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Also called Brown Bass, the Smallmouth Bass is a slender, streamlined-shaped fish, which penny for penny, puts up a strong fight that rivals any of the popular freshwater game fish. No other fish jumps like a Smallmouth. Its defiance nature to any lure makes it a darling for many anglers; catching this fish is fun and challenging most of the times.
Smallmouth Bass are omnivorous in the food they consume; they can gobble any thing that comes along its way that includes many smaller animals and plants. The Smallmouth Bass is a predator, feeding mostly on fish, crustaceans and aquatic and terrestrial insects. Where crayfish are abundant, they frequently comprise over two-thirds of the food. This fish is known for its high degree of aggressiveness and rigidity, when cornered with a successful lure.
Most anglers use the feeding habit of this fish to find their habitat; more feeder fish means definite presence of this fish. The most obvious spots to check this fish are shoals and drop off points near the shore. Often, this fish is also found in deeper water also. Possessing a depth finder is a sensible decision for any angler.
To cover large areas of water, diving crank baits like Cotton Cordell's Rattlin Spot and the Rapala Shad Rap in silver or crawfish patterns are quite effective. When fishing shallow rock shoals, white and yellow spinner baits as well as shallow diving crank baits have proven deadly. Bass is more associated with the presence of large numbers of Cray fish; any bait resembling Cray fish often works wonderfully. In deeper waters, a ¼ to ½oz jig head tipped with chartreuse, yellow or white Mister Twister grubs are also effective. Slowly bouncing and pulling these jigs off rocky bottoms will surely entice the most wary and smart Bronze back. If fishing deep water in late summer or early fall, try bouncing a worm colored Tub Jig off the bottom. Small Mouth Bass usually resides in a depth range of about 30 to 40 feet.
Some days you can be very unlucky to throw every lure in your armor at them and still you do not lure it. That's when you have to switch over to live bait. Rock shoals and rocky points are the best spots for Smallmouth. A brass hook with a big worm on it will prove advantageous. Let the worm dangle off the hook. Never keep hooking at it until it's a ball on your hook. Use light line like 4 or 6 pound test so you can cast far and wide. With this method, you don't have to use any weight.
Cast your big worm as a right lure at the shore's edge or over top of a shoal and let the worm slowly sink deeper. As soon as it sinks down a couple of feet, gently pull up the worm towards you until it hits the surface then let it sink down again. This action is like you are taking long slow jigs. But make sure you pull it very slowly and gently. You will be surprised to find that most of the time, the Smallmouth will hit the worm as it is sinking. Employing a weight might get snagged, so this is not a real necessity. It's best not to use a weight even if you find it frustrating to cast.
Employ the same method with a Crayfish or a minnow. You can also use a small float about 2 feet up from the bait and cast over the rocks and just wait. Involving with a tug-o-war with your bass is real fun; the excitement is too difficult to control as you hit your fish.
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