Here in the northeast, the smallmouth action really slows down during the hot summer months. When we aren’t with a client here, or fishing a tournament trail that demands all of our attention, we usually head south towards lakes like Pickwick in Alabama. We have had great success here throughout the years in the summer months. There is a lot of current at Pickwick, and it keeps the water much cooler, and very well oxygenated, and this is key in catching big smallmouth.

The best places here are on the channel drops and offshore rock piles. If you don’t know this area, it is best to hire a guide unless you are planning on spending more than a few weeks there and enjoy the challenge of trying to locate these areas yourself. It is usually very hot and humid this time of year, and we would rather fish for them at night as we do the largemouth here this time of year. Smallmouth move onto humps and roadbeds looking for crawfish and a Yamamoto spider grub on a jihead is our best lure at this time. Another good bait is the Terminator night bait, a single Colorado blade in black, and it works well in many areas at this time of year at night. At night, we do catch some smallies shallow at times, but you are still better concentrating your efforts in about six to fifteen feet of water.

» Spring Smallmouth Bass

» Spawn Smallmouth Bass

» Post Spawn Smallmouth Bass

» Fall Smallmouth Bass

» Winter Smallmouth Bass