“School’s In”, for Smallmouth Bass!
By Paul Strege
As the weight of a 1/2 ounce spinnerbait pulled my
rod into a parabolic arc, I eyed my target, and snapped the rod quickly
forward
into a roll with precision timing. Just as the bait neared my target,
I softly stopped the spin of the spool, and the lure slipped into the
water. The rising sun's radiant energy warmed my shivering body
hidden under a black rain suit. The quiet roar of tournament boats
resonated in the background. I started the retrieve and with two turns
of the handle, a hefty smallmouth bass impacted the lure's straight-line
course to the boat. I set the hook and immediately the fight was on.
After a battle that would not include any aerial maneuvers at this
cool time of year, my partner scooped up the fish. We had a limit and
the last boat in our tournament had not yet reached their spot! These
smallmouth were feeding; they seemingly were in a mood in which their
very basic instincts took control.
Fishing schooling smallmouth is my favorite way to
target smallmouth bass. While days like the one described above do
not unfold every
tournament morning, certain situations and seasons allow for any
angler to experience the thrill of catching bass in the middle
of a feeding frenzy. I have learned the hard way, especially after
tournaments
like the one above. Schooling smallmouth can be challenging, even
frustrating at times to find. In order to recognize those factors
which encourage the competitive instinct in these fish, an angler
must be aware of three elements. They include: time of year, abundant
forage, and layout of the area.
I have recognized that certain seasons are more conducive to locating
gorging bass. The prespawn period, where smallmouth initiate a mass-movement
to spawning areas, tips the odds of discovering schools into the angler's
favor. Winter haunts typically hold a high concentration of fish. After
months of inactivity, warmer water temperatures increase the fish's
metabolism. In addition, preparation for the spawn requires them to
increase their energy reserve for the weeks ahead. Migration routes
from wintering holes to spawning flats are the first locations to explore.
I like to target creek channels and points not too distant from deep
water. Another time of year that should not be overlooked is mid-summer.
Baitfish schools are well established by now, and the bass have settled
into summer behavioral patterns. Rather than searching for a specific
route or location, anglers should refine their primary objective to
locating forage. Slick water created by relatively calm wind conditions,
combined with a high summer sun is the recipe for success. Calm winds
allow baitfish to congregate in dense pods, while bright sunlight causes
baitfish to gravitate to the water surface.
Abundant forage is a must-have in the seasons described above. Without
the presence of baitfish, the smallmouth will have to rummage through
Mother Nature's pantry for an alternative meal. In short, schools
of baitfish attract schools of smallmouth. The larger the school of
baitfish, the higher the probability that smallmouth can be found in
even greater numbers. While some seasons are better than others for
locating baitfish, habitat layout can further narrow the search.
Habitat layout is another element that can concentrate smallmouth.
Specifically, water current, depth and secondary forage are general
subdivisions of habitat. Current, in itself, concentrates fish. Bass
will not expend more energy than necessary in order to survive. Habitat
located next to river channels or tributaries is particularly attractive
for fish and baitfish alike. Trees, weeds and sand breaks provide relief
from the endurance swimming required just to maintain a given position
in moving water. Equally, the smallmouth's habitat must have
suitable depth. An environment too shallow is more susceptible to water
level changes. In addition, the water depth must be desirable for the
forage. The presence of a secondary meal is a bonus, too. When baitfish
may be particularly difficult to catch, an easy pick of insects, crawfish,
or even an occasional bluegill provides a diverse menu for the hungry
bronzeback.
Once located, schooling smallmouth are relatively easy to catch. They
can be caught on several lures emulating their forage. Gambler's soft plastic Super Stud jerkbait and Pro Series Spinnerbait, are
my go-to lures. These lures will encourage a "don't think,
just bite" mentality in the bass. They will work in all seasons,
even when the water is a little too chilly for topwaters. In the
summer, add topwater walking baits and chuggers to your arsenal.
The white Gambler Strick-9 tube, a 3.5" finesse tube is another
personal favorite. If the bite slows down to a pace when you can
retie, try stick worms and floating worms to put a few more smallmouth
in the boat.
With these perspectives, I hope you are able to experience
the exhilaration of catching schooling smallmouth bass during your
next outing!
For more information on the article above, feel free
to contact Paul Strege at pstrege@hotmail.com