|
By Mike Mladenik
The single most important factor when dealing with post-spawn smallmouths is fishing the proper water. By the proper water, I am not just talking about a lake or flowage with a healthy population, but one where the fish tend to cooperate during the post-spawn period. Some lakes will find post-spawn smallmouths inactive for long periods of time, while others will find them active almost immediately after spawning. At no time is choosing the proper lake or flowage as important as when dealing with post-spawn smallmouth. My first choice when dealing with this dilemma is dark stained water flowages. Dark stained water is the real key here. Unlike clear water, dark water will warm rapidly during early June when the post-spawn period occurs. Dark water also doesn’t cool as fast overnight. What we will see in June is a gradual increase in the water temperature. The smallmouths’ metabolism seems to rise right along with the water temperature and they in turn go on the feed. Even the large females recover from the stress of spawning amazingly fast. Males are very aggressive and can be easily counted on for consistent action. It is important to fish exclusively for the post-spawn females and avoid putting pressure on the actual spawn itself. Water temperatures can vary from one end of the flowage to the next, so be observant. Remember that the actual spawning will take place when the water temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees. During spawning, the males will guard the nest, which can be in very shallow water. I have seen nests in as shallow as 1 foot of water in some flowages. When spawning is completed, the large females will drop back to the closest available cover within the flowage. Flowages in particular have an abundance of shallow water cover. As with the clear lake, smallmouth will go no deeper than they have to in a flowage. This cover can be in the form of stumps, downed trees, or rocks. Weeds will hold a few fish, but only if there are a few rocks or wood mixed in. The best area will be a combination of wood, weeds and rock. These big females will hold tight to cover. They will hold so tight to cover that they can seem to become part of the structure. Because they are holding so tight to cover, they can go undetected by most electronics. I will see too many fishermen looking for fish, instead of looking for suitable cover. The average fisherman will turn on his graph and make a few passes. If no fish are found, he will head to the other end of the lake or flowage. Many big females are too deep into the cover to be picked up with electronics. Fishermen have this tendency to move too fast. Slow down, and think before you fish. In the past, I too have had a problem slowing down. Don’t get hung up on the run and gun approach. First, try to establish where the actual spawning takes place. Also, keep an eye out for any signs of available baitfish. Not only will big females look for cover, but cover with forage. The best-looking bass cover will be void of bass if no forage is present. Often, even the slightest bit of cover will hold fish. A few clumps of stumps, or a couple of boulders can hold a 5-pound smallmouth. Spend some time and try to visualize the cover you are fishing. By doing this, your success rate will greatly improve. After the eggs have hatched, the males begin to vacate the nests. Like the females they too will hold tight to cover. They, however, will make periodic movements. These periodic movements are what enable fishermen to make contact with them. Although a fisherman will catch a few of these roaming fish, they pass up the real prize. Picking up a few small males should be a sign that larger fish are present. Once you have found a productive structure, keep to yourself and practice catch and release. If catch and release is practiced, productive fishing can be had for future years.
Being a full-time guide and spending at least 170 days per year on the water, one learns never to give up. Summer can be a time of confusion for many smallmouth fishermen. They did well a month earlier, but by July fishing for many can get tough. However, smallmouth can consistently be taken through the summer period once fishermen pattern smallmouth. There is no better summer smallmouth pattern than fishing weeds. Not only will you find numbers of smallmouth relating to the weeds, but trophy fish as well. While largemouth bass fishermen know how to fish weeds, few smallmouth fishermen understand the connection. Learning how to fish weeds in summer should be a must for all serious smallmouth fishermen. There are a number of clear water lakes that can be tough for fishermen in the summer period. Most of these lakes sprout good rock points and offshore structure. In summer, these areas support only a small number of forage fish. Often what forage fish are present become easy prey for both smallmouth and other predator fish. Prime areas will be rocky structure with adjacent weeds. Sparse weeds will attract crayfish and softer finned baitfish. Thicker weeds tend to attract larger baitfish and sunfish. These larger baitfish are more desirable for largemouth bass, pike and muskies. If pike or largemouth numbers are limited in the lake, then smallmouth will also relate to dense weeds. I have noticed that if smallmouth are the dominant predator within the lake, then they will relate to thick weeds. This is rare, since on most Wisconsin waters smallmouth tend to be secondary species. Don’t be fooled by the size of the weed bed. Some of the most productive areas that I fish are passed up by other fishermen since they feel they are too small to hold quality fish. A few weed beds I fish regularly produce fish over 4 pounds each summer. In fact, it is common for large fish to stack up in such areas. It only takes a few weeds to hold a few crayfish or baitfish. Weeds such as these see limited fishing pressure and have greater trophy potential. When fishing these small patches of weeds, it is important to use extreme caution when approaching the area. Large smallmouth will spook easily and will drop back down to deep water. Here, they can remain inactive for long periods. Regardless of the size of the weed bed, look for those with access to deep water to be most productive. On lakes where smallmouth bass are in competition with other species, they spend most of their time in deep water. They don’t, however, venture far from deep water. If the isolated weed patches fail to produce, then head for the nearest weed edges. By weed edges, I am not referring to weedlines, but weed transition areas. Weed transitions are areas where weeds mix with other cover, such as rocks or wood. These combination areas can really heat up in summer. These edges may not hold numbers of smallmouth, but look for big fish to be present. Don’t spend a lot of time in these areas, but spend time searching them out. Keep making return trips back to the same areas until active fish are found.
Live bait presentations are not needed when smallmouth are active. In fact, using live bait in this situation could be harmful to the fish. An active smallmouth will hit the bait so hard it can swallow the bait and hook. This will make a successful release next to impossible. If smallmouth are in the neutral mood, which is common, then slow down your presentation. A jig and grub combo or a pre-rigged plastic worn would be my first choice. When finesse fishing, use the smallest possible bait. Light lines are critical, especially in clear water. Four-pound test line is essential when working finesse baits. Since we are fishing sparse weeds, there should be no trouble with a smallmouth burring itself in the weeds. Use a slow, steady retrieve with your bait. If a short strike is felt, then slow down your retrieve. You can never have too slow a retrieve if smallmouth are turned off. If the bite is really light, then live
bait is the best option. Leeches in particular will coax even the
most obstinate smallmouth. Hook the leech on either a small #6 hook
or a one-sixteenth ounce jighead. Black is the best jig color in
clear water. If the water is moderately clear, white and chartreuse
are good colors. Use caution not to let the smallmouth hold the bait
too long, allowing it time to swallow the hook. When a strike is
felt, allow one second and set the hook. Use a swift, upward motion.
Too quick a hookset is difficult with smaller hooks.
For more insight into smallmouth bass, my new book “A Guide’s Secret Smallmouth Patterns” covers all aspects of smallmouth fishing. In the book I cover lakes, rivers and flowages as well as seasonal smallmouth movements. For a copy, send $10.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling to Mike Mladenik, N 6550 S 6th, Crivitz, WI 54114. Editor's Note: Mike Mladenik is a multi specie professional fishing guide and outdoor writer from the Crivitz area of northern Wisconsin. To contact Mike or to find out more about his guide service visit his web site at: http://www.mikemladenik.com.
"Built by fishermen for fishermen ....." © Copyright - Mike Mladenik
|
To
this day, I have never met a fisherman who doesn’t enjoy an encounter with
a smallmouth bass. Although they are enjoyable, they can also be
confusing. There are times when smallmouth bass can be taken consistently.
Unfortunately, there are also times when fishing for smallmouth bass can
be frustrating. One time when smallmouth bass fishing can reach the
peak of frustration is during the post-spawn. For many smallmouth
fishermen, avoiding the post spawn is the solution. In the
past, little has been written about the post-spawn, and what has been written
has been negative. Granted, taking smallmouth bass during the post-spawn
is not for a total novice angler, but is not impossible either.
A
variety of baits will take post-spawn smallmouths, but I rely heavily on
plastics. Pre-rigged plastic worms are my personal favorite.
Being pre-rigged with three hooks, even a light bite will result in a hooked
fish. Grubs, tube jigs, and super dos are also effective during the
post-spawn. Post-spawn fishing requires patience and time on the
water.
Catching
weed-related smallmouth will require different presentations than many
smallmouth fishermen are used to. When I first approach a weed bed,
I start looking for active smallmouth. Keep your eyes open, looking
for any surface activity. Surfacing baitfish mean feeding smallmouth.
Use a bait that allows you to cover water quickly and effectively.
A spinnerbait would have to be my first choice. Since larger bass
may be present, use larger baits. I like a one-quarter once or three-eighths
ounce spinnerbait. Toss the spinnerbait over the weeds and use a
fast, erratic presentation. The more noise the better. Top
water baits can also be effective. Propeller baits like Hedon torpedoes
and hub chubs rattlers are deadly. Here again, use an erratic retrieve
as opposed to a steady retrieve. Buzz baits are another option and
are productive when smallmouth are hitting top water baits.
