Do smallmouth go shallower in early Fall in the Northeast?

[creekchub]

Before it really gets cold do smallmouth tend to feed up and go in shallower depths in early fall in the northeast like the month of October?

[g352nv]

Mine in the west have gone deep. I dunno why it would be different but I want to know also.

[billspence]

Yes they do. Great spinnerbait action when the water temps get in the 50's.

[fishmaster]

I’ve caught smallmouth right into mid November up here in Canada in less than 3fow. It goes against everything I thought I knew about them but I’ve had it happen over and over again up here. Water temps in the mid to low 40’s and they smash a spinnerbait like it owes them money. I’m never afraid to look shallow right into ice up. I think they just move up there through the day searching for big baitfish. I would say as long as there is bait there the fish are too!

[rhsvipre]

I believe they move up and down all day...

[basscat21]

The rats seem to be shallow, bigger fish serm to be deeper.

Your results may differ.

[g352nv]

The rats seem to be shallow, bigger fish serm to be deeper.

Your results may differ.

This is 100% for me. I think its the big temp swings that push them deep.

[ColdSVT]

Yes they do!...they even don't the summer sometimes

[Stingray23]

I catch 4lb+ smallies every year in the spring and fall in less then 10ft.

[ksubasser24]

Yep late fall all the way to freeze up I catch them sight fishing.

[ECobb91]

Here they become nomadic and follow the bait. Once the water temps hit 50s I’m not fishing shallower than 10ft

[rhlabs]

Yes they do. Great spinnerbait action when the water temps get in the 50's.

Same here.

[Pokie Pa]

Up here in NE Pa YES. the love spinner baits and cranks. They are bunched up too. Yesterday got a lot of little smallies in the 1lb range. The big ones will move in
when the water temp goes below around 55 degress. Looking forward to the biguns come in for the feed.

[ridgerunner11]

Here they become nomadic and follow the bait. Once the water temps hit 50s I’m not fishing shallower than 10ft

Same here at the least 10ft

[jml]

We caught several 4 pound plus smallies in Lake Erie last weekend. Drifting from 16 to 22 fow.

[mattmann7]

I have seen guys catch them schooled up under bait. They got them on poprs in late October.

[PolarKraft195]

Yes and no. Depends on what water you're talking about, and what you mean by "shallow".
If fall temps are "normal", and winter doesn't come early, my favorite month for smallies is November!

[Murph44]

Catch in both.. from 3- 30ft... follow the shad .. you’ll find them..

[aqua71]

^ this ^

[cubswin]

I'm not in the northeast, but I've seen smallmouth busting shad, clearing water after them, in 35 degree water with it snowing. Only time I've tied on a topwater while wearing winter clothes. Of course they wouldn't hit the topwater, but they did hit a jerkbait really well. Lake was iced over a week or two later.