“School’s In”, for Smallmouth Bass!
By Paul Strege

As the weight of a ˝ ounce spinnerbait pulled my rod into a parabolic arc, I eyed my target, and snapped the rod quickly forward into a roll with precision timing. Just as the bait neared my target, I softly stopped the spin of the spool, and the lure slipped into the water. The rising sun’s radiant energy warmed my shivering body hidden under a black rain suit. The quiet roar of tournament boats still could be heard in the background. I started the retrieve and just two turns of the handle, a hefty smallmouth bass impacted the lure’s straight-line course to the boat. I set the hook and immediately the fight was on. After a battle that would not include any aerial maneuvers at this cool time of year, my partner scooped up the fish. We had a limit, and the last boat in our tournament had not yet reached their spot! These smallmouth were feeding; they seemingly were in a mood in which their very basic instincts took control.

Fishing schooling smallmouth is my favorite way to target smallmouth bass. While days like the one described above do not unfold every tournament morning, certain situations and seasons allow for any angler to experience the thrill of catching bass in the middle of a feeding frenzy. I have learned the hard way, especially after tournaments like the one above, that schooling smallmouth can be challenging, even frustrating at times, to find. In order to recognize those factors which encourage the competitive instinct in these fish, an angler must be aware of three elements. They include: time of year, abundant forage, and layout of the area.

I have recognized that certain seasons are more conducive to locating gorging bass. The prespawn period, where smallmouth initiate a mass-movement to spawning areas, tips the odds of discovering schools into the angler’s favor. Winter haunts typically hold a high concentration of fish. After months of inactivity, warmer water temperatures increase the fish’s metabolism. In addition, preparation for the spawn requires them to increase their energy reserve for the weeks ahead. Migration routes from wintering holes to spawning flats are the first locations to explore. I like to target creek channels and points not too distant from deep water. Another time of year that should not be overlooked is mid-summer. Baitfish schools are well established by now, and the bass have settled into summer behavioral patterns. Rather than searching for a specific route or location, anglers should refine their primary objective to locating forage. Slick water created by relatively calm wind conditions, combined with a high summer sun is the recipe for success. Calm winds allow baitfish to congregate in dense pods, while bright sunlight causes baitfish to gravitate to the water surface.

Abundant forage is a must-have in the seasons described above. Without the presence of baitfish, the smallmouth will have to rummage through Mother Nature’s pantry for an alternative meal. In short, schools of baitfish attract schools of smallmouth. The larger the school of baitfish, the higher the probability that smallmouth can be found in even greater numbers. While some seasons are better than others for locating baitfish, habitat layout can further narrow the search.

Habitat layout is another element that can concentrate smallmouth. Specifically, water current, depth, and secondary forage are general subdivisions of habitat. Current, in itself, concentrates fish. Bass will not expend more energy than necessary in order to survive. Habitat located next to river channels or tributaries is particularly attractive for fish and baitfish alike. Trees, weeds and sand breaks provide relief from the endurance swimming required just to maintain a given position in moving water. Equally, the smallmouth’s habitat must have suitable depth. An environment too shallow is more susceptible to water level changes. In addition, the water depth must be desirable for the forage. The presence of a secondary meal is a bonus, too. When baitfish may be particularly difficult to catch, an easy pick of insects, crawfish, or even an occasional bluegill provides a diverse menu for the hungry bronzeback.

Once located, schooling smallmouth are relatively easy to catch. They can be caught on several lures emulating their forage. Gambler’s soft plastic Super Stud jerkbait and Pro Series Spinnerbait, are my go-to lures. These lures will encourage a “don’t think, just bite” mentality in the bass. They will work in all seasons, even when the water is a little too chilly for topwaters. In the summer, add topwater walking baits and chuggers to your arsenal. The white Gambler Strick-9 tube, a 3.5” finesse tube is another personal favorite.  If the bite slows down to a pace when you can retie, try stick worms and floating worms to put a few more smallmouth in the boat