Smallmouth Bass

Name

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu)

Average Weight

Smallmouth bass usually come in between 1-3 pounds but can reach up to 10 pounds or more. If you manage to land a beast in the 6-7 pound region, you’ve caught yourself a trophy and need to get a photo next to that monster! Most smallmouth bass reach 12-16 inches in length (30-40 cm).

Also Known As

Bronzebacks, Smallmouths, Smallies, Smallmouth Bass Fish

IUCN Status

LC – Least Concern

Appearance

Smallmouth bass fish have brown bodies with thick, dark stripes which begin from behind the gill plate and run to just before the base of the tail fin. Smallmouth bass tend to have 7-11 stripes. Often, smallmouth bass present with distinctive bright red eyes.

The shape of the bass’s body will differ depending on the sex of the given fish. Females will take on an oval shape, similar to an American football, while males will have a more elongated shape, typical of most black bass species. They are toothless and so are safe to handle by the lips.

Their pectoral fins start from just behind the gill plate, and the dorsal fins begin in the front-middle portion of its back.

A stunning bronzeback in the hands of an angler

A Note on Spawning

Smallmouth breed during the spring period as water temperatures reach 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The females migrate to shallow water to make a bed, usually out of small rocks and mud. After laying, the smaller males will then move in to fertilize the eggs. At this point, the female is usually present, and the male will often have to fight her away. The eggs hatch in 4 to 6 days and stay around the nest for 2 to 3 weeks before heading out to deeper water.

Best Baits

When considering bait for bass fish, you need to select something that mimics the fish’s natural diet, and to do so, there are live and artificial options. Smallmouth bass are carnivorous animals, so crawfish and live shad are very effective for live bait fishing.

Artificial lures, jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, and soft plastic worms that are either crawfish patterned or bright and vibrant in color are also very effective. Topwater lures are also very useful during the spring and fall of the year.

A crankbait for smallmouth bass fishing

Seasons

In most parts of the United States, smallmouth bass are caught year-round, even through winter, when ice fishing comes into its own. However, mid-spring and late fall are when they are most active.

Favorite Feeding Spots

Smallmouth bass love rocky points and brush piles that they can use for cover to ambush their prey. During the spring, smallmouth often hide around grass or lily pads in very shallow water at the shoreline. Conversely, during the heat of the summer and the cold of winter, smallmouth head for deep ledges and river channels to catch the bait fish funneling through.

Boat Fishing

Boat fishing for smallmouth is highly effective since you will cover more water and find different angles to fish various ledges and rock piles from. You will also find areas that are not fished as often and will have lower pressure from other anglers.

Shore Fishing

While not as effective as fishing from a boat, shore fishing during the right time of the year and under correct conditions can be highly productive when fishing during the early morning and late evening feeding hours.

Topwater

Topwater lures such as a hollow bodied frog or any other topwater frog lures are your best bet when fishing heavy cover, such as lily pads or grass. Other topwater lures such as a natural color Pop-R or Spook are highly productive when fishing open water. A fun and exciting way to catch smallmouth bass is to use frog lures and learn to master the art of ‘walking the dog’.

Swimming Lures

Swimming lures such as crankbaits and swimbaits are very useful when smallmouth feed aggressively around rock piles and ledges. A heavy swimbait or a deep-diving crankbait is a sure-fire lure to toss during the heat of the summer when the bass have moved out to deeper water. The newly produced glide bait can be used during the winter, presenting a larger but more natural look in cold water.

Blade Lures

Spinnerbaits and chatter baits are always a fan favorite for smallmouth anglers. Though highly effective in daylight or nighttime hours, fishermen targeting smallmouth at night will undoubtedly reach for a brightly colored spinnerbait. These lures often produce aggressive reaction bites from ambushing smallmouth bass when presented close to the lake’s bottom.

Live Bait Fishing

The two most popular live baits for smallmouth are live crawfish or live shad. Paired with a ½ weight to get the bait into the strike zone, this is the most effective method of catching fall and wintertime smallmouth. Since you cannot get more realistic than an actual live bait, a smaller hook with a clear line will ensure strikes on the need of your line.

1. When fishing lily pads or grass, using a heavy braided fishing line and a strong, stiff rod is essential to landing a smallmouth. More times than not, you will have to pull the fish through the heavy cover before it wraps your line around the structure and either breaks you off or makes it impossible to reach the fish. When fishing these heavily covered areas, try to cast topwater lures in holes with no lily pads or grass. Since smallmouths like to ambush from within the cover, presenting your lure in plain sight is a great way to entice a smallmouth to bite.
2. Live bait fishing is the most effective, but you will lose more fish than you land if not done correctly. The tight-lining technique is essential for making a good hook set. Live bait can come off the hook easily, so be sure to drop the bait to the bottom and bring it up a foot or two so that there is no slack in your line. When tight-lining, ensure you bypass the rod holder since you will only have a split second before setting the hook.
3. If available, a depth finder or fish finder can dramatically increase your rate of fish production. If you can find a steep drop using your depth finder that resembles a ledge, there is a good chance there are smallmouth bass near it. You will be able to find areas offshore that do not look enticing from the surface without the need for prior knowledge/experience from local anglers.

A wonderful smallmouth specimen