| Smallmouth tend to move back and forth from | | | | early spring, as they have just come out of the |
| shallow to deep water, depending on the season and | | | | spawn and are an easy target. Try lures with either a |
| temperature of the water. | | | | gold or perch pattern on them. Target larger bass |
| They can usually be found in the shallows in the | | | | with larger baits. |
| spring, fall and winter. They will escape the heat of | | | | Many believe the smallies spawn in coves. Don't |
| the summer by occupying deeper waters. | | | | eliminate the fact that they may spawn in the main |
| This is a general rule, as there can be day to day and | | | | lake. Using your finding jerkbait, work the shoreline |
| lake to lake variations. As the water warms up in the | | | | well searching for these fish. |
| spring, you'll find certain areas of the lake to be | | | | Look for bedding bass around sand or gravel |
| warmer than others. Focus on these areas... | | | | bottoms, isolated stumps, rocks, or anything they |
| Smallmouth will likely be schooling this time of year. | | | | might use for cover. They are likely to bed deeper in |
| You can't beat a hard jerkbait for finding schools. You | | | | clear water. Once they bed, they rarely leave. They |
| can cover a lot of ground quick with a jerkbait. | | | | are prone to be aggressive towards anything that |
| Search out these fish in 5 to 10 feet of water. They | | | | comes over or past their beds. In this situation, try |
| may also be in much deeper water, but suspended at | | | | soft jerkbaits and tubes. Throw them over the bed |
| 5-10 feet. | | | | and let them fall, then hold on. |
| Yellow perch are a favorite of Bronzebacks in the | | | | |