Bass Fishing Tips And Tackle
Tips For Better Bass Fishing
Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth bass also are known as smallies, slabs or bronzebacks and have a scientific name of Micropterus dolomieu. They are found in lakes, rivers and reservoirs all throughout the Northeast. They prefer slightly cooler water than the largemouth bass and you will find them in clean, clearer water as well.
These bass are usually a brown or olive green color with vertical dark bars along their sides. They are an average size of 1 to 2 pounds but if you ever managed to land a 5 pound slab, you probably would become an avid hunter of larger size bronzebacks. This is because of the way almost every smallie fights when hooked. They go totally berserk and will leap and jump all over the place until they can fight no more or manage to free themselves from your fishing line. They can grow to 8 or 9 pounds but this would be a huge trophy fish and would be the catch to talk about forever!
You can also fish for them using many different baits, including live bait such as crayfish or shiners and minnows. Most anglers are going to try and catch them by fishing structures such as points and underwater logs. Don't forget to work the area where you see a lot of rocks and boulders on the bottom. The smallmouth will take advantage of the rocks to hide in and then ambush their prey. Drop offs next to shore are good places to fish for them as well.
You may also find them in open water or even in moving water, such as you would find below a dam. Most of the same type of lures you would use for a largemouth will work on a smallmouth, they just should be a smaller size. Some people like to flyfish for them and this method can be very rewarding, especially if you are using a fly that you hand tied yourself.
A spinning rod with a good closed or open-faced reel will do the trick. You don't need a heavy duty rod because you won't be pulling these fish out of heavy cover like weeds or lily pads. A medium action graphite rod is fine and should be about 6 to 7 feet long. If you use fishing line less than 8 pound test, you might be sorry, as a smallmouth will wrap you around a sharp rock as fast as you can say, fish on!
Whenever you are out fishing and enjoying nature, please remember to respect the planet, the fish you are after and the other bass fisherman you encounter.
These bass are usually a brown or olive green color with vertical dark bars along their sides. They are an average size of 1 to 2 pounds but if you ever managed to land a 5 pound slab, you probably would become an avid hunter of larger size bronzebacks. This is because of the way almost every smallie fights when hooked. They go totally berserk and will leap and jump all over the place until they can fight no more or manage to free themselves from your fishing line. They can grow to 8 or 9 pounds but this would be a huge trophy fish and would be the catch to talk about forever!
You can also fish for them using many different baits, including live bait such as crayfish or shiners and minnows. Most anglers are going to try and catch them by fishing structures such as points and underwater logs. Don't forget to work the area where you see a lot of rocks and boulders on the bottom. The smallmouth will take advantage of the rocks to hide in and then ambush their prey. Drop offs next to shore are good places to fish for them as well.
You may also find them in open water or even in moving water, such as you would find below a dam. Most of the same type of lures you would use for a largemouth will work on a smallmouth, they just should be a smaller size. Some people like to flyfish for them and this method can be very rewarding, especially if you are using a fly that you hand tied yourself.
A spinning rod with a good closed or open-faced reel will do the trick. You don't need a heavy duty rod because you won't be pulling these fish out of heavy cover like weeds or lily pads. A medium action graphite rod is fine and should be about 6 to 7 feet long. If you use fishing line less than 8 pound test, you might be sorry, as a smallmouth will wrap you around a sharp rock as fast as you can say, fish on!
Whenever you are out fishing and enjoying nature, please remember to respect the planet, the fish you are after and the other bass fisherman you encounter.