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So I have read a few articles about how fishing for smallmouth in the fall can be very productive. Most seem to go off the theory of the fish coming up into the shallows chasing the baitfish trying to stay warm. On the contrary the few things I have read here are tending to say the fish have all gone deep and are lethargic already. So I am wondering if any of the more knowledgable or even self proclaimed knowledgable would be willing to shed some insight for discussions sake. Any input would be much appreciated. I plan on doing some fishing for them to see what I can come up with if it get the time, most of the articles say this is a good time to catch some of the bigger fish. Hoping to try this out at deer creek or jordy which are both synonymous to small fish.
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[#0000FF]The stuff you read in In Fishermen and other midwestern publications is not always applicable to our Utah fisheries. Back there the lakes are mostly natural lakes with year round constant levels and multiple food sources. Our lakes are at higher altitudes with less fertility and great fluctuations throughout the year...and can be completely different from one year to the next. No generalities can be applied.
In the upper midwest you CAN get in some good late season bassin' with water temps under 50 degrees. That is because there are still baitfish of different species that stay shallow at those temps. But in higher altitude Utah, about the only food resources are crawdads and small perch. Both of those leave the shallows and go deep in cooler water. The smallies follow. Hard to find any smallmouth in our area shallower than about 30 feet right now...and it will soon drop to 50 feet or more through the winter months. Not good to fish for them that deep because they get the "bends" and cannot be safely released.
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As with what TD is saying, it's entirely regional as to what happens. The Fall is some of the best bass fishing here in Arizona. Temperatures are still high (was in the 90's today) but cool in the evenings (low 50's). I was even talking to a few guys the other day who were talking about a Fall smallie spawn at Havasu and Mead that they've witnessed with their own eyes.
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The fishing for smallmouth has been awesome for me lately. I have read the same things saying the fish should all be up shallow chasing baitfish but like TD said that is in other states where they are feeding on shad and other similar fish which we do not have in most of our smallmouth lakes. Every fish I have caught in the last few weeks has been deeper (25-30ft).
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And see down here the big swimbait bite is on. They've stocked the desert river chain lakes with planter slimers and the bigguns are coming out to feed.
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Thanks for the replies, much appreciated! I went from liking to fish for trout to just not caring much for it at all anymore. Really enjoy smallie fishing and was hoping to maybe get into some of the bigger fish I presume are still present, though maybe in small numbers, in DC or jordy. Figured maybe the fall might be a time to see about that.
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Yeah this is definitely the time to catch some bigger ones. We have seen the average size of our catches increase quite a bit in the last few weeks with lots of 3 and 4 lb'ers being caught.
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I've seen big smallies close to shore at east canyon in the fall. A few days ago a huge one followed my kastmaster in from behind a submerged boulder. I'm positive it was a smallie. Also caught a largemouth from DC last weekend. There are still some bass lingering in the shallows.
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It really does seem to vary year to year too. Fall is usually my favorite time to target big smallmouth fishing suspending jerkbaits along steep, rocky shorelines and points. This year when I tried it, the majority of the fish had already gone deep and I had to drop shot to entice them. Still, I didn't get the size I was looking for, but I wasn't willing to go past 20' so as not to hurt the fish. I tried fishing in about 25' of water for one cast, and I promptly hooked a walleye who's eyes popped out and ended up becoming a taco. That was the last time I'll fish that deep.
A warm spell like this week may be enough to entice some fish to move up shallow to feed, so you still may have one last chance. After next week's snow though I think I'm putting away the bass gear for the season.
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That's interesting. We have been catching all of our bass in 25-30 ft and haven't had a single issue with any of them. I know the perch and crappie don't do well when caught that deep maybe the walleye are the same but in my experience the bass seem to do fine.
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I have heard that smallies handle it better than some species, but I just love the guys so much I was hesitant to mess with them that deep.
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Yeah I don't blame you at all! If I thought it was going to hurt them I wouldn't do it either. But I agree, they do seem to handle it better than other species. Smallies are pretty hardy fish, I've seen them survive some pretty crazy stuff.
We had one that got attacked by a 44" muskie while reeling it in, after netting both fish the bass was pretty beat up and didn't look like it would survive so we threw it in the livewell and at the end of the day when we were getting ready to leave we checked on it and he had stopped bleeding and was kicking around like crazy so we threw him back in the water and he darted off like nothing had happened.
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If you go after LM bass they may still be in the upper water 15' or less but the SM bass at the Nell and DC are deep this year..
Large mouth will get the bends if caught in 20' + water but I have yet to see Smallmouth get the bends even from 60' of water..
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I can't speak for every bass but I've pulled up largies and smallies as deep as 50' with no damage to them that I could notice and they swam away fine. Stayed in the same spot for hours and no floaters.
Back to the subject, huge smallies are being caught in the fall using jerkbaits, blades and grubs. All you have to do is follow the shad [  ]
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Dang, I really should have gone after smallmouth today. I don't have a lot of experience fishing deeper than 20', but it sounds like I'll give it a try in the future. I chased largemouth today, but it was brutal. Four hours and only landed three, and missed or lost a few. I did get into a school of nice perch and caught 3 at 13" before I lost the school.
[inline "perch 3 small.jpg"]
I wish I could follow the shad to another state. This area has been really tough for me this fall. I usually catch a bunch of nice ones in September/October, but for some reason they just aren't that aggressive this year. Oh well, spring will be here in another six months [frown]
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Nice looking perch. I believe the fishing has really been rough for most this year. Forced us to fish differently than we are used to and also fish different and new areas/lakes. Hopeing and dreaming of a really, really white winter to help fix the problem.
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Yeah, as much as I hate driving in the snow (long commute in the countryside with lots of drifting/whiteouts), I'm hoping we get plastered.
Spring was rough too as it got hot so fast. There was essentially no prespawn to speak of up here. Summer was kind to me though with smallies to 18", largemouth to 20" and a 30" walleye on the last day of summer. Then it all went down hill. Oh well, here's to a wet winter and full reservoirs next spring! I want to be able to fish the flooded brush in May and June next year, it was all high and dry this year.
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[quote gstott] I want to be able to fish the flooded brush in May and June next year, it was all high and dry this year.[/quote]
That will be a plus with a really good winter. The fish will have a great spawn and the fishing will be hot!
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Definitely. It seems like some of the more recent year classes are lacking on the reservoirs I fish, so it will be good to fill in some of those gaps with some new fry. Plus there's nothing more fun than pitching soft jerkbaits and other unweighted plastics up into the pockets in the brush and trees in the spring.
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Unfortunately I think I missed my window. Sat, Sunday might have been my best shot. Picked up a bunch of new dropshot plastics and rigged up some jerk baits and never even hooked up the boat. We'll see how the weather does and maybe give it another try. Been really hoping to put a 4 lber in the boat this year, maybe next spring. Thanks again for all the replies!
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