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I traveled up to Hayward WI last week for some smallmouth fishing. I had many smallies follow the bait all the way back to the boat. Sometimes as many as 3 and always 2 to 3 feet below the bait. This drove me nuts! I was fishing a zoom super fluke and then down sized to a small fluke. I used a drop shot, tube, spider grub to no avail. The super fluke (white) was the only lure to get their attention. The problem was follows but very few bites. Is this just the smallies habit at certain times? FYI: The lake was round lake in Hayward, my partner and I both witnessed a smallie that was at least 7 pounds swimming in a cove. The lake was gin clear and had great access locations for anyone intrested. Any adjustments that I should have made?
Bassin Butch

Drop down in line size. Use a red hook in the fluke. Don't wear bright colored clothing, use neutral colors to blend in with the sky. Clear water is a #&%$*&)!!!!
Frank

Butch,

Frank is right... down size the line, wearing light colors helps too. I would also recommend making as long a cast as possible and try to crouch in the boat.

If you played around with colors, you are one the right track, the other thing with clear water is sometimes you need to use a really fast moving lure that you can cast far... you don't want to give them a chance to inspect the bait... they either can eat the bait or pass on a meal. Also, you increase your chances for a reaction strike.

Long casts, light line and persistence will help you over-come the difficulties involved in clear water fishing for smallies...

Fluorocarbon will also help improve your hook-up ratio.

Keep this in mind... in clear water, if you see the fish, they have already seen you and your chances of catching that fish are pretty slim if that happens. This is not the time to be moving the boat fast, work the area very slowly.

Let us know if any of these suggestions help out?

BC

I'll go along with Brendan and Frank on this subject.

I've done a lot of smallmouth fishing in Bull Shoals, Arkansas, and you can't get much clearer than that lake.

My trick has been using low-vis green line - often difficult for the old eyes to see when tying with the smaller diameters . Three of my favorite lures (all rigged on a small 1/16 or 1/8 ounce lead head, with number 4 hook) has been a 4" Berkley Power Finesse Worm, Mann's 2" Augertail Worm/Grub, and a Yamamoto Tiny Ika. These are small lures, and while losing a few fish because of the smaller hooks size, I still caught some.

Best of fishing,
Dan

Good suggestion Dan... and good to hear from you... We need to touch base again soon... man are things crazy around the office...

Butch, Dan is right on the money with the low-vis green line. That is all I use, unless I'm fishing Fluoro. Small grubs and tube baits on light line can real do some damage on finicky smallmouth.

Thanks for all to tips! My buddy goes up to Hayward every year, I was not going to go there again because it's a long drive to have smallies just follow your bait all day. I think I will give it another go but with stealth light colored clothing, 6 lb test, and very small lures. I really want to thank each of you for taking the time to reply. Hopefully others will also benefit from your replys. Best wishes for success in your tournament events.
Bassin Butch

Butch, you have gotten some great info on finicky smallies, here's all I can add. Use the trolling motor only on the slowest speed and use it only when absolutely necessary. A spinnerbait buzzed across the surface will often work well, I mean really race that thing, looking for reflex strikes. Try willow blades and a clear/salt/pepper skirt or pearl color. Also, there are some clear plastic topwater baits that work well, clear Zara spook or torpedo baits, rip these fairly fast too. You will want to avoid fluoresant line, in clear water with sunshine, this line will shoot light rays through the water which could spook fish. Best of luck next time, Johnnie.