Help Breaking 4Lbs.

[Bass Junkie]

I have now caught five Smallmouth Bass that were right at 19" and 4lbs. But for the absolute life of me I cannot beat this mark. My main smallmouth fishery is a lake that is a couple miles long and is drawn down every winter. There is a decent river flowing into it from a lake above this lake, and I've done well in there. I have one spot that I pulled a four pounder out of on a wakebait and saw my partner part ways with an absolutely hug smallie right at the boat at the same spot. I have also landed one four pounder on the main lake in a absolutely perfect spot consisting of a selection of various huge laydowns and some good rip-rap. That was on a 1/4oz. Roostertail. I know that the river at least has the potential to push out a new PB for me, and I'm pretty sure the lake does too. The problem I'm having is getting my hooks into one. Of the four four pound or larger smallies I've seen or caught on this body of water two were on the main lake and two were in the river. This lake is absolutely loaded with shad, as well as docks of every variety. There are nice sections of docks that have rip rap or concrete and those are normally where I catch the most smallmouth. I know this is pretty obvious, but I wanted to throw that out there because it relates my the nest fact. Only about a third of the lake has such structure, the rest being either very shallow mud flats or muddy laydowns where I only catch largemouths. The main forage in the lake is shad, but there is also plenty of crawdads and some bluegill. So what in your opinion should i do to break the 4lb. mark? If you need any more info on the lake let me know. I'm not opposed to trying just about anything to a nice one, so throw out whatever you want. I'd really appreciate some input from the smallmouth masters on the board. Thanks-

Bass Junkie

[steverowbotham]

I would try working a spook or sammy over any points or shoals in the lake. I'll throw the spook as deep as 25 feet. Thats not too far for a big smallie to chase and crush an easy meal. I've caught some donkeys doing this.

[roadwarrior]

I really think you should vary it up and fish some different lakes and rivers.

Some water is just more productive than others.

[Bass Junkie]

Thanks for the help so far guys. I will definatly throw topwaters for the big smallies... Thats a technique never to far from the end of my line. As for fishing different water... Thats hard to do around my area because thats the only lake that has a well established smallmouth population... Weird for N.E. Ohio, but I have not located a better body of water in reasonable distance...

[Dwight Hottle]

Try lake erie & widden your horizon. Should be within an hour or two at the most if your in NE Ohio. It sound like your local lake might have some good smallies in it.

[Bass Junkie]

Lake Erie is within rage, but there is no way I'm takin a 13'11" boat out on that monster.... That local lake does seem to produce some nice fish, but I just can't break the 4lb. mark..... I know there has gfot to be better fish in there, I just need to get some pinned

[Dwight Hottle]

Lake Erie is within rage, but there is no way I'm takin a 13'11" boat out on that monster.... That local lake does seem to produce some nice fish, but I just can't break the 4lb. mark..... I know there has gfot to be better fish in there, I just need to get some pinned

You can fish Presque Isle bay most days out of a 14' boat except for west winds over 10-15 mph. Think spring april & may. My first trip there I caught four over 4lbs, two over 5lbs & a 6lber. I thought I had died & went to smallie heaven!

[J Francho]

I've fished Lake Ontario and Erie out of a 12' kayak. Pick your days, and find a launch point with a protected bay.

[WCCT]

I catch the majority of my bigger smallmouth on a 1/2 or 3/4oz football head tipped with a 5" Hula Grub in color #176 (cinnamon/black flake). A sweet beaver works great on the football head as well. Green pumpkin is always a good color to start with.

[S Hovanec]

So what in your opinion should i do to break the 4lb. mark?

Plan a trip to Erie.

No need to have a big boat either. in the spring, you can fish it in a canoe, no more than 200 yds off shore and catch fish over 4# all day long.

[J Francho]

Plan a trip to Erie.

No need to have a big boat either. in the spring, you can fish it in a canoe, no more than 200 yds off shore and catch fish over 4# all day long.

Yep, same for Ontario...gotta love it when they are shallow!

[A-Jay]

I would suggest the swim bait of your choice fished on a jigjead.

Mr. Mueller beat me to it in the previous post

That was a Huge smb !

btw Paul, that is one sweet looking Ranger Boat.

A-Jay

[WCCT]

We also tend to upsize baits quite a bit. think it is important to show the fish something different. I got into a habit of using 6" Yamamoto Hula grubs until they stopped making them in color#176. I also like to use 6.5" lizards on a c-rig. I started messing around with the Power Team Diesel Craw this past year too. Put that on a football head and you have a big bass bait for sure. I know some guys up here in Washington that use this hand poured craw that I swear is about 8" long. It is huge! They catch some giant smallies on it though.