When smallmouth bass are staging for the spawn, I consider a suspending jerkbait the ultimate lure. It’s the first thing I turn to before anything else. Smallmouths aren’t on top and they aren’t on the bottom. They want to eat as they prepare for the spawn, but the water is still pretty cold so they aren’t very active. A suspending jerkbait such as the Rapala Xrap triggers them to bite.
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The Smallmouth Clean-Up Crew
In the realm of fishing suspending jerkbaits, there comes a period when smallmouth bass grow conditioned to the baits being presented before them. If lucky enough to enjoy 100 fish days with a hardbait, there is a high probability many will grow wary of it. The solution to trigger more strikes from conditioned fish is to adjust the presentation to something similar, but different. Entering the picture is a suspending fluke. Continue reading The Smallmouth Clean-Up Crew
Offshore Smallmouth Bass
In my opinion, the first three weeks following ice-out, preceding to the spawning period offers anglers some of the best fishing of the year. About a week following ice out, smallmouths are usually schooled and stacked in large groups along the edges of structural elements. In contrast to largemouths which will move into shallow mud bays with warmer water, smallmouths move to warm water lake locations that are best influenced by wind direction, sunlight penetration, and proximity to annual spawning location. Identify these spots, you can literally catch 100 fish or more in a single day.
Continue reading Offshore Smallmouth Bass