Summer (deep water) Smallie Tactics

[MarVaBC]

Since summer is right around the corner - what is your favorite way to target the post spawn smallies that have moved into deep water?  In my home reservoirs fish can be 20-40 ft deep....thermocline is usually around 30.  Deep water fishing is definitely not my strong suit.  Lets hear some tactics....I have a feeling they involve a jig and pig, and a novel  :-/

[roadwarrior]

#1 Location: Structure in deep water, surrounded by deeper water or adjacent to deeper water.

#2 Location: Structure in current.

#3 Lure: Tubes, Single Tail Grubs, Hula Grubs, hair jigs, Silver Buddy, 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade Spinnerbait.

8-)

[SissySticks]

I'm with you on the #1 location. We don't have current in our resivoirs, so we look for deep drops, channel turns, humps, rockpiles, and the deep end of points and riprap (or riprap points ) I like a hair jig, a drop shot 3" senko, a 4" zoom tube, and a carolina rig with a 4" baby brush hog. I will also be dropshotting and jigging 2.5 and 3 inch gulp minnows this summer quite a bit. Also don't neglect to throw a topwater on and over points and bluffs periodically.

#1 Location: Structure in deep water, surrounded by deeper water or adjacent to deeper water.

#2 Location: Structure in current.

#3 Lure: Tubes, Single Tail Grubs, Hula Grubs, hair jigs, Silver Buddy, 3/4 oz Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade Spinnerbait.

8-)

[NorDoor]

Try drop shotting various plastics.3" Yumm Dingers work well along with Gulp minnows.We wacky rig the Dingers.Don't waste your time or money with the over priced "special" drop shot weights.A simple bell sinker works great.I also don't tie the bell sinker on with a polymar knot.Tie it on so it will break off if you get it snagged,there by saving you your hook and bait.I've messed around with a pegged sinker for that reason.Still prefer a good ole heavy bell sinker.

[SissySticks]

I've actually been using the Water Gremlin bull shot, which are crimp on bullet sinkers, in 1/4 and 3/16 oz.  They work awesome for me.

Don't waste your time or money with the over priced "special" drop shot weights.A simple bell sinker works great.I also don't tie the bell sinker on with a polymar knot.Tie it on so it will break off if you get it snagged,there by saving you your hook and bait.I've messed around with a pegged sinker for that reason.Still prefer a good ole heavy bell sinker.

[Crestliner2008]

Cruise around off shore structure until you find some sort of break (stump, cut or anything else different around the structure) with bait associating to it. Then put down a drop shot.

[Ben W]

Try fishing deep drop offs 10-20 feet from the shoreline. I've caught a bunch of smallies, biggest 16 inches, around drop-offs that go down to 30-40 feet.

[muskyxl]

structure is the most important aspect...

with lures...i use tubes 70% of the time, followed by jig/pig