The smallies are fighting as good as ever guys. Even a 13 to 14″ bronze back is going to give you one heck of a good fight. Recently you won’t catch huge numbers but they make the effort worth it as they battle in the 75 to 76 degree water.
About every kind of plastic you like to throw will get a bite. Senkos and worms are a great choice. Tubes are always a good choice on the St. Croix. Hard body jerk baits work, soft jerk baits work, plus buzz baits – and swim jigs.
Colors – Natural is what I like best (green and black), but when you see a fish caught on a pink soft plastic, go figure that out…
Depths have been from 1 to 14′ in my boat (and also as deep as 22′ – just the way it is they are wide ranging).
A couple tips to remember with smallmouth.
One – Fight bass on a long leash.
So never reel the hooked fish anywhere near the rod tip – that is a short leash.
Always keep a rod length distance between the lure (and hooked fish) and the rod tip. So if your rod is 7′ stop reeling when the distance between your hooked fish and rod tip is 7′ (approximately). Why? Becuase when that fish is near the boat it will go under the boat, around the motor, near the trolling motor, and then jump. If you have it on a short leash you will loose it much more readily.
Two – Suffix Elite 6 pound mono is the best bass line there is when not working thick weed beds. If there is no cover this line is king.
Good luck,
Turk
Image – Paul Steinhilber with a St. Croix Smallmouth
Attachments:
Paul-Bass-07-02-15.jpg
