The “bronzeback," "small jaws," and "smallie,” the smallmouth bass has many names and is a favorite game fish everywhere they swim. They are a unique species that vary from their cousins, the largemouth, and sometimes act much differently. This bass species is a popular target wherever they’re found and can offer a great challenge with their hard-fighting nature that keeps anglers coming back for more.
In this article, we’ll offer a guide to targeting the smallmouth bass, the best lures, where to find them in the different seasons, and how to catch more.
Differences From Largemouth
One of the distinctions between the two species is the type of habitat they prefer. If given a choice of options, you are more likely to find smallmouth around some rock structure and swimming along the weedlines instead of nestling inside the grass as largemouth often do.
Both species can be found in the exact areas at times, but generally speaking, smallmouth prefer a little deeper water and are more likely to roam from day to day, whereas a largemouth bass will find a home near cover and stay put a little more often. These are just a few generalizations of the two species, cousins who can act much differently at times.
Smallmouth bass also loves to inhabit more open water and love crawfish, just like a largemouth. The areas where smallmouth typically live tend to be around the rock, but they also often relate to sandy flats with grass as they can hunt for their next meal. Smallmouth are also more likely to be in faster currents than largemouth bass but still need to find current breaks like rocks, trees, and laydowns in creeks and rivers to get a rest.
Even though their mouths are much smaller than a largemouth, you don’t necessarily need a small bait. Smallmouth can be hyper-aggressive and attack big lures just as frequently as largemouth. You also don’t have to resort to light line and finesse rigs, as fast-moving baits like spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and crankbaits are some of the best lures for smallmouth bass.
Springtime Smallmouth
Smallmouth are like largemouth as they head to the shallows to spawn yearly but tend to spawn earlier. They seek out many of the same flat and protected areas to spawn but will be slightly deeper than largemouth in many situations.
Like largemouth, the pre-spawn period can be excellent as they feed up before spawning. Searching flats with jerkbaits, crankbaits, and other faster-moving baits can be a great way to catch a bunch of smallmouth during the spring months.
Smallies in the Summer
During the summer months, you can almost always find groups of smallmouth in slightly deeper water if you can find their forage. They will eat a variety of different forage this time of year, and the exact places where you might catch perch or bluegill, such as along deep weedlines, humps, or rock piles, can be dynamite for smallmouth bass. One of the best tools for fishing these areas is a drop-shot, a great way to rig soft plastics for smallmouth bass any time of year.
While many seek deeper water for summer smallmouth, you don't have to. There will typically always be a group of smallmouth bass that likes to stalk the shallows, even if they only come up once a day to feed. Shallow flats, rocky banks, and vegetation can be a great location to find your next group of summertime smallmouth. When fishing shallow, drop-shot rigs, a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko, or small topwaters and jerkbaits can all be effective.
Fall Smallmouth Bass
Depending on where you live, the fall bite can be some of the best smallmouth fishing of the year. This is especially true if you are facing a cold winter quickly approaching. During the fall, smallmouth will be fattening up by eating as many crawfish, shad, or perch as possible, and the fishing can be outstanding.
Look for areas where their food lives, such as rocks, which are again an excellent place to look, but any remaining vegetation in the water can also be a prime spot as this tends to gather the perch. On lakes where shad is the main meal, anywhere you can locate balls of baitfish will be a great option. For lures, stick to moving baits like crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and ChatterBaits to cover water quickly and search for active smallmouth. Topwater can also be a fun and effective way to catch big smallmouth this time of year.
Targeting Smallmouth in the Winter
Since smallmouth are native to many northern waters, they also tend to bite a little better than a largemouth when things get cold. In many regions, smallmouth are caught through the ice, so cold does not affect them as much as largemouth, although the northern strain largemouth can bite just as well in the winter.
Some of the best places to catch wintertime smallmouth are on steep banks, bluff walls, and long main lake points that run into deep water. Many lures will work during the coldest months of the year, but a blade bait, tail spinner, and swimbait on a jighead are some of the best choices.
Smallmouth bass are a favorite of bass anglers everywhere for many reasons. They are excellent game fish that fight hard and have unique quirks that offer a change of pace for someone accustomed to fishing for largemouth bass.
