Best SM Bass technique in Northern Lakes

[pogon02]

What is the best Techinque for SM Bass up north near Timmins area. We had some luck with poppers but at the same time we miss alot of fish seems like the poppers maybe to big for the Bass and they keep missing them sometimes. We will try smaller poppers this summer but I was wondering if there is any other good technique to try?

 

[diggyj]

I would try drop shoting something like a slammer.

Texas or Wacky rigged stick worms work great. I prefer to use SENKOS. 8)

Tubes also work great. Rigged weedless or with the hook exposed, depending on weeds. :lol:

All the above mentioned techniques are great for Smallies.

Dirk

 

[ec1]

if you find the right spots, topwater will work really well! But otherwise, I'd have to say Northern lakes would be good for drop shotting because of how deep and rocky the northern lakes are.

 

[diggyj]

Something else to try is a tungsten jigging spoon. Can be deadly on smallies. The tungsten will sink much faster than a conventional spoon. They are also much smaller. BPS has a new one that just came out a while back. Featured on Gettin School'd with JP DeRose on WFN.

Dirk

 

[MCTFisher]

My papa and I have had great success with simple bait's like tube jigs and in you will never not catch fish if you have either live or imitation minnows with a circle hook and a split shot or two. Spinnerbaits, and mepps/blue fox spinners all work well also.

*bait's only used from shore to catch SMB*

 

[pogon02]

Something else to try is a tungsten jigging spoon. Can be deadly on smallies. The tungsten will sink much faster than a conventional spoon. They are also much smaller. BPS has a new one that just came out a while back. Featured on Gettin School'd with JP DeRose on WFN.

Dirk

Do you happen to know what brand of spoon they were using or is it pretty much any brand you can use?

 

[diggyj]

I bought one but don't remember the brand. Either a BP brand or XPS. Just check for jigging spoons and make sure it is a tungsten one.

Dirk....

 

[pogon02]

I bought one but don't remember the brand. Either a BP brand or XPS. Just check for jigging spoons and make sure it is a tungsten one.

Dirk....

Thanks Dirk I picked up the tungsten spoon at bass pro yesterday thanks for the great advice I read some reviews and everyone seems to be thanking Dave Mercer so far lol I also picked up the strata spoon with a dressed feather which is solid brass and has a red and white feather tied to the hook which is funny considering I bought it on Canada day...

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... ts#reviews
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... ts#reviews

 

[reefrunner]

All very good advice, I use most of those methods when up North; will have to try out that tungsten spoon - thanks guys!

Poppers are great fun; other topwaters like a jitterbug or a zara spook that have a side-to-side action can be deadly.

Live bait - preferably minnows, weighted on a circle hook.

Lastly, deep diving fat raps - bounce 'em off rocks, stumps, etc.

 

[pogon02]

All very good advice, I use most of those methods when up North; will have to try out that tungsten spoon - thanks guys!

Poppers are great fun; other topwaters like a jitterbug or a zara spook that have a side-to-side action can be deadly.

Live bait - preferably minnows, weighted on a circle hook.

Lastly, deep diving fat raps - bounce 'em off rocks, stumps, etc.

I just find that topwater lures such as poppers frogs etc get lots of attention from the smallies the problem is getting the fish on 70% of the time as they fish tend to miss the bait alot not sure if this is attributed to the size of the baits or what but this is the issue I find.

 

[reefrunner]

All very good advice, I use most of those methods when up North; will have to try out that tungsten spoon - thanks guys!

Poppers are great fun; other topwaters like a jitterbug or a zara spook that have a side-to-side action can be deadly.

Live bait - preferably minnows, weighted on a circle hook.

Lastly, deep diving fat raps - bounce 'em off rocks, stumps, etc.

I just find that topwater lures such as poppers frogs etc get lots of attention from the smallies the problem is getting the fish on 70% of the time as they fish tend to miss the bait alot not sure if this is attributed to the size of the baits or what but this is the issue I find.

That's exactly why I suggested topwaters that have a pretty firm trajectory and stay in the water longer. Frogs no good for smallies as the hooks on most frogs are too large I find; I tend to pop poppers right out of fishes mouths lol. With say a jitterbug or a tiny torpedo (also a good smallie topwater) the retrieve is inline, not as eratic as a popper, giving the smallie more time to get interested and take a firmer line of attack. If I use a spook, I make sure I put alot of pauses in between my dogwalks. But with any topwater bite, feeling the weight of the fish before you set the hook is paramount for good hookups; if I miss I usually let the bait sit there for half a minute or so, intermitent twitches to intice the stalking predator that lies beneath.

 

[frozenfire]

That's exactly why I suggested topwaters that have a pretty firm trajectory and stay in the water longer. Frogs no good for smallies as the hooks on most frogs are too large I find; I tend to pop poppers right out of fishes mouths lol. With say a jitterbug or a tiny torpedo (also a good smallie topwater) the retrieve is inline, not as eratic as a popper, giving the smallie more time to get interested and take a firmer line of attack. If I use a spook, I make sure I put alot of pauses in between my dogwalks. But with any topwater bite, feeling the weight of the fish before you set the hook is paramount for good hookups; if I miss I usually let the bait sit there for half a minute or so, intermitent twitches to intice the stalking predator that lies beneath.

Bang on.

I also find that the "misses" are mostly always from smaller fish (i.e. rockbass and sunfish) that won't take the whole thing down, but just nibble at it, creating a sucking sound. However, some big bass that are not as willing to inhale the lure will also take a small nibble.
For me, after the strike, I will mostly wait until I see the line moving before setting the hook. This way I know the fish has the lure in the mouth and is swimming away with it.