The
best lures
To Use Are: Crankbaits – Cotton Cordell Big O Crankbait and Bomber Fat Free Shad Spinnerbaits –
booyah blade jigs
– Strike King Bitsy Bug and Luck “E” Strike Smallmouth Hair Jerkbaits – The Flit 120.
What size lures for smallmouth?
Small versions of largemouth crankbaits and also crayfish-shaped models are terrific mid-level smallmouth lures. Stick with crankbaits measuring 1¼ to 2 inches for most situations.
What colors do smallmouth bass like?
Their vision is strongest in the areas of medium-red to green It fails rapidly moving into the blues and purples, as it does towards the far reds. If our picture of bass color vision is accurate, then color is meaningful to bass in some cases but not others.
Will smallmouth hit topwater lures?
Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat, smallmouth bass can be caught on big topwater plugs In fact, big topwater lures are often the most effective way to catch bigger smallies.
What is a smallmouth bass favorite food?
Smallmouth are not picky feeders. They’ll go for insects, bait fish and crustaceans. Crayfish or crawfish (as they’re called in the southern United States), are their top prey and will always land a good sized bass if they’re the right size.
What is the best time to catch smallmouth bass?
Smallmouth fishing is generally better in the early spring than largemouth fishing might be, since smallmouths tend to be more active in cold water. Begin looking for them when the water temperature is in the mid-40s. Fish the first deep water associated with a large gravel or mud flat.
What size hooks for smallmouth bass?
The smallmouth bass prefers a
smaller hook
(#4-1/0) and will typically bite on anything that moves.
What colors can bass not see?
Outside of red and green, many dark colors appear quite similar to bass, which are unable to make highly selective decisions based on those dark colors like blue and black. Likewise, bass cannot readily distinguish between very bright colors, like chartreuse and white.
Do smallmouths eat chatterbait?
ChatterBaits for Smallmouth Bass Fishing This versatile lure can be used in many different fishing situations because of its action and its variety in sizes and colors. The bladed swim jig can be fished as a spinnerbait, crankbait or jig to match even the toughest smallmouth bass fishing conditions.
What colors can fish not see?
The majority of fish have developed eyes that will detect the type of colors typical of their environment. For example, inshore fish have good color vision, whereas offshore pelagic fish have limited color vision and detect only a few if any colors other than black and white.
What time of year is best for topwater bass fishing?
Topwater fishing is one of the best ways to catch bass during late fall, early spring, and late spring when they are in their spawning areas. Topwater baits will often entice a reaction strike from the bass during this time, creating some of the most memorable fishing moments.
When should I use top water bait?
Early morning, when the light is low , is a traditional time to fish a topwater lure. Fish them around shallow cover where bass have moved to feed. Work your favorite lure around bushes, logs, stumps, rocks, and brush in the water. Late Afternoon/Dusk.
Do smallmouth bass eat worms?
Consequently, smallmouths take worms on shallow structure, deep structure, and suspended in between. Smallmouths eat worms in rivers, in lakes, in reservoirs, and in the Great Lakes But any ol’ worm won’t do.
What lure catches the most bass?
-
stick bait
. The legendary Stick Bait is the most popular and fundamental Bass lure ever - Curl Tail Grub
- Spinnerbait
- Square Bill Crankbait
- Skirted Bass Jig
- Lipless Crankbait
- Finesse Worm
- Tube Bait.
What can I use for river smallmouth?
Jerkbaits, spinner baits and buzz baits can all be used for smallmouth fishing. The lightest weight plastics like a Texas Rig or jig head need just enough weight to make bottom contact and then walk it down the shoal. You can use a variety of baits to catch smallmouth in small rivers; it’s all about the presentation.
Are spinnerbaits good for smallmouth bass?
While a spinnerbait is a handy tool for largemouth, VanDam agrees that it can be just as effective when looking for smallmouth.
Do smallmouth bites at night?
According to Stephen Headrick — the “Smallmouth Guru” — darkness is what the night bite is all about, not cooler water The darkness brings these brutes out from their daytime deep water haunts in search of food. It’s really just that simple, according to Headrick.
Do smallmouths eat bluegill?
A: Bass – both largemouth and smallmouth – make excellent predator fish These strong, scrappy guys keep your
bluegill population
in check.
What temperature do smallmouth bass start biting?
Although the smallmouth bass is considered to be a warm water fish, its ideal temperature range is lower than that of the largemouth bass. Smallmouth tend to favor waters between 67 to 71 degrees. When water temperatures dip below 50 degrees , feeding slows and the fish aren’t eager to bite.
What color lures to use on sunny days?
As a general rule, silver is a great color to use on bright, sunny days , where as on darker, cloudy days, gold would be best. Also, consider the water clarity you are fishing. If the water you are fishing in is clear, then silver would work best.
What color plastic worm is best for bass?
Black worms can be a versatile option for bass. This color can be ideal for all types of water, whether it’s clear or dirty. However, black plastic worms may work best if the water is a little murky or if during cloudy weather.
Do smallmouths eat perch?
What do smallmouth bass eat? Smallmouth bass are much more limited in the size of food they can eat because they have much smaller mouths than largemouth bass. Smallmouth bass eat yellow perch , young bluegills, minnows, shiners, suckers, aquatic insects, but their favorite food are crayfish.
Are smallmouth bass bottom feeders?
They are known to follow behind northern hog suckers. A bottom feeder , the hog sucker grubs among stones, often dislodging small crayfish, insect nymphs, and other prey. Positioned just downstream of the sucker, the smallmouth eats any prey that is swept by.
Do smallmouth bass eat frogs?
They want substantial meals that are easy to catch, and the water’s surface creates a fantastic edge or trap that makes food easier to acquire. Smallmouth bass will hit mice, frogs, large insects and a variety of critters struggling on the surface , but they really go for a struggling minnow twitching on top.
What time of day are smallmouth most active?
During the day, smallmouth bass are most active first thing in the morning from dawn until mid-morning and in the late afternoon from 3 hours prior to sunrise until dusk These reduced light periods afford bass a tactical advantage over prey like shad and crayfish which don’t see as well during these time windows.
Where do smallmouth bass hang out?
Smallmouth bass live in many habitats ranging from cool waters of rivers and streams to deep reservoirs and crystal-clear natural lakes You can find smallmouth bass in waterways either above or below the Mason-Dixon Line.
Do bass remember being caught?
Species such as northern pike and bluegill are known as poor learners and often will strike again only minutes after being caught and released. Other fish, such as largemouth bass, channel catfish, stripers and carp, have better memories “The channel catfish has a very strong memory,” Hill said.
Are smallmouth bass good to eat?
Even though most people catch and release smallmouth bass for the sport, you can absolutely eat them If you’re looking for a healthy and tasty fish dinner, smallmouth is a great option.
What size hook is bigger 4 or 6?
The tricky part here is that unlike the ought sizes where the larger the number, the larger the hook- now it becomes reversed; the larger the number the smaller the hook For example, hooks sizes from smallest to largest would be #10, #8, #6, #4, #2, #1, 1/0, 3/0, 5/0, 6/0 etc.
Are circle hooks good for bass?
Yes, circle hooks work great for live bait fishing for black bass too The key is to make sure you give the fish tike to eat the bait before starting to reel.
What size is a trophy smallmouth bass?
Across North America, most anglers consider smallmouth bass to be trophies when they hit the 20-inch or 5-pound mark On the Great Lakes, those length and weight criteria get stretched to 21 or 22 inches or 6 to 7 pounds.
Do smallmouth bite jigs?
The “right” hair jig for smallmouths is a small 1/16- to 1/8-ounce marabou jig with a round or mushroom-shaped head The jig is similar to marabou jigs used by crappie fishermen, but bass models will often have a larger, stronger hook and possibly a longer or thicker skirt.
Do you fish for bass on the bottom?
A tube jig is an excellent choice when bass are belly to bottom When smallies are down-feeding, getting a bait on bottom is essential to catching them. This holds true from shallow to deep water. The following are bottom-contact tactics and some reliable locations to fish these rigs, beginning with shallow haunts.
Should I fish in the rain?
Because the surface is broken up by the raindrops, and the clouds are obscuring the sun – rainy days are some of the best times to fish topwater baits … All day long. Fish are more willing to roam and actively pursue bait – which makes them much more likely to demolish a topwater as it skitters across the surface.
Do bass like red worms?
All Fish Love Them I’ve caught a wide variety of fish using worms, including walleye, trout, bass, bluegill and catfish. I’ve found, though, that nightcrawlers work best for walleye and bass, while smaller worms, red worms and leaf worms, are great for for panfish like bluegill and perch.
What color jig is best for bass?
Green pumpkin, watermelon, and other related natural colors are excellent choices. If fishing dirty or stained waters, it helps to use a black and blue combination. Certain jigs often imitate bluegill and shad with color matching.
References
https://bassonline.com/smallmouth-bass-lures/
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