Smallmouth caught on a Gulp plastic in Wisconsin
Smallmouth Bass
Micropterus dolomieu
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Smallmouth Bass Description
Smallmouth bass are slightly less widespread than their cousins, the Largemouth Bass. I have caught a few hundred of them in various places but I don't feel I know nearly as much about them as the Largemouth. They tend to frequent colder waters than the Largemouth although in many places the same lake will hold both species. Smallmouth also tend to spawn and generally hang out in deeper water, so perhaps that makes them feel less familiar than the Largemouth. They tend to hit many of the same lures although often you will have more success if you downsize a bit.
Smallmouth Bass do not attain the same large potential size as the Largemouth. A 5lber is a very big one and they top out around twice that. They are scrappier than Largemouth pound for pound and their fight is usually noticeably better.
I have never eaten one, so I don't know how they taste. I always release them.
Smallmouth Bass Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 6 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
I rate them the same as Largemouth Bass. They pull a little harder pound for pound and are a little scrappier, but are less likely to break you off in cover. They are not going to push your tackle to the limit or anything unless you are using ultralight gear, but they put up a consistently solid and spirited fight.
Smallmouth Bass Tackle
I have never fished for Smallmouth with anything heavier than a light spinning rod and 6lb test line. A Daiwa Certate spinning reel is an excellent choice for these but you don't need anything really fancy. See below for tackle recommendations.
Smallmouth Bass Techniques
Smallmouth hit both bait and lures. They are often found near weed edges or sunken timber. Beaver houses are a good bet if they are present.
Smallmouth Bass Lures
The number one lure for me has been the Senko. See the Largemouth Bass section for a description of how to fish it. It's really a stillwater lures; in rivers go with something else like a crankbait. Colors that have worked for me include Green Pumpkin and Watermellon. I like the 4" version for Smallmouth. I pair it with a Gamakatsu EWG 2/0 hook (see below).
Small jigs with a Gulp Craw or similar crayfish imitation trailer work well in many places. The Bitsy Bug is a great jig in natural crayfish colors.
I have also had some success fishing tube jigs in Green Pumpkin or Watermellon. I like the Strike King Kevin Van Dam Pro Tube but many tubes will work. I like to cast these out and let them sink slowly, occasionally twitching on the way down. Most bites happen on the sink so you have to pay a lot of attention to how your jig is falling. If something stops it, reel in the slack and set the hook. If it sinks and you get no hits then twitch it while reeling a foot or two and then let it drop and repeat all the way to the boat.
Another common lure for Smallmouth is a crayfish imitation crankbait such as the Rebel Craw. Those work best bounced on the bottom. When they are hitting topwaters (typically early morning and in the evening) the Heddon Baby Torpedo can be good.
See below for what some of these lures look like and click the links to purchase.
Micropterus dolomieu
HOME
Other Species
Smallmouth Bass Description
Smallmouth bass are slightly less widespread than their cousins, the Largemouth Bass. I have caught a few hundred of them in various places but I don't feel I know nearly as much about them as the Largemouth. They tend to frequent colder waters than the Largemouth although in many places the same lake will hold both species. Smallmouth also tend to spawn and generally hang out in deeper water, so perhaps that makes them feel less familiar than the Largemouth. They tend to hit many of the same lures although often you will have more success if you downsize a bit.
Smallmouth Bass do not attain the same large potential size as the Largemouth. A 5lber is a very big one and they top out around twice that. They are scrappier than Largemouth pound for pound and their fight is usually noticeably better.
I have never eaten one, so I don't know how they taste. I always release them.
Smallmouth Bass Pound for Pound Fight Rating - 6 out of 10 on the Freshwater Scale
I rate them the same as Largemouth Bass. They pull a little harder pound for pound and are a little scrappier, but are less likely to break you off in cover. They are not going to push your tackle to the limit or anything unless you are using ultralight gear, but they put up a consistently solid and spirited fight.
Smallmouth Bass Tackle
I have never fished for Smallmouth with anything heavier than a light spinning rod and 6lb test line. A Daiwa Certate spinning reel is an excellent choice for these but you don't need anything really fancy. See below for tackle recommendations.
Smallmouth Bass Techniques
Smallmouth hit both bait and lures. They are often found near weed edges or sunken timber. Beaver houses are a good bet if they are present.
Smallmouth Bass Lures
The number one lure for me has been the Senko. See the Largemouth Bass section for a description of how to fish it. It's really a stillwater lures; in rivers go with something else like a crankbait. Colors that have worked for me include Green Pumpkin and Watermellon. I like the 4" version for Smallmouth. I pair it with a Gamakatsu EWG 2/0 hook (see below).
Small jigs with a Gulp Craw or similar crayfish imitation trailer work well in many places. The Bitsy Bug is a great jig in natural crayfish colors.
I have also had some success fishing tube jigs in Green Pumpkin or Watermellon. I like the Strike King Kevin Van Dam Pro Tube but many tubes will work. I like to cast these out and let them sink slowly, occasionally twitching on the way down. Most bites happen on the sink so you have to pay a lot of attention to how your jig is falling. If something stops it, reel in the slack and set the hook. If it sinks and you get no hits then twitch it while reeling a foot or two and then let it drop and repeat all the way to the boat.
Another common lure for Smallmouth is a crayfish imitation crankbait such as the Rebel Craw. Those work best bounced on the bottom. When they are hitting topwaters (typically early morning and in the evening) the Heddon Baby Torpedo can be good.
See below for what some of these lures look like and click the links to purchase.
Clockwise from left: Bitsy Bug with Sweet Beaver trailer, Strike King Pro Tube, Senkos, Heddon Baby Torpedo
Smallmouth Bass Baits
Minnows and leeches are supposed to be good baits, but I have not fished for Smallmouth much with baits. Crayfish work well, especially smaller and medium size ones.
Where to get the big Smallmouth Bass
The two biggest Smallmouth ever caught were in Dale Hollow, Tennessee so that seems like a good place to try. For numbers there are many lakes in Ontario, Canada that have tons of small to medium size ones.
Minnows and leeches are supposed to be good baits, but I have not fished for Smallmouth much with baits. Crayfish work well, especially smaller and medium size ones.
Where to get the big Smallmouth Bass
The two biggest Smallmouth ever caught were in Dale Hollow, Tennessee so that seems like a good place to try. For numbers there are many lakes in Ontario, Canada that have tons of small to medium size ones.
A healthy Smallmouth caught on a Strike King Tube Jig in Pumpkin
Other Smallmouth Bass Resources
The above barely scratches the surface on how to catch Smallmouth Bass. The resources below will provide a wealth of information:
A short video on how to fish the drop shot technique for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a4-fjqn3J8
A short video on how to Texas rig a plastic worm for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxWRWXGa1o
A short video on how to fish a Texas rigged plastic worm for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcOlB-Oms9w
A short video on how to fish Senkos for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M8b1YM52_c
A short video on how to fish Carolina rigged plastics for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qlhLy6tVk0
If you are in the southern Wisconsin area, this guy is the best guy to put you on big Smallmouth: www.wibigfish.com
The above barely scratches the surface on how to catch Smallmouth Bass. The resources below will provide a wealth of information:
A short video on how to fish the drop shot technique for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a4-fjqn3J8
A short video on how to Texas rig a plastic worm for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpxWRWXGa1o
A short video on how to fish a Texas rigged plastic worm for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PcOlB-Oms9w
A short video on how to fish Senkos for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M8b1YM52_c
A short video on how to fish Carolina rigged plastics for bass:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qlhLy6tVk0
If you are in the southern Wisconsin area, this guy is the best guy to put you on big Smallmouth: www.wibigfish.com
A beautiful Canadian Smallmouth from Ontario
Click on any pic below to enlarge
