Smallmouth tips?

[StriperflyRye]

Trout & stripers, got them more or less figured out. Smallies? Not at all. Well, catch them all the time in rivers when I'm trying for trout, but when I try to catch them on purpose in still water no luck. There's a small lake near me reported to be excellent for smallmouth and I've hit it twice from the float tube to no avail. Get nothing but perch. Can anyone help with some general info about this mysterious creature? Seasons? Flies? Weather? Depth? Thanks!

[jsynnott]

I have found that fishing a wolly bugger in brighter colors (white, yellow, chartruse) with a tungsten bead/cone slow on the bottom- not so slow that it hangs up, but bounced is a great method for smallies. We have a run near me in the Spring that allows me to site cast to them and watch the reactions. I know their a little different on the spawning beds but the method works well in still water as well. I tie on a bigger hook (8) and give it a long maribou tail.

[dudley]

I have found that fishing a wolly bugger in brighter colors (white, yellow, chartruse) with a tungsten bead
These are good colors in clear water, in stained water you would want to use more muted colors.
When I fish the Connecticut River my fly of choice is a bead head 'bugger in gold, brown and yellow.

Instead of matching the hatch, you are matching the water

[Jed]

This predator. They hide behind rocks, under trees, near lilly pads or the grasses of the shore line. Wooly Buggers are good. Mickey Finns and Hornbergs work as well. They are not trout so gaudy colors are not a turn off.

jed

[confluential]

Little clousers in and around rocks look like little crawdads. Mmmmm....

I've also found that even before they're in season, hopper imitations twitched on top will get you a good "wishful thinking" strike. I like the Burkholder's Club Sandwich.

[teflon_jones]

It's all about the topwater with smallies up until just after the spawn, which is usually early June up north or late May in MA or other more southern areas.

If you're getting perch then you're fishing much too fast. Try something unweighted and fish it slow.