Smallmouth Bass Fishing

When the water temperatures are about 52-56 degrees here, usually about mid November, the smallmouth we have caught were always on a point with a fast taper into deeper water. If the smallmouth are in water deeper than fifteen feet, we throw a blade bait or tailspinner, if they are shallower than that, we throw the Yamamoto grub again. We always load these baits with a new product called “Megastrike”, which is a revolutionary new advance in scent technology.

When the water starts to drop below fifty degrees again, the smallmouth become a little more lethargic and start suspending off points and sloping banks. We use a hair jig then, or a drop-shot rig with a grub for these fish. Sometimes when these tactics fail, (and they do when the water temperatures drop below forty degrees), we then reverse our tactics and try larger baits such as a big jointed Rapala or similar type bait. We have even caught them trolling these bigger baits this time of year. Although the action is slow, many times the fish are giant!

By: Steve vonBrandt, Originally Published: Fall 2004