Smallmouth Bass Tips & Tricks
Top 7 Tips for catching your Monster Smallmouth Bass
Go at the right time.
Late May through to mid June, when water temperatures reach and exceed 60°F (15°C), has proven to be the best time to catch high numbers of Smallmouth bass. Peak time is late May to late June, and the balance of the season to late September is very good as well. The quantities are not as plentiful as May or June, but many nice trophies are caught off the rocky boulders on the edge of a river current.
Use the right equipment to make things easier.
A medium spinning or baitcasting combo, equipped with 10-20 pound test will be the most versatile bass fishing rigging. Some of the best lures include Tube jigs (gitzits), Flukes, X-raps, Tail Dancers, Skitter pops, Jitterbugs, size 3 Mepps, Shad Raps and small Spinnerbaits. If you are an avid fly fisherman, bring your fly rod to cast for some Smallmouth. A seven or eight weight rod with weight forward floating line will be great for throwing small bass bugs, woolly buggers and other small streamers.
Try a crankbait.
The most successful method is the crankbait. It is a simple means of fishing that requires minimal skill. This suits a beginner fine and provides him with the confidence to fish. The simple throwing and retrieving method can become very monotonous and boring, so try playing with the crankbait in the water.
Vary the speed and how deep it goes.
By reeling faster or by lowering or raising the pole you can vary the speed and depth of your lure. In calm clear water, bass prefer a regular steady retrieve with no sudden movements, and in choppy murky water they love an irregular fast and slow retrieve. You must also experiment with this and see what suites you (and the fish).
Use bait scent.
Scented bait can improve the quality and quantity of strikes. When you fish with these lures, always try to make them look good in the water and make the bass come after them. You can do this by making them swim as real as possible. Although it can be frustrating, if you get it right you will catch big fish. Practice makes perfect.
Bass love colourful lures.
With brightly coloured lures, they seem to hit them more often. These lures bother them and so they get mad and attack. Cast over and over into an area with bass will always produce an attack. They don’t like the lures bothering them. Try bright coloured lures in muddy water and more natural ones in clear water.
Bumping attracts fish.
Try casting and bumping these lures against objects in the water to attract more fish. You run the risk of getting the lure stuck, but it usually produces a nice bass. Be careful where you throw it or you may lose your lure. Getting lures into little places is difficult, so keep practicing until you get it right.
