When it comes to fishing for smallmouth bass the presentation of your bait or lure is the key to success. In this article I’m going to discuss some of the simple reasons why this is the case. For those of you who don’t know, catching smallmouth bass is a ton of fun and these bronze beauties are widely known as the hardest fighting fish (pound for pound) that swim in freshwater.
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These fish can be found in lakes, rivers, and even streams. Catching smallmouth bass out of the flowing waters of a small river or stream can make them even more fun to catch. They have an uncanny ability to use the current to their advantage when hooked, which makes fighting them that much more challenging and fun.
No matter what type of water you go fishing for smallmouth in, one of the keys to success is your presentation. The bottom line is that you want your offering (whether live or artificial) to appear as natural as possible. These fish are very smart, and unless they are extremely active, they tend not to bite unnatural offerings.
Let’s begin by discussing live bait. One of the most effective ways to catch smallmouth bass is by using live bait. The best way to have your live bait appear as natural as possible is to use gang hooks. Gang hooks are a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which allow live bait (especially live worms) to be presented in a completely natural manner.
What are some of the best live baits for these fish? Crayfish are probably the best, although they can be difficult to find and fish with effectively. Gang hooks are great for live crayfish. The second hook helps to hook ‘short striking’ smallies. Worms and minnows are also good live baits for smallmouth bass. Live bait is a great choice when fishing for smallmouth bass. The more your bait looks like it does in nature, the better.
Now, let’s move on to artificial baits. The same principles hold true. If you’re using a crawfish lure for example, it needs to look like a crawfish looks underwater. Try to stay away from unnatural and strange colors that don’t look at all like the way the bait appears in nature. This is true for any artificial lure that’s employed. If you’re using a bait fish imitation, it needs to look like the bait fish does in nature.
When it comes to artificial baits for smallmouth bass, some of the more effective are Berkley’s Gulp and Power products. These baits perform, look, and feel like soft plastics, except for the fact that they’ve been impregnated with fish catching scents. These baits can be as effective as live bait in many fishing situations.
The bottom line is that when you are fishing for smallmouth bass, presentation is absolutely a key to success. Make sure that your offerings are as natural as possible. The more lifelike that your offering appears to the bass the more bites you will get, it’s as simple as that.