Fish the Best Destinations
When searching for bigger smallmouth bass, the destination is so important. There are just some places that grow some enormous smallmouth bass while others will just produce smaller fish.
The Great Lakes have absolutely taken off with monster-sized smallies. Door County, WI and Lake Erie are extremely popular big fish destinations. Northern Wisconsin has so many lakes where you can catch bass in the 4 pound range and bigger and many of these lakes get very little fishing pressure. Minnesota and Michigan also have some big fish waters. Down south, Tennessee’s Dale Hollow Lake and Pickwick Lake are known for having some trophy-sized fish in there as well. When it comes to Canada, you have more lakes than you can ever fish, but all you need is to plan a trip to one of the better lakes and you’ll catch plenty of big bass.
Best Smallmouth Bass Destinations
Use the Right Bait
Smallmouth Bass Love Worms, Minnows & Crayfish
Smallmouth bass will eat a variety of baits, but you can’t go wrong with a combination of worms, minnows and crayfish baits.
Upsize Your Baits to Target Bigger Smallmouth Bass
Upsizing your baits is one of the easiest way to target bigger smallmouth bass. The problem with going bigger for smallmouth bass is that they do have much smaller mouths than largemouth bass. Go too big and take the chance of missing fish due to short strikes. Some anglers do report catching smallmouth bass on very big baits, but the key to catching good numbers of bigger smallmouth bass is to go just big enough.
For example, curly tail grubs in the 5 inch range, going from finesse-sized worms to the thicker wacky worms, 4.5 to 5 inch soft plastic minnows, longer finesse-sized worms (6 to 7″), 4.5 to 5 inch swimbaits that are thicker, 6.5 to 7 inch lizards are just some examples.
On some bodies of water, you won’t have to upsize your baits at all and on others, you’re going to need to or you will be attracting mostly smaller smallmouth bass.
Live Baits Catch Plenty of Big Smallmouth Bass
Using live bait is one of the most effective ways to catch big smallmouth bass. Nightcrawlers, leeches & bigger minnows will all work to catch big smallmouths.
Target Key Locations
Bigger Bass Are Often Found Offshore
Besides the spring and some parts of the fall, you are going to fishing offshore structures such as rocks, humps, break lines and ledges if you want to consistently catch bigger smallmouth bass.
Fish at the Right Time
Spring is AwesomeIn the spring, huge smallies move into the shallows and in clear water, you can sight fish 4, 5, 6 or even 7 pound smallies in many of the best smallmouth destinations.
Low Light Conditions are Ideal for Summer
In the summer, fishing is much tougher unless you know how to find the schools of smallmouth bass in deeper water offshore. However, some very nice-sized smallmouth bass will move up shallower onto rocky island and points to feed. Fish these spots early in the morning and in the evenings and you’ll catch some nice bass without having to fish super deep.
The Fall Months Can Be Awesome
In the fall, smallies gorge themselves to get ready for the winter. It is possible to catch 18″ smallmouth bass that weigh more than 4 pounds in some bodies of water in the fall. It is kind of crazy to think about, but once you see it, you’ll totally get it.
