Where Are My SmallMouth?

[Bass Junkie]

  I fish a reservoir with medium-clear water clarity, depending on what part of the lake your un. It gets to about 30 ft. by the dam, and has some areas tha average around 12-14ft. Its not a really rocky lake, though some areas have rocks, if that makes sense : It does have quite a bit of rip rap though, and plenty of craws. My question i, where can I find smallmouth in this lake? I know they're in here, as I've caugt afew, but not many. Ten at the most. Granted, I'm usually fishin' laydowns with largemouth lures, but I rarelly catch smallmouth. This lake is not the best lake, as there is quite a bit of competition for the food available, but its my home waters, and I don't plan on changin' that : Anyway, how can I catch more smallies. I know its kinda hard to tell w/o seein' the lake, but can you guys offer up some advise?

[Flywatersmallie]

TX rig a 4" chigger craw or rage craw and head to that riprap. Throw a smaller crank like a 1/4 oz big O and cover lots of rock. When you pick up a fish or 2 slow down and fish the craw and scour the area. Smallies school. If you find one, chances are it wasn't alone

[Crestliner2008]

How large is this lake? What is the forage base, besides crawfish? Do you fish it from shore or do you have a boat and a sonar? What other species of game fish are in it?

This information would be a great help in giving some tips.  

[Josh Bassman]

How large is this lake? What is the forage base, besides crawfish? Do you fish it from shore or do you have a boat and a sonar? What other species of game fish are in it?

This information would be a great help in giving some tips.

I fish a similar lake. I have a boat, sonar and the game fish trout, crappie and kokanee. My lake is very clear and I have a hard time catching smallies.

Please help :'(

[CWeb Canada]

Some of the terminology in bass fishing and describing lake areas confuse me.

Two that come to mind immediately are rip-rap and laydowns.

Can some of you comment on what exactly these areas are, what to look for to find them and why I want to fish them?

Thanks.

CWeb

[Crestliner2008]

O.K., Josh Bassman - The first thing you need to do is look for structure with your sonar. Significant changes in bottom configuration; in the form of drop offs, inside bends, humps or ridges, out over deeper water. Set your sonar so that the "chart speed" is about 70% and your "ping speed" is at maximum (if no adjustment is available for your ping, it's probably set at max. at the factory.). Do not use that "Fish I.D." feature either. Set your sonar to show fish "arches" instead. Set your "sensitivity" to about 80% and you're good to go.

Once you find suitable structure, do NOT look for fish! What you want to look for, on any structure, is BAIT. If you locate a nice bottom configuratin, which supports large balls of bait, you're golden! Drop anchor on such a spot and fish it with a Senko and a Drop Shot rig. The Senko can/should be suspended, just off the bottom, with a slip bobber.

The reason for anchoring, vs. trying to stay on the school with an electric motor, is simply that large bait balls are always moving. However, they will repeat their "path" across structure quite often. The target game fish species will follow, depending on type. The salmonoids will cruise above the school; the bass will usually cruise under the school. Not an important fact, nor one cast in stone, but a good guideline to show that you need to remain in one spot in order to "intercept" roving packs of predatory fish.

Salmon, lake trout, bass....they will all take the Senko presented like this. The drop shot, fished vertically on target, will seal the deal. You will put a lot of fish in the boat if you utilize this strategy.

In another section, I posted a pictoral depiction of my rigging for the suspended Senko presentation; you can search this out easily in this forum. Hope this is of some help. Good Luck!