Wood


Smallmouth bass may not prefer wood to rock, but they definitely do like wood.  Wood provides excellent cover as well as plenty of bait fish and insects for food.  Just like with weeds, the best wood areas that hold smallmouth also have a hard bottom with a boulder or some rocks.  When you’re looking for good wood areas that will hold smallmouth, try to find wood that offers lots of protection overhead, a hard bottom, deep water nearby and the more tree limbs that go in the water the better.

Jigs and live bait work best around wood.  Flippin’ or pitchin’ a jig will help you get in the tough spots.  When you can’t get them to hit a lure, a drop shot rig with some live bait will usually get them to eat.  Some anglers like to use soft plastics and topwater baits around wood.  These can also be very effective.