| To find food and escape danger, smallmouth rely on eyesight to a far
greater degree than any of their other senses. As a result, good
smallmouth fisherman generally use lures with a natural look. And they
take great pains to avoid being seen by the smallmouth, especially
when fishing in clear water.
The sense of smell evidently plays some role in extremely turbid
water, but in most other situations it appears to be less important
than the other senses. Some smallmouth anglers believe that scent
products, particularly crayfish scents, improve their success. But
others who have tested scented lures alongside unscented ones have
found no difference.
Studies have shown that smallmouth bass are less line and lure wary
than largemouth bass, and thus easier to catch. But the degree of
wariness varies greatly in different waters, depending mainly on the
amount of competition. In waters where the smallmouth population is
low and food plentiful, smallmouth can be extremely wary. But if the
population is high and the food relatively scarce, smallmouth are not
as wary and spooking is not as much of a problem.
Temperature. During the summer months, smallmouth northern
lakes are usually found at water temperatures from 67 to 71 degree and
seldom at temperatures above 80 degree. But in southern reservoirs are
often found at temperatures of 78 to 84 degree.
Current. Smallmouth prefer moderate current, usually in the
range of 0.4 to 1.3 feet per second. This range is slower than that
preferred by trout, but faster than that favored by largemouth bass.
With a little experience, you will be able to recognize the right
current speed.
In most streams, smallmouth are numerous in pools where the water
is completely slack. In lakes, smallmouth often concentrate around
river mouths or in areas with wind induced current, such as a trough
between two islands or a narrow channel between two major lobes of a
lake.
Depth. Smallmouth are generally considered fish of the upper
layer of the water. They are most likely to be found in shallow areas
adjacent to deep water. The depths offer smallmouth from intense light
and boat traffic.
In waters that have both smallmouth and largemouth, the smallmouth
are usually slightly deeper. Generally, smallmouth stay deep enough
that they are not visible from the surface.
In spring, summer and early fall, smallmouth are seldom found at
depths exceeding 30 feet. But in late fall and winter, they often
congregate in tight schools at depths down to 60 feet.
Clarity. Although smallmouth will tolerate murky water for
short periods, they rarely live in water that remains murky year
round. As a rule, water where the usual visibility is less than 1 foot
do not hold substantial smallmouth populations.
If the water is murky in one portion of a lake but clear in the
another, chances are that smallmouth will be most numerous in the
clearer area. Similarly, smallmouth are usually more plentiful in a
clear reach of a stream than in a muddy reach. And in extremely
fertile lakes, smallmouth bite best in spring, before intense alga
blooms cloud the water, and in fall, after the algae has died back.
Competitor Species. Populations of other species can compete
with smallmouth for food, living space or spawning habitat can greatly
affect the size of the smallmouth population and the way the
smallmouth behave. Compared to most other freshwater gamefish,
smallmouth are poor competitors. If a body of water contains a large
number of shallow water predators like largemouth bass or northern
pike, chances are it will not support a dense smallmouth population.
Competition with other fish can be a major factor in determining
smallmouth location. Most reservoirs in the mid south, for instance,
have good populations of largemouth and spotted bass. If largemouth
are numerous, smallmouth and spotted bass are usually found in the
main lake portion of the reservoir where the water is relatively deep
and clear. Largemouth also concentrate in shallow creek arms and
whenever there is weedy or brushy cover. In reservoirs with fewer
largemouth, the smallmouth and spotted bass may occupy the upper as
well as the lower portion.
Related Articles:
|
