Fishing Smallmouth Bass
. Fishing smallmouth bass in the state of Indiana are very easy to find and one dependable spot is any debris in the water, the fish loves structure. Any structure that is in slow moving water usually holds fish, log jams, logs, rocks, and erosion control structures always seem to have some fishing smallmouth bass. The greatest things I've discovered about fishing smallmouth bass are that they love more sluggish moving water, structure, and bright sunshine. High noon is one of the best times to fish them. The most beneficial method I've found for fishing smallmouth is to use the same one for largemouth bass. The exclusive difference? Use a more diminished bait, smaller lure, shorter worm. Think about it. The smallmouth and largemouth come from altogether different families but share some of the most tested characteristics.
First of all they both love to eat smaller than their mouths food items. While this leaves the area wide open to the largemouth (obviously) the fishing smallmouth must diet on a lighter menu. Any small insect is just game with crickets, grasshoppers and even spiders making up most of the insect-world's offerings. The golden rule is if you are a grasshopper, hop away from the edge of the water, the time of death is usually very fast there. This can lead to fly-fishing as a viable way of fishing for the bass up north. If you are new to the fly-fishing world, it would be recommended to enlist the assistance of a proven fishing smallmouth guide with fly fishing experience. The guide will know where the fish are and will also be able to patiently train the novice fly fisherman with the little refinements that are required to fly fish.
Over the years I've found that fishing smallmouth love flies, small crank baits, and tube jigs. Some of the better fish I have ever set ashore in the city of Indianapolis hit flies that I danced upon the water with my fly rod. I was no expert at controlling the fly and fly fishing but I could catch a few regardless. As for color, natural tones such as brown, orange, yellow, olive and black work well in flies. The conclusive main food supply for river fishing smallmouth is the crayfish, so colors that copy crayfish work great. Natural colors in crank baits and tube jigs that mimic crayfish and bait minnows work well but don't be afraid to try off the wall colors like Chartreuse and orange. Sometimes something different works well also. Do not be shy as the small mouth is not.
Fishing smallmouth Bass are accessible and easy to find and unlike most trout streams, warm water streams are relatively closer to home and a great way to beat the doldrums of summer. Pound for pound no other fish fights harder for their size than fishing smallmouth bass so get out and try to hang a few fishing smallmouth bass
