Smallmouth Bass Fishing - When Bigmouth Techniques Won’t Work

Smallmouth bass fishing is considered on of the most exciting areas of fishing simply due to the fact that smallmouth bass pack a big punch for such a small fish. They are noted for their aggressive nature and willingness to grab almost any lure. The smallmouth bass is a hard fighting fish with powerful runs, and spectacular leaps making it one of the most exciting fish you can have on the end of your line.

One of the most interesting things about the smallmouth bass is their tremendous ability to adapt. They can survive almost anywhere in the United States as well as in much of Canada. So you can try your hand at smallmouth bass fishing almost any place on the continent. They thrive in gentle flowing streams with deep pools and abundant shade, or in deep, clear lakes. They will hide in weed beds or other vegetation found near rocks.

A Different Fish

Smallmouth bass fishing actually involves a fish with very different behavior patterns than the largemouth bass and many anglers aren’t aware of this. The majority of bass anglers will fish the shoreline because it is the nature of the largemouth to stick to the still cover of the shore but the smallmouth prefers the stronger currents of open water.

There are a number of physical features that make the smallmouth bass much better adapted for stronger water currents than the largemouth but the most obvious are their pointed noses and the sharper angle of their fins that make them somewhat aerodynamic and more suited to hanging out in faster currents. These are important things to remember when smallmouth bass fishing.

They will often get behind a tree stump or rock and make a brief quick rush out to grab its prey. Largemouth can sometimes be found swimming in stronger current, but are more likely to be found in the still and protected waters of the shore line.

Looking for the Big Ones

Also big largemouth bass are reclusive and are usually found by themselves while smallmouth bass tend to group together. And the unique thing about this is that for some reason they will group by size, so that if you are catching fish about 10 to 12 inches long, you will rarely catch a bigger smallmouth in the same area. But by the same token, if you should catch a five pounder it’s very possible that there are several more smallmouth bass of that size and even larger waiting for you. But one important thing to remember, when it comes to smallmouth bass fishing, you are dealing with an entirely different fish!