Jigging is more popular for walleye, but many walleye anglers will also catch a lot of smallmouth bass while jigging. When smallmouth bass go deeper, find some good structure and try vertical jigging to catch some smallmouth bass. Live bait such as minnows, nightcrawlers and leeches work great on a jighead. You can jig many different soft plastics baits also, but some of the better baits to use are minnows with a twitch tail and finesse-style worms.
Soft Baits
Jig & Minnow
A jighead and soft plastic minnow bait in the 3 to 4 inch range is perfect for targeting smallmouth bass, especially when they are suspended in deeper water.
Jig & Worm
A jighead and soft plastic worm works great for smallmouth bass. Some of the better worm styles to use on a jighead for smallmouth bass are chunk worms, finesse worms, smaller curly tail worms and wacky worms.
Jig & Leech
A jighead and soft plastic leech is super effective during the summer and early fall months for smallmouth bass. It can be a great tactic when smallies suspend over deeper water with warmer water temperatures. As water temperatures cool, the leech bite tends to get worse while the minnow bite will pickup and remain the better bait through the colder water months.
Live Baits
Jig & Minnow
A simple jighead and minnow is one of the easiest ways to target smallmouth bass. Fish it around the rocky cover that smallmouth bass love and you will catch some bass.
Jig & Crawler
A simple jighead and nightcrawler is one of the easiest ways to target largemouth bass when you are fishing away from heavy cover. For example, docks, a weed edge, weed pockets and rocky bottoms are good places to fish a jighead without having to worry about getting hung up.
Jig & Leech
A simple jighead and leech is one of the easiest ways to target largemouth bass when you are fishing away from heavy cover. For example, docks, a weed edge, weed pockets and rocky bottoms are good places to fish a jighead without having to worry about getting hung up.
