Smallmouth Bass fishing

Micropterus dolomieu

About Smallmouth Bass

A hard-fighting bronzeback of cooler, rocky lakes and clear rivers. Loves current and wind. Rock is the pattern, gravel bars, boulder fields and the seam where fast water slides into slow. In a river it holds behind structure and lets the current bring food, so cast upstream and bring the lure back with the flow. Pound for pound it pulls harder than anything else in the same water, and it usually jumps at least once.

Typical size: Usually 0.5-2 kg, big ones over 2.5 kg. Record (approx.): ≈ 5 kg.

Season, time and habitat

Best season

May-Jun, Sep-Oct

Best time

Dawn, dusk

Habitat

Lake, River

Season by month

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Darker cell = more active that month. Based on the species' usual yearly rhythm.

Lures and baits that work

Soft-plastic jig Let the jig sink to the bottom and work it with small lifts and pauses. Stay in contact with the line; takes usually come on the drop. Check price on Amazon

Crankbait Retrieve so the plug dives and wobbles. Add pauses and twitches to trigger strikes, or troll it behind the boat. Check price on Amazon

Spinner Reel just fast enough to keep the blade spinning from the off. Work it along weed edges, rocks and current seams, shallow or deep. Check price on Amazon

Fly Present the fly on a fly line, dry on top or wet below. Mend the line, stay in contact and strike on the light take. Check price on Amazon

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Waters where Smallmouth Bass bites

Lake Havasu Arizona Lake Powell Arizona Mississippi River Arkansas Snake River Idaho Missouri River Iowa Kentucky Lake Kentucky Lake Erie Michigan Delaware River New York

Open a water for live weather, water temperature and today's odds.

Guides about Smallmouth Bass

How to catch bass: largemouth basics that actually work

Find waters where Smallmouth Bass is biting now

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Common questions

When is the best time to catch Smallmouth Bass?

Smallmouth Bass fishing is usually best around May-Jun, Sep-Oct. The best windows in the day are usually dawn, dusk.

What lures and baits work for Smallmouth Bass?

Effective methods for Smallmouth Bass include Soft-plastic jig, Crankbait, Spinner and Fly.

Where can you catch Smallmouth Bass?

Smallmouth Bass is most often found in lake, river. Napp shows the nearest waters and the live odds on the bite right now.