Info on smallmouth

[Guest]

I"ve always fished smallmouth on rivers, but I am not as familiar with catching them in lakes. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what to look for. Do they relate to docks,weeds,rockpiles etc? What to use for bait? Was on the northside Sat&Sun. and caught 1 19"& 1 12" with a #5 shadrap> But couldn't find anymore. Also is the southside better?

[EBass]

Well you did better than the boat I was in on Memorial weekend. I didn't see a smallie, not one.

But in the summer last year we saw a lot. On the rock reefs and in the tall reed/weed things and along the break. There was a ton of crayfish so they were eating them.

I did get my personal best there last year on a tube. 20" piggie.

S and SE are good. But that's the only area I've been to. Sounds like you're on the right path though.

[Guest]

I don't want to sound like i'm bragging but so far this year i have cought 46 nice smallmouths with the biggest being 21". All by moving around and throwing a bobber and leech to likley loking areas. I have been up there 4 differant days and have cought more this year than I have all my life. I noticed monday that it was begining to slow down, and I would bet that some differant methods of fishing would start to out fish the bobber method. But I'll never Know because the muskie opener is this weekend and I'll be busy casting.
Dave

[Guest]

If you are fishing with a leech that's not bragging. If I was using a leech and bobber I would have caught 25 fish on Monday. I got 6 but saw or missed a lot more.

[Guest]

I knew someone would say that. Why do some people have to make things harder than they have to be,I'll never know.
Dave

[EBass]

Fishermuskie,

Last year in the summer we saw schools and schools of smallies. Tried throwing everything at them and got a couple. But had a 1/2 pound of leeches to use. So I did the ol bobber trick. I caught a lot more and my buddies switched to bobbers to as we got more action. Then later on we went for the eyes. Gotta use that expensive bait before it goes to waste.

[Guest]

Thanks for your reply EBASS.
Sometimes live bait works better. After all I did drive 90 miles to try for them.
Dave

[Cyberfish]

"I knew someone would say that. Why do some people have to make things harder than they have to be,I'll never know."
Dave

I don't know,Dave. I think it is a sickness us hard core bass heads get! I mean I have no problems pulling leeches crawlers or minnows for walleyes, or dunking worms and minnows for panfish, but for some reason when we get a good bass on live bait we feel we been CHEATIN'!! Irrational for sure! Unfortunatly I know of no cure. I hear musky fishermen can come down with this ailment too, so be aware

[DoctorB]

I don't even think you need leeches right now, not that I would ever use them or live bait for smallies. The smallies are up, active and readily bite when you throw in front of them, even the big gals.

Hey BassPastor, I saw three guys in a Crestliner yesterday in Isle Bay all throwing big, big bucktails, with big muskie gear. Do you think they were only fishing for northerns? I don't given they were fishing what I consider to be a couple of the better muskie spots in the bay and if I wanted to catch some nice northerns, that bay wouldn't even be my tenth choice. Just another example of a poorly written law, I guess.

[eye]

What is the big deal regarding live bait and bass fishing? I admit, I'm a walleye guy to the bone but I enjoy some weed-dog action once in a while(just joking fella's). Seriously, is there something really wrong with using live bait or is it just a macho thing? I would appreciate the enlightinment.

[EBass]

Most of the time I don't use live bait when going for bass. However, I'm not a pro/am bass fisherman, but I still want to catch smallies. So if the bite gets tough (at that time it was for us, 3 fish in 4hrs) and there's 150 leeches chillin in the cooler, I'm opting to the leech.

I kinda agree with Cyb about the feeling cheated part (that's the wanna be pro/am bass in me) but I want to catch fish and lots of them instead of being frusterated and wondering what the heck am I doing wrong.

[This message has been edited by EBass (edited 06-06-2003).]

[eye]

Of course you would, why wouldn't you? If there is a legal way to catch a fish, why in the world wouldn't you use it? This whole discussion has me baffled.

[Guest]

To heck with the smallmouths. I will be using all artifical lures this weekend but I'll will be fishing muskies. Maybe I'll see you up there sunday. I have a 16' alumicraft that is painted camoflage. I will be on the southeast side.
Dave

[Guest]

"Do you think they were only fishing for northerns?"

Personally I don't care, didn't Muskie open 6/1?

As for the live bait, man are some people touchy. I was just telling the truth. I had the fish patterned and would have caught a lot more on a bobber and leech. They were spitting the artificials when I put on almost any tension. I don't think a smallie would let go of a fat leech for anything.