Smallmouth basics

by Ray Nordstrom
Fishing columnist

July 05, 2008 12:20 am

— Smallmouth bass are one of the most exciting fish species an angler can pursue.
Their strikes are ferocious and they always put up a good fight. Their leaps are often spectacular, coming completely out of the water and “tail-walking” for the wide-eyed angler.
Smallmouth gear doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. A good 6- to 6 1/2-foot light- to medium-weight spinning rod and a reel spooled with 6- to 10-pound line will work just fine and is easy to cast while wading or paddling.
There are literally hundreds of baits designed for “smallies”, but just a few basic lures will usually cover most situations. This is especially good because in our area most smallmouth fishing is done in rivers and creeks while wading or paddling a canoe or kayak where a large tackle box full of lures is not an option. A few in-line spinner baits, some 1/16-ounce to 1/4-ounce jigs, and a small assortment of crankbaits will cover most situations and can be packed in a wading vest or small pocket tackle box.
In-line spinnerbaits have always been a hot bait for smallmouths. The flash and vibration of the blade is usually more than any hungry fish can resist. Sizes 1, 2 and 3 work well. I like to use gold or silver blades in clear water and black or fluorescent green or orange blades in stained water. Don’t forget to use a swivel in front of your in-line spinners to keep the lure from twisting your line.
My second choice for smallmouths are small crankbaits that imitate minnows or crawfish. Floating Rapalas in black and silver work very well. I’ve also had good luck with Mann’s Baby 1-Minus and Rebel’s Crawfish Crankbait. These can all be fished within two to three feet of the water’s surface eliminating most snags.
I always carry a few small jigs when fishing for smallmouth. These can be tipped with live bait like a small minnow or nightcrawler, or with a plastic imitation grub or crawfish. Jigs can be fished much slower than spinnerbaits, an advantage in spring and fall when the cooler water makes the fish more lethargic. They can also be pitched into logjams and heavy cover. These areas are where some of the biggest fish lurk and cannot usually be reached with spinners or crankbaits.
With these few basic tools, an angler can enjoy the thrill of catching one of our most popular and abundant local fish species.
I strongly suggest catch and release when fishing for smallmouth bass. These fish are just too much fun to catch only once. If you feel you must keep one, remember that the minimum size is 12 inches in rivers and streams and 14 inches in lakes. The long-standing state record is 7 pounds, 4 ounces set in 1992 in LaGrange County.
Although I would be very surprised to see this record broken from our local waters, you never know when the next record fish is just “one more cast away!”
Ray Nordstrom is a Logansport resident and a licensed guide and tournament angler. He is the owner of Eel River Bait and Tackle in Logansport. You can contact him through the sports department at sports@pharostribune.com