Oh Deer, it’s Smallie Time!

February 2, 2009 by admin

By Nick Simonson

Smallmouth fishing typically starts by finding the structure, which allows more time to keep the bait in the zone

While the tension mounts as you await this year’s deer application results (enjoy the next eight weeks), take some time to relax with the hardiest fish in our waters – the smallmouth bass. Just don’t expect your heart rate to get any lower. With a few simple items of tackle and the following tips, anyone can find constant excitement with these acrobatic brown bass.

1. Rock on

Smallie rule numero uno: where there is structure, there are fish. Look for rock shorelines dipping into the water, as these areas concentrate insects, baitfish, crawdads, and in turn smallies. Furthermore, any structure blocking the current provides a resting place which gives these notorious ambush fish a great place to hide. Anything from bridge pilings and stumps to flooded timber and solitary boulders can be a bastion for bronzebacks. Probe these areas with jigs or soft plastics to locate fish.

2. Feel the flow

Smallies congregate in areas of inflowing water for two reasons. First, the flow brings with it the basics of the food chain – detritus, insects and so on. Second, inflowing water creates a drop off which smallmouth utilize throughout the day. Focus on where the breakline is from creek to river, or river to lake, and pick a side to work. Odds are fish will be holding near the break, either just above during the morning, or just below throughout the midday hours. Focus on the downstream side of the inflow area first and then work upstream.

Look for large smallmouth allow the breaks.

3. KISS’n bass

No, this section is not about Jimmy Huston’s ritual of giving his fish a smack on the lips before releasing them, but about keeping things simple when angling for smallies.

A basic selection of tackle and the medium rod and reel you are most comfortable with will guarantee some good action any day on the river. Try a few eighth-ounce jigs with three-inch twister tails as your basic set up. Work them with a quick twitch of the rod tip through high percentage areas like rocky shorelines or around the structure mentioned earlier. With the relatively low price of simple lead head jigs and grub tails, don’t be afraid to pitch right up into fallen trees and other structure. The adage, “if you ain’t snaggin’ you ain’t braggin’” definitely holds true for the wily bronzeback.

If things get slow, tip your offerings with a minnow. Sometimes live bait is the key to triggering reluctant biters in the middle of a hot day or after a cold front has passed through.

4. Keep moving

The smallmouth won’t come to you, so be prepared to seek them out in high-percentage areas. There are numerous bridges, dams and culverts on any flowage that can pay big dividends. By exploring the shores of the river, a person can hit the gold…make that bronzemine, with just a little walking. If you have a boat or canoe, more power to you! Stay on the move and cast frequently to increase hook-ups.

5. Enduring excitement

Time and again I reiterate, practice catch and release with smallmouth bass. In the upper Midwest, it can require over a decade for an 18-inch bass to develop the size, strength and voracity to occupy its place atop the food chain. Don’t stringer that big brown bass for the plate or the wall. Instead, take a picture to preserve the memory and come back another day to catch that fish. Because of the territorial and aggressive nature of smallmouth, they are readily available for another round of action.

By lip-landing these fish and not overplaying them, anglers can be assured that after the battle the bass will return to the water with not much more than a case of bewilderment. Treat the fish with respect after the fight to ensure a successful release.

By following these tips, the spring and early summer seasons will no doubt help you pass the time between application for and receipt of your deer tag. Take your hunting buddies with you during these weeks of tension and share the exhilaration that these sporting fish have to offer anglers…in our outdoors.