smallmouth in trees

[Fishhook12]

Ok I am going to this lake tomorrow and the water just recently went really far up and into the trees. there are smallmouth in this lake and I will be fishing in the trees in about 10 feet of water so I was wondering what techniques and lures I should use? I am new to smallmouth fishing so I appreciate the help  

[hawgchaser]

I would try GYCB Hula Grubs on a jighead, tubes, senkos, and an X Rap. The X Rap is considered a colder water bait but it works year round in the type of structure you are talking about.

I fish a lake that has been flooded for quite some time and the smallies were stacked in flooded trees with a lot of underwater branches in 15-20ft of water. I would hit ever tree like this and catch 4 or 5 each stop on a magnum watermelon wart hawg.

Good Luck!

[Tokyo Tony]

Hula grub on a jighead was going to be my first suggestion - since you're fishing trees, definitely go with a weedless jighead (you can find a few good brands on ***.com, but my favorite is the "Bite-me" brand, sold at Dick's). My go-to colors are pumpkinseed and watermelon, but black or smoke are good too depending. Rig it on a 1/8 to 3/8 oz jighead, cast it near or in the trees, and just let it sink to the bottom (watch the line carefully). Usually they'll hit it on the initial fall. Once it's on the bottom, lift it up slowly, over any branches that are in the way, and let it sink again. Do that a few times then swim it back to the boat. As I'm swimming it back to the boat, I'll usually kill it about halfway back and let it sink a few feet in order to entice any followers.

You can use the same technique with a weightless senko or any kind of jig, but a hula grub on a little weedless jighead is deadly.  ;D

[Crestliner2008]

If the bite gets a bit tough on what's been suggested so far, go to a drop shot rig....a bit heavier than what you'd use over 25' of water; and use a small off-set worm hook, presenting a 4" worm in heavier cover. Yep, you'll have to go up in line size, but the water in the trees should have a bit more color to it. You'll get bit!