To download this and all back issues free, visit SusquehannaFishing.com:
http://susquehannafishing.com/
By Pete Hanford
As the weather gets warmer, so does the water. The smallmouth start looking for areas to move to before they spawn. As the water temps hit the 50 degree mark, it’s time to shine those blades and get ready to start chunk’n and wind’n. The smallmouth will start getting aggressive and start to feed up before they spawn. My spinnerbaits of choice are ¾ ounce white when the water is clear, and when the water is stained I will go to ¾ ounce with chartreuse skirt and chartreuse colored blades. Mainly, I throw them at an angle towards the bank or along islands, as well as behind ledges. When these smallies hit the lure, be ready… they will try to rip the rod out of your hand. Throwing these lures at an angle will get the bait deeper in the water, and closer to the bottom of the river, where the smallies are feeding primarily on minnows.
There are so many companies that sell spinnerbaits, and most work as well as the next. The ones I typically use are Picasso spinnerbaits, as well as War Eagle and Strike King. If you see that the smallies are working the surface, chasing minnows, then it’s time to change to ¼ ounce spinnerbaits, and start burning the baits just under the surface to imitate the minnows. This high speed action will get the smallmouth fired up to hit the bait really hard. So when the river gets back into shape and down to a safe level, get out there and throw some spinnerbaits. I use baitcasting reels for spinnerbaits with 17 pound test. The heavier line doesn’t affect the action of the bait at all. I use the heavier line, so that it doesn’t break when fishing over rocks and with the smallmouth trying to throw the bait out of their mouths. You don’t want to lose your lure. My rods are all 7 feet long, to make those long distance casts when the water is clear. You can also use spinning rods, if you don’t feel comfortable with baitcasting reels. I would recommend a medium-heavy action rod as well.
Pete Hanford is the tournament director for the Mountain Valley Bassmasters.
