That moment when you set the hook on a big smallmouth bass can only be described as exciting! In those seconds it takes to get that fish to the boat, time tends to stop, and if that bass happens to jump out of the water you are in for quite a show. Don’t get me wrong I love to fish for anything that will bite, but nothing comes close to the excitement of hooking up with a big smallmouth.
LOCATION
I can’t really be too specific when describing which areas to target because each lake, river and reservoir that holds smallmouth bass are all very diverse with different depths, structure and vegetation. The best way to locate schools on any body of water, is to find their main source of food. Bass won’t stick around if there is nothing for them to eat. In our local waters they can often be found in depths of 0-20 feet, depending on what they are feeding on and the time of year. Most of the Bass I caught last summer were found in weed beds ranging from 5-12 feet of water, or along shallow rock structures on main basins, again in 5-12 feet.
Locating big Smallmouth in the summer can be challenging, my advice would be to try weed beds or shallow rock structures in a deeper basin of the lake close to bass spawning areas and cover lots of water. Once the bass have finished spawning, try to predict what direction they are going to move and start there. Fallen trees, stumps, weeds and boulders are among some of the best places to locate hungry summer bass.
WATCH, LOOK, LISTEN
“Did you hear that?” I still remember speaking those words to my Dad while fishing in the Last Chance Bass tournament a few years ago. We were casting towards a rock shoreline when I heard a splash behind us. We both turned around and started casting out in the middle of nowhere towards the ripple and wouldn’t you know, double-header! For two minutes the hits were fast and furious, then nothing. Talk about timing! There was a school of suspended Bass chasing baitfish and we just happened to be in the right place at the right time. This is the one and only time that has happened to me in a tournament but no matter what, if I see or hear a splash, I will immediately cast to that location because you just never know what might happen!
PRESENTATION
Weather plays an important part when it comes to presentation and lure selection. On calm days one of my favorite ways to fish is using topwater lures. They are so versatile and can be used to fish almost any type of structure. Watching the fish jump out of the water at a topwater is always fun! I personally like using “popper-style” baits like the Rapala X-Rap Pop, but if the wind starts to pick up I will switch to a topwater with a prop on it, or stick bait with a “walk the dog” presentation. My largest smallmouth bass was caught a few years ago on a topwater while fishing Rainy Lake, weighing in at 5.50 pounds! That particular day my five biggest bass would have totalled around 24 pounds, all on topwaters… it was a fun day to say the least!
Casting jerkbaits and shallow-diving, square-lipped cranks are a great way to cover rock structures and shorelines. Another technique that works great to cover water through any type of structure and in any type of weather is the spinnerbait. Summertime bass are hungry and active so you can work the baits fast to cover as much water as possible. Once you find a school you can slow down your retrieve and switch to a soft plastic presentation. Tubes, grubs, worms and river bugs are some of my favorite plastics to use this time of year. If you decide to head out to fish a little deeper, using a 4”-5” soft plastic minnow on a 1/4oz jig works great, you can jig it just as you would if you were walleye fishing, and when you come to a shallow area of the structure you are fishing you can wind up and cast it around. The possibilities are endless when it comes to lure selection and having a good variety allows you to adapt to the always changing conditions of smallmouth fishing.
If you are fishing in heavy cover try casting a frog to entice a hit and to see where the bass are hiding. Once you locate a pocket of fish try using a flippin’ jig with a soft plastic creature bait to break down the pocket and hopefully land you some big bass!
Bass fishing can be as easy, or as complicated as you make it. There are always new innovative lures and techniques being developed and it is a constant learning process for those who are interested in trying all the latest gear. Whether you are a weekend angler looking to have some family fun or a competitive bass angler, we can all agree on one thing…Bass fishing is nothing but fun! n