I Need Your Suggestions on Smallmouth

[Jerkbate]

Thanks for the suggestion.

OK, I'll try again. I guess I should have worded my questions differently. I have fished for largemouths all my life, but I've never caught a smallmouth. My local lakes don't have them. Based on the time of year and lake location (Northeast, MS just below Pickwick). What seasonal pattern do you think the smallmouths will be in; spawn, post-spawn, etc.? Based on their seasonal pattern what type of structure or cover should I look for? The water is clear with visibility 6-8 feet. What lures do you prefer for smallmouths?

[Gatorbassman]

There, I fixed it for ya.

[iceintheveins]

For riverine impoundments like the pickwick tailwaters, just find some rocky structure whether visible from shore or underwater. Any place that breaks the current provides an ambush area for smallmouth too.

As for lures, I would go with 1/4  - 1/2 ounce jigheads tipped with 3 - 4" plastic grubs in white, brown pumpkin, or green pumpkin. Baitfish and crawdad imitation colors.

Carry some 1/4 ounce rat l traps or super spots in shad or crawfish patterns, medium to deep running cranks like bomber fat a's, excalibur fat free shads, and the like. Also 1/4 - 3/8 ounce spinnerbaits, soft jerkbaits like flukes and senkos, and a few poppers like skitterpops and prop baits like heddon torpedos, along with buzzbaits. Oh and don't forget some #9 and #15 panther martins in gold, holographic, chartreuse, silver, black, and hot orange. Don't go underarmed but no need for a ton of lures.

[Marty]

I know nothing about smallies in your part of the world. However, in general, they are found in somewhat clearer, cooler and deeper water than largemouth and are not as cover-oriented. Rocks and rocky bottoms are good. Smallies are pretty pugnacious and will hit any lure that a largemouth will. Cranks, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, a variety of soft plastics, topwaters and others can all work well. They'll take any color but seem to be drawn to chartreuse a little more.

[Guest Feel_The_Steel]

Jigs and Jerk baits (x-raps work well).

[BD]

Flukes in bubble gum color right off points. We absolutely slayed them last saturday on flukes and finesse worms on spot remover heads.

[Curado]

Try to find some off-shore humps with a little vegetation and some stumps and you can find some smallies spawning. I'd try and use some lizards, grubs, and craws.  

[Pond-Pro]

Definetley try some suspending jerkbaits over about 10 feet of water. If you dont get bit, heads out a little deaper and use a deap suspending jerkbait. Worked for me!

[roadwarrior]

Smallmouth season is over on the Tennessee River. You might pick up a stray fishing for largemouth, spots, stripers and cats, but targeting smallmouth on Pickwick, Wilson, Wheeler or any of the Tennessee River lakes is fruitless.  The smallmouth bite starts up again in late September and gets strong throughout the winter up until about the middle of March.

The #1 bait is store bought shiners. A distant second is native yellowtail (threadfin shad). If you are focused on artificials, grubs are #1 followed by 3 1/2" tubes. Other lures to consider are Hula Grubs, lizards, suspending jerkbaits and top water (Sammy and Spook).

[uiubassmaster]

Jigs and Jerk baits (x-raps work well).

Bingo! p.s.  try tubes and craw/creature baits that immitate craws

[Jerkbate]

Thanks for the info.  Unfortunately due to weather my trip was cut short.  I fished most of the day Friday but came home Saturday morning.  Friday I did catch a couple of spots and two largemouths.