We are all looking for smallmouth bait tips so that we can catch more bass. When seasons change and forage changes, you may need to change what you are fishing with.
After all, if you are throwing a tube and smallies are chasing bait fish, you’re not going to catch what you could. So how do you find out about what the bronzebacks are eating?
Smallmouth Bait Tips from Bassmaster
The situation with baitfish is much more complicated. Different parts of the country have different species of baitfish that keep the smallies alive. It might be gobies, perch, alewives, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, bluegill, crappie or any of a hundred types of minnows. They all have their preferred temperature range. We need to learn what that is.
The place to start is with your local Department of Natural Resources. They’ll have information on whatever is in your waters. The Internet is also a great research tool. This might sound a little complicated but without this information you’ll find it difficult to consistently catch the size and numbers of smallmouth bass that you want.
The thing to keep in mind is that if you’re going to be a top smallmouth angler you have to understand what temperatures they like and what temperatures their forage likes. When those temperatures overlap, you know where to go and what to look for.
Think of it this way — dragging a jig on the bottom makes no sense if they’re feeding on threadfin shad in the top 4 or 5 feet of water. You might catch a few but you’ll catch more with a jerkbait or plastic minnow. You hear the top anglers talk all the time about the importance of matching the hatch. This is basically what they’re talking about. Source
The article goes on to discuss the fact that smallmouth angling is becoming more difficult due to increased pressure and more people focusing on smallmouth bass fishing.
Look how the tubes and crayfish in this video look so much alike
The other obvious way to figure out what smallmouth bass are eating is when you catch one, look at what they are spitting up and adjust your choice of lure.
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Tight Lines!
