A little smallmouth help needed

[Della123]

Hey guys, I don't normally ask for fishing advice but I'm kind of clueless for this weekend. I'm headed to a small and largemouth lake in the northeast. Recent temps have been really cold but we are going to be in the 60's and 70's over the next few days, I would expect water temps around 40-45. If you were fishing for smallies where would you start and what baits would you throw? I'am just going for fun and to break in the new boat, I don't tournament fish. Thank you guys for the suggestions, tight lines!

[bgibson]

Find where there are any streams running in to the lake. Lures can be the obvious suspended jerk bait, traps, tubes, flukes, small swim baits

[basscat tyler]

Without knowing anything about the lake I'd say look for 45 degree banks with rock. Blade baits, finesse jig, Ned rig, jerkbaits. Drop shot and tube/grub could be productive.

[Fishysam]

Without knowing anything about the lake I'd say look for 45 degree banks with rock. Blade baits, finesse jig, Ned rig, jerkbaits. Drop shot and tube/grub could be productive.

This but I would want the 45* banks to be closer to flatter spawning areas, gravel-rock preferably. Would also yo-yo a chatterbait or lipless off the bottom in 5-10' of water

[Jeff Hahn]

Jerkbait, tube, Ned Rig, and a vibrating jig if the fish seem at all aggressive.

[DrewFlu33]

Agree with starting on steep breaks next to flats. Smallmouth like steep breaks, especially this time of year as they can easily move up and down to feed or rest. Heck, even when they're up on flats feeding in the spring or summer a lot of times it's on a flat next to a steep break. The biggest rocks you can find will usually be the best spots, especially if the lake is rocky in general.

Bait suggestions above are really good ones.

[Pagregss]

Jerkbait, ned rig, neko rig, hair jig.

[Chautauquanuy]

Hopkins Spoons and Silver Buddy's for deeper water. Tubes and now Ned Rigs always. Chug Bugs for a top water try. Definately weightless Flukes, I primarily use baby bass or hot pink in early spring.

[jiggerjake]

Not sure where your headed but I've done well on Wallenpaupack this time of year on JB's ,tubes.TX there this weekend.

[Della123]

Hey guys thanks for the advice, I was thinking about the same except the tubes and chatterbait. The chatterbait is a little surprising,I would think spinner bait or A-rig. I will take this advice into the weekend and hopefully catch a few while breaking in the new rig. The lake I'm headed to is candlewood, I have had success with catching large mouth but not such good luck on the smallies. Thanks again!

[slipknobber bot]

I'd stay away from bottom contact baits personally. Jerkbait, hair jig, chatterbait, and small swimbait on jighead, and SLOW.

[bgibson]

Not sure why you are all talking about 45 degree banks, guess its all relative to the lake. If I fished that way in most of my lakes in Maine in the spring you would get your @ss handed to you! Find the inlets and fish the flats and secondary points to the mouths.

[FishInTheDesert]

Not sure why you are all talking about 45 degree banks, guess its all relative to the lake. If I fished that way in most of my lakes in Maine in the spring you would get your @ss handed to you! Find the inlets and fish the flats and secondary points to the mouths.

youd fish flats (assuming you mean shallower flats) with such low water temps? that doesnt seem like itll be productive at lower temps

[Fishysam]

OP probably had ice, when ice out happens here stealer banks where the water is open is better, and as I said chatterbait yoyoed off the bottom I wouldn't throw arig or spinnerbaits yet. I think chatterbait when pumped off the bottom feels and acts like a crayfish fleeing... and it needs a rest to let lazy cold fish catch it

[A Wood]

Fished last weekend water was about 40. Lmb and smb lake. Had no luck finding Lmb but I did find smb in about 30 ft off points. Used lunker hunt vertical jigs and played video game fishing with them. Caught a few nothing spectacular.

[Grahamb]

Hey guys thanks for the advice, I was thinking about the same except the tubes and chatterbait. The chatterbait is a little surprising,I would think spinner bait or A-rig. I will take this advice into the weekend and hopefully catch a few while breaking in the new rig. The lake I'm headed to is candlewood, I have had success with catching large mouth but not such good luck on the smallies. Thanks again!

I was going to ask if it was Candlewood. I’ll be out there too. I fish it a lot, but never this early in the season so I’m going in a bit blind also.