Fishing Smallmouth Bass In The Winter
Unless ice fishing is really your affair, you might do better fishing smallmouth bass in the winter where the fishing can be good year around.
You will often find smallies suspended over points, humps, next to bluffs and ledges. Look for irregular features. Quick drop-offs with quick access to deeper waters are good candidates.
As always, if you can find the bait fish, you will find the fishing smallmouths.
When fishing smallmouth bass are suspended beneath schooling baitfish, try spinnerbaits, tail spinners and spoons. These can easily be fished in deep water and directly mimic a wounded or falling baitfish.
The small profile of these baits appeals finicky bass in coldwater. They also sink quickly to feeding bass and can be fished vertically like a jig in deep water.
One common cold water formula is the "float-and-fly." This is a tiny leadhead jig or fly constructed of craft hair, a small bobber and a long spinning rod with clear line. It's ideal for smallies suspended below baitfish in 45 degree or colder water. It works when additional lures don't.
Suspended below a fixed float, the hair on the jig puffs out and pulsates, mimicking a small baitfish. Putting a stationary float 8-15 feet above the fly enables the jig to suspend and the bobbing float adds lifelike action. Fishing smallmouth bass have a hard time resisting this.
