Fishing Deep Water Smallmouth Bass

Fishing for smallmouth bass, big smallmouth bass, often requires a few simple deep water presentation techniques that are easy to execute and highly effective.

In early spring, when the surface temperature of a lakeclimbs into the forty degree range, bass will stage on deep breaklines leading to shoals or flats. Depths may vary, but in most natural lakes 20-30 feet is common. For many anglers, the smallmouth vanishes during the summer, and unless fishermen are willing to search deep water, they may not see a decent smallmouth until early fall when the water begins to cool.

The late-fall probably produces the most consistent deep-water fishing for smallmouth bass. The bronzebacks begin forming huge schools on the deep flats when the surface temperature of the water reaches about 50 degrees. Depending on the lake, these flats may be 20-40 feet deep.

The best lure presentations for these deep water bass are not new, but once utilized, they produce consistent action.

#1 Deep Smallmouth Fishing Technique
Blade Baits

Many anglers have never fished a blade bait for smallmouth bass. The blade bait is a very simple fishing lure. A weight is attached to a tear-shaped, stamped metal blade. My all time favorite is the Heddon Sonar. Other popular models include the Cicada, Bullet, and Silver Buddy. The blade is a universal deep-water bass bait. It will produce fish in early-spring, summer, and fall. The presentation remains the same regardless of the season.

How To Fish Blade Baits

Vertical jigging is the best technique for cold water periods. A 3/8 or 1/2 ounce model is preferred because it provides a better action. Free-spool the lure to the bottom, engage the reel and take up slack line, bringing the rod tip to within 18 inches of the water's surface. Now sweep the rod tip upwards 30-36 inches. The blade bait will vibrate wildly. Lower the rod tip slightly faster than the blade as it sinks back to the bottom, allowing the blade to drop on a semi-slack line. Most strikes will occur as the lure falls. Watch your line carefully where it enters the water to detect any hits or you may miss the strike until the next upwards sweep of the rod tip.

In choppy water, it's almost impossible to see the line jump from a hit. If you feel any resistance at the beginning of an upward stroke, immediately set the hook with a full sweep of the rod while keeping your line tight.

Rather than vertical jigging during the summer, try slowly trolling a 3/4 ounce blade. Trolling with an electric motor or slowly backtrolling with an outboard will achieve the desired result. Move slowly enough to maintain the lure within a couple feet of the bottom. Continue to work the lure by sweeping your rod forward and dropping it back. This provides the injured-baitfish action, which will trigger strikes.

Give blade baits a try on your next smallmouth bass fishing trip and you'll be pleasantly surprised with the results!

Bass Fishing Tip | Fishing with Plastic Baits

Modern soft-plastic baits appeal to smallmouth because of their natural appearance and lifelike texture. When selecting plastics for smallmouth fishing, stick with natural colors like smoke or crawfish. And keep the size at no more than four inches; three-inch plastics being the best all-around choice. Store your plastics in a zip-lock bag and treat them with worm oil to keep them soft and pliable. Don't mix different colors in the same bag or the colors will bleed.

Top Smallmouth Fishing Lures

• Heddon Sonar Blades
• Heddon Torpedo (Topwater)
• Rat-L-Traps
• Jigs w/Curly Tail Grubs
• Weight-Forward Spinners
• Rapala Countdown Minnows