smallmouth "big problem"

[HAMMER23]

This is for all you smallmouth fisherman out there. I just visited my brother in Belton Texas and went down to take a look at their  lake, properly named " Lake Belton". I was walking the bank near the dam and noticed a lot of smallies along the rocks, I normaly wouldnt give them a second look but these bass were toads, I am talking 3 to 4 lbs , and a lot of them. I immediately went and bought a pole and went after them. These bass were in ultra clear water about 6 to 8 ft down, I threw bitsy bug jigs, small tube jigs, wacky worms and every other finess bait I thought they would hit with no luck. I tried to distance my self from them due to the clear water but could not get them to bite. What has me stumped is the fact that while I was trying to hit the smallies the largemouth were all over me. Why would the largemouth hit what I was throwing but not the smallmouth. I am on a mission but need some help from you smallmouth veterans !!

[simplejoe]

I'm no expert on sight fishing, But my thought is the smallies might be sitting on the beds or protecting the fry. Maybe somebody else can explain it better.

                                    joe

[bigtimfish]

maybe you just dont know how to fish

[roadwarrior]

[movedhere] General Bass Fishing Forum [move by] roadwarrior.

[Bass-1]

Your line may have been to big to start with, and you may have had the wrong colors. In very clear water, you want to use 4-6 lb. test, and throw natural colors in brown or green. Try a small spider grub in green pumpkin with an 1/8 oz. head. And also remember, if you can see them, they can see you. Good luck....

[retiredbosn]

around here green pumpkin with a hint of chartreuse works good, light line of course is a must.  I grew up fishing smallies and find them easier to catch than LM.  But I am trying to learn the ways of the green ones.

[RoLo]

You can safely rule out spawning smallies. In the first place, the smallmouth spawn in Texas should be finished. More importantly, smallmouth bass do not offer the same sight-fishing opportunity offered by bigmouth bass. Smallies typically nest "just outside" the angler's depth vision (thank god for small favors).

In all likelihood, you're dealing with NOP (Normal Operating Procedure).

Runt smallmouth bass are suicidal, but the older puppies quickly develop an attitude. Although smallmouth are stronger battlers than largemouth, they are less disposed to seizing an artificial lure than bigmouth bass. During the 1970s, In-Fisherman conducted a smallmouth study and found that natural bait out-produced artificial lures 5 to 1. The notable exception is during the pre-spawn in spring, when smallmouth respond to the same "chunk-&-wind" techniques we use for bigmouth bass.

Roger

[djs fishing]

Are you sure they were smallies and not carp?

Were they sitting on the bottom and facing upstream not moving.

This would also explain the fact that they were not hitting conventional lures.

[Dan:]

Are you sure they were smallies and not carp?

Were they sitting on the bottom and facing upstream not moving.

This would also explain the fact that they were not hitting conventional lures.

that was my immediate thought. Also, do they even have big smallies in Texas?

[Md]

First of all, smallies that are that shallow that aren't spawning can drive you crazy, especially on bluebird days. My guess is that those fish were post-spawn. They can be very cranky just after they get off the beds right before they move deep. Best bet is to try to hit them in low light conditions(early morning or evening) or go after them when there is some wind, with wind/overcast being even better. That being said, some days the smallie bite won't be as good as the largemouths, or vice versa. If it were me and I knew they were just coming off the beds, I'd fish points near their spawning areas or the first steep drop adjacent to spawning flats. If you find them, you will find many. I have had some VERY good days in these situations.

[Crestliner2008]

Although smallmouth are stronger battlers than largemouth, they are less disposed to seizing an artificial lure than bigmouth bass. During the 1970s, In-Fisherman conducted a smallmouth study and found that natural bait out-produced artificial lures 5 to 1. The notable exception is during the pre-spawn in spring, when smallmouth respond to the same "chunk-&-wind" techniques we use for bigmouth bass.

Roger

Wow! I couldn't disagree more! From ice out thru the freeze up, smallmouth are readily catchable on artificials. I couldn't begin to estimate how many SM's, over 2 1/2 lbs., I've catch & release each year. Many presentations will take them and frequently I'll out-fished crawdad and shiner fishermen by wide margins - and with a lot less mortality.

Back in the '70's, there were less sophisticated lures and techniques available to the fisherman; add to that, the infancy of the sonar back then. Today, I'm sure the In'Fisherman would never refer back to that old theory. There is absolutely no reason to use live bait for any kind of bass anymore.

[Garnet]

It has a lot to do with mag/internet post that start with how finickating smart hard to catch and other catch phrases smalies are.

The bigger smallies get the more killer they are. And it's true they can and will make the best anglers talk to them self.

With them only 8 ft down I would start with a 3 hook Zara 2-3 casts then a big popper and work it hard the more splash and crash in the same spot the better. Then it's tubes. And jerk baits same thing don't let them see it good work it baby. Then dropshot.

Now I would suggest a very large bottle of Jack and chase it with Miller Lite.

Garnet

[RoLo]

Wow! I couldn't disagree more! From ice out thru the freeze up, smallmouth are readily catchable on artificials. I couldn't begin to estimate how many SM's, over 2 1/2 lbs., I've catch & release each year. Many presentations will take them and frequently I'll out-fished crawdad and shiner fishermen by wide margins - and with a lot less mortality.

Back in the '70's, there were less sophisticated lures and techniques available to the fisherman; add to that, the infancy of the sonar back then. Today, I'm sure the In'Fisherman would never refer back to that old theory. There is absolutely no reason to use live bait for any kind of bass anymore.

I certainly wasn't implying that live bait is the only way to catch smallmouth bass, I'm sure we can all fill a truck with smallies we caught on lures. My post was meant only to remove some of the mystery as to why techniques that take largemouth bass, might not take smallmouth bass weighing 4 lbs or more. I purposely noted that smaller bronzebacks are suicidal.

The only real difference between the 70s and today is GPS. Although Loran-C was available long before the 70s, I doubt that Ron and Al used Loran-C. As for more sophisticated lures today, I'm afraid I'll need an example or two. During the 1970s we had ready access to hair jigs, tube lures, plastic craws, you name it.

I'm not aware of any recent smallmouth studies and unfortunately, In-Fisherman was sold to Primedia in 1998. Their 5 to1 ratio is highly debatable, and I too feel that it's a bit rich, but that's their number. Numbers aside, I'm pretty sure that even today, Ron and Al still maintain that natural bait is more productive than artificial lures for large smallmouth bass and large walleyes.

Roger

[Hopper]

Are you sure they were smallies and not carp?

Were they sitting on the bottom and facing upstream not moving.

This would also explain the fact that they were not hitting conventional lures.

that was my immediate thought. Also, do they even have big smallies in Texas?

Many lakes in Texas have good populations of Smallmouth. Lake record at Belton is 6.43!!!

[HAMMER23]

Hey guys I appreciate the info, I was using heavier line and the smallies could have very well been post spawn fish. I will make some changes and try to give you a report on my results. If anyone has any doubt about the size of these smallies in Lake Belton I would be more than happy to accomodate one of you veterans on a trip. THANKS HAMMER !!

[wisturkeyhunter]

crawler, circle hook, light line

[CODbasser]

if you can see them and they are not spawning then you are to close...throw a drop shot with a 12 inch tag with a 4 1/2 in oxblood roboworm straight tail..dont dead stick it, shake it on a slack line...