Catching Big Smallmouth Bass on the Carolina Rig

The Carolina rig can be a lethal system for catching trophy sized smallmouth bass. This technique allows you to effectively present a bait on or near the bottom with actions mimicking common smallmouth forage with minimal snags. 

Follow the tips in this guide to rigging and fishing a Carolina rig to hook into your share of lunker bronzebacks.

The foundation of the Carolina rig starts with the weight system. Tie a heavy bullet, barrel or egg-type slip sinker (1/2 to 1 ounce) directly to your main line. Next, tie on a 12-24 inch fluorocarbon leader using a barrel swivel and add a glass bead between the sinker and swivel. At the end of the leader, snell on an offset worm hook from size 1/0 to 3/0 depending on the bait you're using. Offset hooks work well to increase hookups. 

With the rig complete, thread on your preferred soft plastic option like a 4-6 inch worm, lizards, creature bait, craw, or swimbait in natural colors like green pumpkin, watermelon, or translucent shad imitations. The long leader allows the bait to move and flutter seductively behind the sinker.

Target smallmouth cover and structure in 10-25 feet of water such as rock piles, weed beds, submerged timber, creek channel ledges, and humps. Cast past prime spots then allow your rig to sink to the bottom. Retrieve the lure by dragging and hopping it along the bottom, imitating a crawfish and other baitfish foraging through rocks. Vary your retrieve cadence (speed and action) until you find the cadence that triggers the most bites.

Bass pro Mark Davis is well known for using the Carolina rig during tour events when pursuing both largeouth and smallmouth bass. Take a few minutes and listen as Mark explains his approach to using the Carolina rig when chasing big northern smallmouths...

When you feel a strike, sweep your rod tip back to drive the hook home. Keep steady pressure on bass to keep the smallmouth beneath the surface and be ready for powerful runs. Use your reel's drag and rod action to tire out fish quickly. Consisntently following these tips will help you land trophy smallmouth more consistently on the Carolina rig when fishing your favorite smallmouth waters.

Curly Tail Grubs for Smallmouth Bass

Curly tail grubs are a versatile and effective bait for catching smallmouth bass. They can be fished in a variety of ways, making them a great choice for anglers of all skill levels.

There are a few reasons why curly tail grubs are so effective for smallmouth bass. First, the grub's soft plastic body and curly tail give it a lifelike action that smallmouth bass find irresistible. Second, the grub's small size makes it a perfect imitation of small baitfish, which are a major food source for smallmouth bass. Third, curly tail grubs can be fished in a variety of ways, making them a versatile bait that can be used in a variety of fishing situations.

Rod and Reel Selection

Grub fishing is considered a finesse bass fishing technique and selecting the right rod and reel combination is key to feeling even the slightest bite. A sensitive 6.5' to 7.25 medium-light to medium power fast action rod and matching reel filled with 6 to 8-lb fluorocarbon line are great options for fishing grubs.

How to Rig a Curly Tail Grub

To rig a curly tail grub, you will need a jighead and a 3" to 5" curly tail grub. The size of the jighead will depend on the depth you are fishing, wind conditions, and the size of the grub typically ranging from 1/16 to 3/8-ounce. An 1/8 or 3/16-ounce jighead is a good all-around size for most conditions.

Once you have chosen your jighead, thread the grub onto the hook. The grub should be threaded on so that the curly tail is just behind the hook point.

How to Fish a Curly Tail Grub

Though there are a number of ways to fish grubs, two methods to fish a curly tail grub are most typical: swimming and jigging.

Swimming a Curly Tail Grub: To swim a curly tail grub, simply cast it out and retrieve it slowly. The grub will swim with a seductive wiggle that is irresistible to smallmouth bass. You can swim a curly tail grub in a variety of water conditions. It is a great bait for fishing shallow water, as the grub will create a lot of action in the water column. It can also be fished in deeper water, but you will need to retrieve it more slowly.

Jigging a Curly Tail Grub: To jig a curly tail grub, simply cast it out and let it sink to the bottom. Then, jig it up and down slowly. The grub will create a lot of noise and vibration as it jigs, which will attract the attention of smallmouth bass. Jigging a curly tail grub is a great way to fish for smallmouth bass in deeper water. It is also a good way to fish for smallmouth bass that are holding on to bottom structure.

Color Selection

The color of the grub you use will depend on the water clarity and the time of year. In clear water, you will want to use a natural-colored grub, such as watermelon, green pumpkin, white or black. In stained water, you can use brighter colors, such as chartreuse, orange or pink.

In the spring, you will want to use brighter colors, as the water will be colder, often stained, and the smallmouth bass will be more aggressive. In the summer, start with more natural colors, since the water is warmer, clearer and the smallmouth bass are usually more selective.

Where to Fish Curly Tail Grubs

Curly tail grubs can be fished in a variety of places, but they are especially effective in water depths < 20'. You can fish them in rivers, lakes, and ponds. Look for places where there is cover on structure, such as rocks, weeds, or wood on points, drop-offs, etc. Smallmouth bass will often hold close to the cover on structure, so it is a good place to start fishing.

Take a few moments and watch as the folks from W2F provide a great video overview on successfully fishing curly tail grubs for smallmouth bass:

Fishing Compact Jigs for Smallmouth Bass

Anglers use compact jigs to catch smallmouth bass in a variety of situations but most commonly in areas with heavy cover, such as laydowns, rock piles, vegetation, and docks. Compact flipping and football jigs tend to be more versatile than larger jigs, since they can be used to fish both shallow and deep water as well as through many different types of cover.

Here are some of the reasons anglers use compact flipping jigs to catch smallmouth bass:

Great in heavy cover: Compact jigs are easier to fish in heavy cover than larger jigs, since they are less likely to get hung up. This makes these jigs a great choice for anglers who are fishing in areas with dense cover with lots of potential snags.

Smaller profile: A compact jig has a smaller profile than a traditional jig, which makes it more appealing to smallmouth bass. This is especially important when fishing in clear water since smallmouths tend to be sight feeders.

Use a soft plastic trailer: A soft plastic trailer will help to add more action to your jig and make it more appealing to smallmouth bass. Good choices include creature baits or crawfish imitations.

Canadien bass pro Cory Johnston is highly skilled at catching big smallmouth bass across the U.S. and Canada. When fishing areas of dense, interspersed cover such as rocks and vegetation, Johnston often relies on compact jigs to trigger hungry smallmouths into biting. 

Take a couple minutes and watch the following video where he discusses his jig fishing system:

How Smallmouths Relate to Submerged Grass

Smallmouth bass are typically found in cool, clear lakes and rivers, and they are known for their aggressive feeding habits.

Submerged weed beds provide smallmouth bass with a number of benefits, including:

• Cover: Weed beds provide smallmouth bass with a place to hide from predators and as ambush points to help pick off their prey.
• Food: Weed beds are home to a variety of small fish, crawfish, and other organisms that smallmouth bass eat.
• Temperature regulation: Weed beds help to regulate the temperature of the water, which is important for smallmouth bass that are spawning or that are trying to avoid predators.

Smallmouth bass typically relate to submerged weed beds in three ways:

• They use the weed beds as a place to hide. When smallmouth bass are not actively feeding, they will often retreat to the weed bed edges to rest.
• They use the weed beds as a place to ambush their prey. Smallmouth bass are ambush predators, which means that they typically wait for their prey to come to them before they strike. Weed beds provide smallmouth bass with a number of places to hide, which makes it easier for them to ambush their prey.
• They use the weed beds as a place to spawn. Smallmouth bass typically spawn in the spring, and they often do so in weed beds. The weed beds provide a number of benefits for smallmouth bass that are spawning, including protection from predators, a place to lay their eggs, and a place for the eggs to develop.

But unlike their largemouth cousins, smallmouths definitely use different parts of weed beds as underwater videographer Kim Stricker in this short "under the water" video...

Try a Neko Rig on Following Smallmouths

Have you been frustrated when catching one smallmouth bass on one rig only to have several more quality smallies follow it up to the boat then disappear by the time you land your fish? 

I know I have!

Did you know there's a pretty simple trick that will help catch more of those ghostly bronzebacks?

Take a moment and listen as bass pro Drew Cook describes how to use a readily-deployed Neko rig to draw strikes from those elusive following smallies...

Pretty cool and simple trick I know I'll be trying this season...

Need to stock up on Neko rig gear?

If you do, click on the following link to see the great assortment of Neko rigging gear available at Omnia Fishing:

Omnia's Neko Rig Tackle Assortment

Early Spring Smallmouth Bait Tips

It's early spring, the ice has just exited your favorite smallmouth pond and you're ready to make a long winter's cabin fever a thing of the past.

It's time to dust off and freshen up your smallmouth gear, head off to the pond and connect with some of the big, prespawn smallies as they ascend from their winter haunts invading the flats to "put the feed bag on".

But after opening your tackle packs, decisions have to be made; 

What baits are going to give you the best shot at enticing one of those big ole smallies into striking?

Being a northern smallmouth bass guy,  bass guru Kevin VanDam has a few suggestions his top baits when chasing smallies on his favorite northern waters. 

Take a few moments and listen as KVD describes the baits and presentations in this short video from the folks at Strike King:

Although KVD mentions specific SK baits in the video, any similar bait from your favorite manufacturers will work too!

Locating Early Season Smallmouths

The ice has recently departed on your local smallmouth pond and after a long winter you're itchy to connect with a few of these ole brown fish. 

Question is; where do you start your search to increase the odds at catching your favorite finny prey rather than just fishing for them?

There are several strategies that you can try to locate early spring smallmouth bass in natural lakes with rock and sand grass as cover. 

Here are some to consider:

Look for transition areas along main structures: Smallmouth bass tend to move from deeper water to shallower water as the water temperature rises in the spring. Look for areas where there is a transition from deep to shallow water, such as a drop-off, submerged island or a point. Start fishing near the base of the drop-off and work your way into the shallows.

Focus on warmer water: Smallmouth bass are more active in warmer water, so look for areas where the water is slightly warmer than the surrounding water. This can be caused by the sun shining on a shallow rocky area, near springs, dark bottomed bays or south-facing shorelines.

Look for cover: Smallmouth bass like to hang out near structure, such as rocks, logs, or weed beds. Look for areas with cover associated with structure and fish them thoroughly.

Experiment with baits: In early spring, smallmouth bass may be less active and more finicky. Try using a variety of baits, such as tube jigs, lipless crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits and finesse soft plastic rigs (drop shot and Ned rigs), until you find what works.

Use bait that imitates their prey: Smallmouth bass feed on a variety of prey, including crayfish, minnows, and insects. Try using lures that mimic these prey items, such as jigs, crankbaits, or soft plastics.

Keep moving: If you're not having success in one area, don't be afraid to move to another. Smallmouth bass can be quite mobile, so it may take some trial and error to find where they are feeding.

Want more tips on locating early season smallmouths? 

Take a few minutes and watch as smallmouth bass guru Kevin VamDam discusses several of the factors he considers when searching for early season smallmouths...

Drop Shotting Smallmouth Bass in Submerged Grass

Fishing a drop shot rig in submerged vegetation for smallmouth bass can be a highly effective way to target these elusive and hard-fighting gamefish.

Smallmouth bass are known to be highly opportunistic predators, and they will often seek out cover in submerged vegetation (cabbage, sand grass, etc.) in search of food like minnows and crayfish. By using a drop shot rig, anglers can effectively present a bait to smallmouth bass while avoiding getting snagged in the thick vegetation.

Here are several tips on techniques to help you get started with fishing a drop shot rig in submerged vegetation for smallmouth bass:

Choose the right gear: When fishing a drop shot rig, it is important to choose the right gear. You'll need a spinning rod and reel with a sensitive tip, as well as 6 to 10 lb fluorocarbon line that can effectively transmit bites. A medium or medium-light power rod is ideal, as it will give you the sensitivity you need to feel for bites while also providing enough backbone to handle the fight of a smallmouth bass.

Choose the right bait: When fishing a drop shot rig in submerged vegetation, you'll want to use a bait that is weedless and can effectively mimic the prey that smallmouth bass are feeding on. Some great options include finesse worms, small soft plastic craws, and small baitfish imitations. It is important to choose a bait that is the appropriate size and color to match the forage in the area you are fishing.

Closer Look at the Smallmouth Bass

The Overview of the Smallmouth…

Smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) are native to a number of states in the eastern part of the U.S. and are found in every county of the state. They are known for their acrobatic abilities and putting up a very strong fight when caught on hook and line.

Like their cousin, the largemouth, smallmouth bass are also referred to by other names including: bronzeback, brown bass, smallie, smalljaws and brownie …

Smallmouth bass mature at age three or four, and occasionally live to be 10 to 12 years old. The usual smallmouth caught by fishermen ranges from 8 to 15 inches long, and weighs less than three pounds.  Any smallmouth over four pounds is usually considered a trophy!

Preferred Habitat

Smallmouth bass thrive in streams with gravel or rock bottoms with a visible current.

Smallmouth bass often out number largemouth bass in many streams and rivers wherever they are located across the U.S. In the more southern states, smallmouth can be out numbered by spotted bass in number of river and stream systems.

Smallmouth bass are common in Great Lakes Region and through the lakes of Canada, especially around the islands and reefs and along rocky shorelines. Beyond natural bodies of water, smallmouths can also be found in numerous reservoirs, especially those with steep drop offs and rocky shorelines.

7 Secrets to Sharpen Smallmouth Success

Whether fishing the Great Lakes or the sprawling impoundments of the Dakotas, glacial pools in the quiet countryside or the mountain gems of Tennessee, these easy tips will help you catch more smallmouth… period.

Fish where they are. This may seem like an overly simplified approach to picking a spot, but the fact is, many people overlook it. If you are fishing one of the storied lakes of Tennessee, you stand a reasonable chance to boat a six-pounder, but you will not likely catch more than a handful of fish. In direct contrast, you may catch a hundred or more in a mountain stream in Northern Arkansas, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one over four pounds. Certain locales, like the upper Mississippi River and Lake Erie, offer excellent numbers and a good chance at big fish. Be sure to check with the state wildlife agency and look at creel reports to determine the expectations you should have for a certain body of water.

Give them what they want. Again, this is not a difficult concept but it is one that many anglers refuse to grasp. I like to fish with spinnerbaits, but once smallmouth move up on the beds, they much prefer to eat a tube or crawfish colored Fuzz-E-Grub in my home waters. Likewise, in the late summer when I’ve been catching them on jigs for two months, they begin to feed heavily on shad and I need to switch to crankbaits to turn their motors on. Pay attention to what techniques are working and don’t be afraid to try several different things to see what is best. Also, watch closely to see if a fish spits anything up when it comes to the surface – this can be the clue you need to really hone in on the hot pattern.

Mind the depth. A good smallmouth angler will know the exact depth at which fish are holding. Early morning and late evening often find smallmouth shallow while they hold in somewhat deeper water in the heat of the day. Locating and keeping track of the depth of actively feeding bass can also be indications of whether the fish shown on the sonar are smallmouth or something else.

Follow the lines. A good topographical map loaded onto your GPS can be your best friend when targeting smallmouth bass – especially on large reservoirs. Summertime bass will stack up at the bottom of rock piles and off of main lake points during the day and move on top during active feeding periods. Even on cloudy, cool days when fish feed all day, they will almost always be near to deep water where they can escape if necessary. Look for areas with steep drops or stair-stepped ledges where fish will hold. With a little practice, you can pick out likely spots before you ever leave the boat ramp and maximize your time on the water.

Pay attention to structure. Okay, so you’ve got the fish figured out. They are holding on the leeward side of main lake points where the depth changes from 15- to 24-feet…sometimes. Why are the fish on some of these spots but not all of them? The answer could be because the structure is different. On a given day or moon phase, fish will relate most closely to a particular type of structure. Generally, rocks are a good bet for mid-summer smallmouth, but they may key on sand, grass or even mud flats. Pay attention.

Time it just right. Much of the fishing for brown bass this time of year involves jigs or tubes and a big factor in the effectiveness of either is fall rate. Active fish will often inhale a lure before it reaches the bottom, but how they view that lure determines whether they will hit it or just watch it fall. A lighter weight lets your bait spend more time in the strike zone, but a heavier presentation often triggers a reaction bite as the jig zooms past a smallmouth’s line of sight. Try several different jighead weights before settling on one to determine which the fish prefer. Generally this will change throughout the day.

Color up. It is much too deep of a topic to get into here, but color matters. In general, use bright colors on bright days and dark colors on overcast days; use metallics in clear water and neons in stained water; pearl to white is good pretty much anytime. Sometimes glow colors pay big dividends. The bottom line is EXPERIMENT. The fish will tell you pretty quickly which colors they like best – especially if there are several people in the boat fishing different options. It is a good idea to fish three color combinations if possible to provide maximum contrast. For example, a Sapphire Shad Fuzz-E-Grub with a black Max Gap jig gives you blue, white and black – a deadly combination. For even more variability, try the X-Change Jig System and fine tune on the go.

Put your money on the line. There is nothing more frustrating than having everything right and losing the big one before you get it in the boat. One of the biggest problems contributing to smallmouth getting off the line is, fittingly, the line itself. Monofilament with too much stretch prevents anglers from setting the hook firmly when a smallmouth grabs a jig. Quality fluorocarbons, such as that made by Silver Thread, are a good low-stretch alternative in clear water. In stained to dirty water, it is tough to beat a good superline for sensitivity and great hook-sets.

Next time you hit the water in pursuit of smallmouth bass, follow these simple guidelines and catch more fish. Guaranteed.

via Lindy Tackle!

Fishing Topwater Baits For Smallmouth Bass

Though I like to fish, I LOVE bass fishing but REALLY LOVE smallmouth bass fishing, especially when it involves a topwater bite!

Fishing topwater baits for smallmouth bass reigns supreme with many bass anglers so I am sure you know what I mean …

When I watched this video on YouTube, I knew I had to share it via a post on my blog. 

Dave Mercer (Facts of Fishing TV Series) demonstrates how and where to use a one-two punch when fishing topwaters for smallies:

So if you like fishing for smallmouth bass, take a few moments and explore the approach Dave shows in the video:

Smallmouth Bass On Deep Ledges

We all make interpretations on how bass relate to cover but when you actually see it for yourself, it’s pretty amazing!

In the following video, the folks at Hook n’ Look Splash (the Stricker Family) show how fall smallmouth bass relate to a deep water ledge (25′ at shallow lip dropping to 40+’ at bottom) using a combo of underwater videography and advanced sonar technology…

Though they mentioned having already caught fish on the ledge lip, I’m not sure how they didn’t get right back to it after seeing that school of smallies!

Fishing Cover For Spring Smallies

Mention spring and sight fishing in the same sentence and most anglers vision targeting spawning smallmouth and largemouth bass around their beds…

Though sight fishing for spawners is a common spring approach, there’s another tactic that can be just as productive throughout the spring season…

Sight fishing visible structure for migrating smallies as they cruise the shallows during their spring rituals as explained by Doug Stange of InFisherman TV in the following video… 

Did you also notice his lure selection when targeting these active smallies?

Two rods rigged with bottom baits and two others tied with different sized jerkbaits for a mid-depth presentation…

One other rod I would have ready to go…

A 6’6″ medium action casting rod rigged with a 1/4 oz. to 3/8 oz. buzzbait…

Definitely an exciting way to take the numerous crusing smallies traversing shallow, cover-laden flats…

Swimbaits for Prespawn Smallmouths

What happens after the ice leaves our northern waters, a spring warming trend hits and the buds start popping on the trees?

Smallmouth bass head up from the depths and cruise the rocky flats searching for a meal to prepare for their time on the spawning beds...

As these hungry smallies roam the flats in search of their next meal in these ultra clear water environs, using a subtle moving presentation like a small paddletail swimbait rigged on a jighead can often reap big rewards.

Take a moment as the folks from W2F give a short on the water tutorial on how to locate and catch prespawn smallmouth bass with paddletail swimbaits...

Using Swimbaits to Catch Springtime Smallmouth Bass

In many northern lakes, smallmouth bass leave the deep water wintering holes and head up onto the rocky flats in search of food and spawning areas each spring. 

Before they start the annual spawning ritual, smallies with roam the flats searching for minnows and crawfish to chomp on in preparation for the spawn...

Using a subtle paddletail swimbait as a finesse type presentation that allows us to cover water efficiently can be one of the more productive methods for catching springtime smallmouths as bass pro Bill McDonald demos in the following video...

Saving Smallmouths Caught in Deep Water

During the summer and winter months, bass, especially smallmouth bass call deep water (> 30') cover and structure their home. 

When catching smallmouths from their deep water haunts, their swim bladder inflates making it almost impossible to swim upright. Since the smallies have no way to evacuate the bladder on their own, knowing how to properly "fizz" the bladder is key.

Take a moment and watch as bass conservationist Barb Elliot demonstrates proper fizzing technique...

The is another method for other bass that involves using a large fizz needle that enters the bladder just above its crushers at the back of the mouth that can be accessed via the link below:

Alternative Fizz Method

Different Topwater Method for Smallmouths

I love catching smallmouths! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll never reject a chance at catching any bass but to me there’s nothing like hooking into a smallmouth…

One of my favorite ways to catch smallies... any topwater bait!

Most of the time, I rely on floating minnow baits, prop lures, poppers and even small to medium buzzbaits but… 

I recently came across a video demonstrating another topwater method I really hadn’t considered for any bass… 

Fishing unweighted lizards rigged Texas-style and using a slow retrieve to keep the bait right under the surface… 

Give a look-see yourself…

One thing during the video got me thinking… 

Given the number of short strikes, I wonder what would happen if they stopped the bait when the fish was following… hmmmm 

Gonna have to check this method out the next time the conditions are right!

Hair Jigs and Smallmouth Bass

One of the oldest baits around doesn't look like much but when fished correctly can be a smallmouth killer even under the toughest of conditions...

Take a simple jighead typically ranging in size from 1/16 to 1/4 oz, tie on some animal or synthetic fur, adorn it with a trailer at times and out pops a piece of smallmouth candy, a simple hair jig...

Take a moment and watch the following video from the folks at InFisherman and see what I mean...

Favorite Smallmouth Baits and Colors

What are the best baits and bait colors for smallmouth bass?

Some might say it all depends on where you live and the types of smallmouth waters you fish.

Though bait and color selection is always somewhat subjective, there are some bait styles and colors that will catch smallmouth where ever you fish as long as the conditions are right.

Take a moment and hear what fishing legend Al Lindner has to say about his favorite baits and colors when chasing smallies across the U.S.

Though Al names his favorite bait brands, obviously similar baits from other manufacturers should work just as well! 

Give them a try!

Smallmouth Bass 101

A look at the biology of the smallmouth bass and tactics used to catch them from the folks at Lindner's Angling Edge.

For anyone who loves to catch "them ole brown fish" here's a video that's worth a look!