallies frequent them. Remember smallies are highly curious. If you see them following you need to change up your retreive. Either stall it or speed it up. 

Thanks for the advice.  Finally got my first brown bass!!  

 

[Dwight Hottle]

Welcome to the brotherhood. Your smile says it all. 

[TnRiver46]

3 hours ago, Kongming said:

Thanks for the advice.  Finally got my first brown bass!!  

 

Nice! 

[Junk Fisherman]

On 8/30/2022 at 8:34 AM, Kongming said:

I started recently going to harbors to find my first smallmouth with zero success.  I've had 1 chase my lure but the rest swim away when they see my bait.  So far I have tried ned TRDs/craw/tubes, paddletail swimbaits, and crankbaits.  Any suggestions on lures/baits to get smallies to react?  I'm going back out there today and will bring my senkos.  Also there aren't many openings under the docks for me to skip under so I try getting as close to the docks possible but it seems like only rockbass will take the bait.  

 

You're using the right baits.  Depending on how the rocks are, you might want to consider a dropshot and your favorite bait (can't go wrong with a Berkley Flatworm).  The dropshot will work well if the bottom is relatively clean but you will lose a lot of DS rigs and spend a lot of time retying when fishing from shore if you have a lot of rock especially that busted up concrete that is so prevalent around our harbors and breakwalls.   Kings are coming in and I've always heard the smallies are tough to catch in the harbors when the Kings arrive.  Good luck.  

[Kongming]

25 minutes ago, Junk Fisherman said:

 

You're using the right baits.  Depending on how the rocks are, you might want to consider a dropshot and your favorite bait (can't go wrong with a Berkley Flatworm).  The dropshot will work well if the bottom is relatively clean but you will lose a lot of DS rigs and spend a lot of time retying when fishing from shore if you have a lot of rock especially that busted up concrete that is so prevalent around our harbors and breakwalls.   Kings are coming in and I've always heard the smallies are tough to catch in the harbors when the Kings arrive.  Good luck.  

I've got the tackle for drop shotting but have yet to try it.  I'll give it a go next time i'm out there.  

 

Was planning on going to Diversey harbor in a couple weeks for some kings.  Are any of the other harbors better for catching a king?  

[Junk Fisherman]

6 hours ago, Kongming said:

 

Was planning on going to Diversey harbor in a couple weeks for some kings.  Are any of the other harbors better for catching a king?  

I don't know.  The only reason I know the kings are showing up is because I was talking to the IN DNR creel interviewer yesterday at Pastrick and that's what he said.  

 

[Swamp Girl]

First off, congrats and I too love your smile!

 

If bass won't hit your normal lures, a nightcrawler just hooked in the head with zero weight is irresistible. It's hard to cast and hard to hook them, but lawdy, they love all that writhing. 

[Kongming]

2 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

First off, congrats and I too love your smile!

 

If bass won't hit your normal lures, a nightcrawler just hooked in the head with zero weight is irresistible. It's hard to cast and hard to hook them, but lawdy, they love all that writhing. 

I definitely got a nice adrenaline rush.  Made even better by the fact that I got one of my buddies into fishing and he got his first bass ever 5 minutes before my catch.