Finding Smallies

[Teri C.]

The lake I am going to stock smallies. I have only stream fished for smallies so I need some help. Where will I find them? Structure like large mouths? Rocks? What should I look for? What are the best lures or bait to use? What time of day is best? Thanks!

 

[Bob G.]

Teri,



Look for rocky structure. If it's adjacent to a weedline, it's all the better. Fish the edge of the weedline or in the open water around rocks. Jerkbaits (soft and hard) are good in open water. Green pumpkin grubs on stand-up jig heads are my main bait on Champlain. I have one rod dedicated to grub/jig fishing. I also use a Rebel Crawfish and a Rapala Shallow Shad Rap. Works for LM too. Hope for chop on the lake and fish the open structure at any time of the day. Them Michigan and VT pros should have some more tips for you, since I'm an amatuer at best!!



The water temp will determine if the fish spawned or not. If you catch dinks in the shallows, go deeper. Good luck and post pics!!



Bob G.

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Couple of questions Teri...Is this up North? Down South?

Tempatures(Bill Dance slang) can very dramatically and does so the does the baits and areas...

TEE

 

[Texas Transplant]

Others will chime in here with better information.



Smallies love crawfish, therefore . . . .



I understand that they love harder/rockier bottoms. Jig's seem to be a favorite of theirs, but of course, they are a favorite of LM's also. If you can find any rip-rap, work it carefully. Crawfish really love being around rocks/rip rap.



Best of luck. Interested to hear your report upon returning.



Tex

 

[Jim B]

Water temp is key. where i fish if the water is in the high 40's to mid 50's they will be coming up to feed and getting ready to spawn. look for large flats near deep water and fish them with spinnerbaits or jerk baits., once the water hits the high 50's low 60's they will be spawning, the only way to catch them will be to take them off beds. if you decide to do that please crush the barb and put them back unharmed so they can finish thier spawn. after the spawn i catch them deeper from 8 to 40 feet dependoing on the day. if they are deep you will need to use your fishfinder to find some structure to fish like weeds or boulders. also in the summer i find they will come up onto flats to feed early in the morning and topwater can be a load of fun at that time.

 

[Marke Cicero]

Teri,



Everyone has already said it. Crawfish and good mix of rock / vegitation on the bottom. It's a lot differnt than LM fishing. Most of your structure is submerged and invisible to the naked eye. The hardest thing for me when learning to fish smallies was to GET AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE!!! A good topo map with bottom contours is best way to locate smallies. (Actually, fishing with Rob, Mac & Mini are the BEST ways but for those less fortunate, a good topo map will have to do.)



Look for large flat areas (5 to 9 feet deep) that drop off into deeper water (10 plus).



Once you've located these areas, hope for a little wind so you can drift. Throw a grub or tube on a 1/40z. jig head, let it sink to the bottom and just drag it. It can be little boring (like trolling) if the fish aren't biting but when they are........HOOOOOOO SON!!!! HANG ON TIGHT AND ENJOY THE RIDE!!!!!

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Everyone has given some good pointers, but don't think you can only find smallies around rocks. I have caught 5 lbers while jigging in between LM in the river before. It's all a matter of what's available to them. Points are always good to follow out to deeper water. But if you can find the outside weededge, where water begins to get to deep for vegetation to take hold, usually starts somewhere around 14-15 feet deep, smallies will hold out there regardless of bottom composition. Baits are as mentioned, use grubs or tubes in rocky or barren flats. Spinnerbaits are good for locating aggressive fish. Then slow down and fish slower and deeper for the bigger toads. My favorite is the luckycraft pointer 100's. Ghost minnow, aurora black, TN shad, clown, etc are all good colors but let the natural forage dictate what color you will throw. And never rule out topwater. Nothing quite like getting hammered by a 4+ lb smallie on a torpedo. But if you can find some kind of off shore shoal or reef that tops out at say 5-8 feet but has 20+ foot water adjacent to it, fish the edges. Whatever you throw, put it up on the top of the hump and drag it off over deeper water. No self respecting smallie can resist that. Good luck, let us know how you do.

 

[Teri C.]

Ok, I have a cheap fish finder and have always had trouble figuring out what is what in the screen. I can find the ledges by depth changes and a dip on the screen but I have a hard time telling what the bottom is rocks, weeds, etc. It all looks the same....spotted black. It's good to know you all like crayfish. I throw the plastic Rebel on a stream pole all day long on Sugar Creek. I will be 3 hours North of Minneapolis. I think the water temp is in the 60's from the report I read.

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Fish will be on beds. Look for large flats (no dramatic change in depth) around 6-10 feet deep on bottoms that have some scattered rocks or cover. Put a grub on the bed and they'll hit it every time. But be sure to get the male back in quick before anything raids his nest.

 

[Teri C.]

I went this same time last year and caught large mouth, pike, and rock bass but no smallies. Why do you think that is? I will post picks providing I catch something worth a picture. I will leave out the annual picture of me exposing my rear over the side of the boat. They always seem to catch me. By the way, this boat is much harder to do that in.

 

[Bob G.]

Teri,



Reading bottom composition takes practice and a decent depthfinder. There is a very good sonar tutorial at www.lowrance.com that I go back and read every now and then for a refresher. The depth of the grayscale can help you determine rocky bottom from soft bottom.



I think with a little practice, you can catch some smallies AND get that butt over the side of the new boat! Either way, post some pics! Mikesnow will be looking forward to it! LOL



Bob G.

 

[Teri C.]

Bob, good to hear from you. I will check out that web site. For the guys who debate tin vs glass, tin is definitely easier for females. When I broke my new boat in, I think I add a little yellow tint to the side. HA!

 

[Bill McElroy]

LOL!!!!...

 

[Bruce Freeman]

Teri: I am trying not to be a pig butt I have to ask? Would it be a Full Moon over Lake Woman or a Full Woman Moon over The Lake.....LOL..Sorry

BF

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Come on Bruce.....that was uncalled for.

Teri...turn that sensitivity up on that sonar and learn to determine what you are seeing. I'd much rather have it high than low...you'll see everything.

Thanx for that VOTE FOR TIN & WOMAN...I think my wife would appreciate that. She thinks my 185 is the berries...she backs it like a PRO (make a few of the men look bad)...so my next item is to teach her to drive the boat. She doesn't feel comforatble yet with having NO BRAKES!

Good luck...

TEE

 

[Not_Scott S.]

Teri, 3 hours north of the cities sounds like Boundary Waters country. For an absolute blast I highly recommend throwing topwater in early morning and evenings. Not knowing the lake, a good place to start is working the lily pads and reeds off of the rocky points (not steep drop-offs, but those that shelf off). Drop a Tiny Torpedo (one of my favorites), Zara Spook or Skitter Walk right into pockets in the pads and hang on. Let it sit for several seconds, and give it a little twitch.



In addition to all the other advice, you may want to include a drop shot or Carolina Rig. I have great success with both 4" salamanders (watermelon/red flake in that clear water) and Roboworm's 4" sculpins (roboworm.com). If dropshotting, you might also consider using a craw color tube with a 1/2 oz jighead as your bottom weight. I've often caught two at once with this setup. Hopefully you can get some local knowledge as to the depths their hanging out in, and find likely structure they will relate to at these depths. Good luck!

 

[gone bye bye]

The best tool you can have in finding smallies in the the spring on clear lakes is a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Look for bedding areas and beds with your eyes, look for the sand/rock mix. If you find a flat that has sand/wood/rocks you are getting VERY close. Keep the trolling motor on and keep searching, if you see a bed toss a bouy and check it later. When you return, do so with extreme caution and stealth. The fish are usually spooky and will leave before you have a chance to see them if they are not locked on the beds. If they are locked on you will see them getting nervous, darting aroud the bed, leaving momentarily and returning quick. These are VERY catchable with tubes, twin tailed skirted grubs, single tailed grubs, etc. Just cast PAST the bed and slowly work the bait into the middle of it. The fish will "tail up" and you may not feel the bite. Wait until the fish carries the bait off the bed and then set the hook and HOLD ON!



Mini

 

[TOMMY RICH]

Torpedo's are the best topwater smallmouth bait..I have a bunch in the tiny and teeny's work well for rivers.

TEE

 

[gone bye bye]

Pop-R's, Tiny Torpedos, Zara Spook, Sammy, G-Flash Pop....all good smallie topwaters. Better action in the post spawn than during the spawn.....but still effective until the sun gets up so you can see the fish and/or beds.



Mini