|
5/03/2001
-
Article/Press
Release
Rock
On For Summer Smallies
By Ron Anlauf
Smallmouth
Bass are known to be homebodies, and usually never stray far from
the nest. That may be so, but they do move, and the movements made
amongst their home range can make them extremely difficult to pin
down. Those movements can give smallies the appearance of being
ghost like, as they only show themselves when they are darn good and
ready. While they can never be trusted, there are some things you
can do to help put the odds in your favor, or at least give you half
a chance.
 The
key to successful smallmouth bass angling is putting the right bait,
in the right place, at the right time.
Another
key is doing it long enough to be there when the brown bombers
decide to show up. Determining the right bait, place and time,
depends on many things, including time of the year, and prevailing
weather conditions.
For
most of the season, smallmouth location is relatively consistent.
From early June through late September, their day-to-day whereabouts
is pretty easy to nail down. One of the keys to location during this
period (and good smallmouth water), is rocks, and lots of it. The
more rocks the merrier, and the better your odds of finding
exceptional smallmouth fishing.
While
rocks may be the answer, a good portion better be in shallow water.
Plenty of rocks in the three to six range are the ticket, and can
provide enough feeding opportunities to support a large population
of smallmouth bass. Fewer rocks means fewer feeding opportunities,
and fewer fish, period.
The
big attraction for smallies, when it comes to rocks, is the amount
of crayfish they can hide. All those cracks and crevices play host
to thousands of crayfish, which occasionally make the mistake of
venturing out in the open where they become extremely vulnerable,
and make an easy mark for smallies on the prowl. Crayfish make up a
huge portion of the smallmouth bass diet, and are an absolutely must
for sustaining any kind of a quality fishery.
Knowing
what smallies feast on should weigh in heavily when deciding on a
presentation. Lures and baits that imitate the look and actions of a
crayfish are top producers, and include tube jigs and crankbaits.
Tube jigs have proven themselves to be one of the most consistent,
can be counted on all season long. In fact, they are one of your
best bets for fooling smallmouth bass of gargantuan proportions. Big
smallmouth bass get big by being a little more careful than the
rest, and may not fall for just anything you throw at them.
A
tube jig can make for a super finesse presentation, and may get
smallmouth approval when nothing else will. Tubes can be rigged a
variety of different ways, but it’s hard to beat a using a jig
with an exposed hook. Although you’ll certainly run the risk of
snagging up, it’s a risk worth taking, and can definitely mean
more fish hooked, and boated, in the course of a day. A slick set up
includes threading a Berkley Power Tube over a Bait Rig’s
Slow-Poke Jig, in the 1/16 to 1/8 oz. size, instead of the usual
lead head models. By contrasting the color of the Tube with the Slow
Poke, you can end up with a two-tone effect that gives the bait a
real unique look. Good tube and jig colors should always include
some crayfish patterns, like oranges greens and reds. Although color
can make a difference, more often than not it’s where you putt the
bait that determines the outcome.
Light
tube jigs are more effectively fished with light equipment, as it is
a finesse presentation. Light equipment means spinning gear, with
medium light rods in the five and a half to six foot range, combined
with smaller open faced reels, loaded with eight to ten pound test.
My personal favorite is a 5’9” Fenwick HMG light action graphite
rod, as it provides a superior sense of feel. Feel is important,
especially when you’re tubing. Trying to distinguish between a
rock and a fish can be difficult, and an angler needs all the help
he can get.
As
previously mentioned, crankbaits are another good option, and can
mimic a crayfish scrambling for cover. One of the best is the
lipless variety, like the Rattle Rap from Normark. The Rattle Rap
can be drug through the toughest neighborhoods, and do so without
constantly hanging up. One of the keys to successful cranking is to
be constantly banging into the bottom, much like a spooked crayfish
would as he tries to escape. While a lipless crankbait can run
relatively clean, you are going to hang up occasionally, but the
rewards are worth losing a crankbait or two.
Good
cranking gear includes medium light baitcasting equipment, like
Fenwick’s 6’ medium action HMX Trigger Stick, combined with an
Abu Garcia TP3000C baitcasting reel, loaded with ten or twelve pound
test line, abrasion resistance preferred. Fish that react to a
crankbait aren’t going to be scared off by heavier line, and the
heavier line will help you get back baits that have unfortunately
hung up.
Sure
there are other options, like topwaters for example, but tubes and
crankbaits will keep you working with the right baits over ninety
percent of the time.
As
mentioned earlier, prevailing weather conditions can have a definite
effect on what kind of attitude you’ll find the smallies in. Good
attitudes usually coincide with steady weather patterns, and long
warming trends. Bad attitudes on the other hand, are usually
associated with cold fronts, and major weather changes.
Wind
is another weather related consideration, and unlike largemouth, the
presence of doesn’t seem to be a detractor, as smallmouth can
often be caught in areas being pounded by heavy waves. Fishing in a
heavy wind can be trying a times, but don’t let that stop you
if you can help it, as some of the hottest action I’ve had
has come during the onslaught of thirty mph winds, and two and three
foot waves. See you on the water.
Ron Anlauf
|
