find me some smallies

[rocknfish9001]

In this lake there are lots of 6 lb. smallmouths. I have never caught much of anything as far as smallmouths go, but i have got lots of largies and pike. Now i am really thinking about catching those brown bass, where at in this lake would you go? It is super clear and has weeds up to 10 feet. The bottom is pretty much all sandy. The map isnt very detailed with depth contours, so i tried to help with what i remembered. The text describes the area circled next to it.

[flyhatch]

id look for some rip rap in the area of the deeper stuff or any rip rap. any bridge pillars? large submurged rocks?

those are my suggestions,  although ive caught smallies flipping wood for largemouth  if i were hunting them on a new lake i would try to find rocks first .

[basspro48]

I agree with flyhatch, smallies love rocks. It could be any kind of rocks, riprap, submerged rockpiles, gravel beds, bluffs, or ledges. But don't overlook points, a long tapering point with maybe a slight drop-off and a few stumps is a brown bass magnet.  

[Dan:]

look for drop offs or rocks as others have said.

you might be able to catch them a little shallower in the evenings and mornings.

[dizzy5868]

If your looking for them this time of year I would start out around any steep drop offs and look for suspended fish. More than likely they will be the smallies. Note the depth they are at and look for that depth in the lake with any type of rock. 1/4-1/2 ounce silver kastmaster spoon fished vertical is the ticket. Rip and drop you'll find them. One other thing I'd keep 2 more rods rigged the same way becasue once you hook one, it usaully starts a frenzy.

Rob

[cabela10]

I would head straight for the 3-5' sandy flat in the middle of the lake. I would throw a crank bait all the way across it if possible and crank it back over that hump. I would also fish all around that sandy flat to look for deeper smallies and also use a jerkbait for suspended smallies around that hump in deep water.

All those weed flats are prime for largemouths and I would stay away from those areas if searching for big smallies.

Also that sandy flat with no weeds that you have marked along that shoreline.  I've caught some big smallies to end the season on a chatterbait over a sandy point that dropped into deep water.  3 smallies in 3 casts.  Great stuff.

[CK14]

try drop shoting the deep drop offs, if they have rocks.

[rocknfish9001]

There are no rocks in this lake. And the deep water is fairly featurless, just maybe slightly rolling, but it is consisting of a simply plain sand/mud bottom. That sandy flat in the middle of the lake is where a friend of mine caught a 5-6 lb smallie, the didnt weigh it. This is a normal lake, not a resivior.

[Nick B]

Remember that smallies are more current oriented than LM

[squid]

IN THE SPRING...HIT THE SANDY FLATS WITH A RATTLE TRAP, OR SWIM A TUBE.  LATER IN THE SEASON...GO DEEPER AND TRY DROP SHOTTING OR TUBE OR EVEN JIGS.  ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY GATHER...IT WILL BE THE SAME THING ALL OVER THAT LAKE.

[rocknfish9001]

to clear it up even more, there is NO current in the lake, it is a natural lake. Very clear, and the bottom type (weeds/sand) is very visible. There are not any rocks in the lake and there is no timber/wood. The entire shoreline is developed, and there is a house ever 10-20 yards with a dock. The middle of the lake is shallow, all under 5' deep. The sandy shoreline on the east is no deeper than 7' and is a very featureless bottom with no points or humps. The island surrounded by sand is usually one of the better smallie areas, but underneath the island in the SW corner, the water goes up to 45' deep or so, and very quickly. I have heard that this area is good for all speciese in the lake. I doubt there are any weeds in 40' of water, but im not sure what the bottom is like, i have never fished on that section of the lake.

[flechero]

to clear it up even more, there is NO current in the lake, it is a natural lake

Sure there is... at each creek mouth if water is flowing.  And don't forget that wind also creates a lot of current.  (The weedy flats will likely be a great place on a windy day.)

[Nick B]

Work those dropoffs close to the islands

[MALTESE FALCON]

I agree with Cabela10. Try the sandy flats. Smallmouth love sand and gravel. Don't overlook the weeded areas either, here on St. Clair I always pull them out of the weeds.

Falcon

[boondocks]

I not sure if you have a boat or not, but if you do and this lake is as clear as you say it is, you should be able to see them cruising the flats on a calm sunny day. In the clear water lakes that I fish in they are very easy to locate this way. Although I have never tried it in the winter like now but in the spring, summer and fall you can see them. Throw out a bouy then back off and cast around the area you seen them. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to leave them alone for awhile cause they spook pretty easy but they always return.