Smallmouth Bass on Rocky Lakes
Smallmouth are pound for pound the hardest fighters in fresh water. They love rock, clear water and current. Once you find one, there are usually more nearby.
Find the rock
Look for boulder fields, rocky points, gravel flats and rip-rap along dams and bridges. The best spots have a transition from big rock to smaller rock or gravel.
Baits to carry
- Tube jigs in green pumpkin or smoke, hopped along the bottom.
- Drop-shot rigs with a small finesse worm for deeper or pressured fish.
- Jerkbaits and topwater in spring and fall when fish chase.
Seasonal pattern
They move shallow to spawn in late spring, spread to deeper rock humps in summer, and feed heavily on baitfish in fall. Fall is often the best time to catch a big one.
Lakes to try
Lakes in the guide rated 4 or 5 for smallmouth bass: