| A lot of fishing techniques vary in efficiency | | | | especially occur in reservoirs and near channels |
| depending on what type of fish one is aiming for, | | | | where the shoreline goes underwater at |
| especially with bass. | | | | approximately 45 degrees. |
| One bass in particular, the smallmouth bass, can | | | | Drop off points, very rocky shoals, and even |
| be very picky at times, but careful attention to | | | | fallen timber can be great covers for smallmouth |
| detail can have the avid and casual fishing | | | | bass as well, so be sure to check a variety of |
| enthusiast alike reeling in their limits in no time. | | | | areas for prime location. |
| It is pretty much common knowledge that the | | | | Preparation is ultimately the biggest trick to fishing |
| largemouth bass will eat just about anything that | | | | for smallmouth. This involves charting the area out |
| it can, which is for the most part true, but the | | | | months and seasons beforehand; especially when |
| same isn't necessarily true as much for the | | | | the water is very low and you can note particular |
| smallmouth bass. The smallmouth, while not very | | | | great cover spots that are hidden when the |
| picky in its diet, tends to scale things down a bit | | | | waters are higher. This especially comes in handy |
| more and will prefer a few plump bites than many | | | | in any season where the weather works to make |
| small bites or one really big meal. The smallmouth | | | | structure invisible, such as snow and mud. |
| will still go after insects, but its favorite food is | | | | Smallmouth bass really enjoy being next to |
| usually the crawdad, or crayfish. | | | | objects for their cover, particularly solid objects |
| Smallmouth bass also tend to like deeper and | | | | (which is part of why they aren't as fond of |
| cooler water than largemouth, and the smallmouth | | | | weeds as largemouth bass are), and they tend to |
| will really get active between 40 degrees | | | | be most active from nighttime to early morning |
| Fahrenheit and about 65 degrees Fahrenheit. | | | | (especially if the water is very clear). |
| During this time, the smallmouth will feed on the | | | | Smallmouth will spook very easily, even if they |
| bottom near stronger current, especially near | | | | are very aggressive due to fast-paced high |
| rocks and even man made items such as wooden | | | | competition areas with low food supplies. Slow |
| support structures of bridges that cut the flow. | | | | drags are the best ways to pull up a smallmouth, |
| Other than using live crawdad as bait, artificial | | | | especially if the season and food supply prompt |
| lures in a wide range of type will suffice for cooler | | | | the smallmouth to be picky about their diet. |
| smallmouth fishing, with drop shot rigs, spinner | | | | A good thing to keep in mind, also, is that |
| baits, and jerk baits being especially effective in | | | | smallmouth will travel in schools of smallmouth |
| most scenarios. Other great live bait includes big | | | | that are the same size, so relocation may be |
| worms and fresh minnows. | | | | necessary if you keep hooking small catches. |
| They key here is to keep things small and slow, | | | | I would not recommend trying to topwater for |
| especially with extremely warm or cold weather | | | | smallmouth because you have a better chance of |
| (since in either case the smallmouth bass will be | | | | spooking them than you do attracting them, but it |
| doing its best to conserve as much energy as | | | | can be done with skill. The reason that it is usually |
| possible due to slow metabolism in the cold and | | | | best to head for the bottom in shallower water |
| risk of poor oxygen in hot weather). | | | | and about 30 feet down elsewhere is because |
| Most of the time when the smallmouth bass | | | | that is where the food for the smallmouth is, and |
| retreats to deep water, it will do so for feeder | | | | that is also where the water is cooled to their |
| fish and will do so at around the thermocline, | | | | liking. In winter, schools can even get down to 55 |
| which will be about 25-35 feet down. This will | | | | feet or more! |