| There are several proven artificial lures one can | | | | forage is shad you should select a fat crankbait |
| use to catch Smallmouth Bass. | | | | that is silver. |
| The key concept you need to remember is that | | | | Match the bait to the forage fish. |
| Smallmouth Bass live and feed towards the | | | | Smallmouth Bass are a predator that likes to use |
| bottom. Top running baits like spinnerbaits or | | | | rocks as an ambush point. You need to position |
| poppers will not be effective. | | | | your casts so the crankbaits will swim directly |
| In my opinion the crankbait is the most effective | | | | near the rocks you have chosen as a likely |
| lure for Smallmouth Bass. They key thing to | | | | ambush point. |
| remember is choosing the correct crankbait. For | | | | The thing to remember when fishing a crankbait |
| this artificial lure to work effectively it needs to | | | | is that it is a lure designed for active fish. |
| have a retrieve depth at or near the bottom of | | | | Crankbaits work best in early morning and near |
| the area you are fishing. Optimally the bait will | | | | dusk. They are also more effective lures in the |
| occasionally bounce off the bottom while | | | | spring and fall than they are during the dog days |
| retrieved. | | | | of summer. |
| When you buy a crankbait you will notice that | | | | You need to keep your retrieve fast when using |
| they are generally classified as shallow runners or | | | | this lure. You should move you rod tip up and |
| deep runners. The running depth is determined by | | | | down slightly during your retrieve to alter the |
| the body shape and the size and angle of the | | | | depth and direction of the lure. Remember fish do |
| plastic lip located near the eye hole. | | | | not often swim in a direct straight line, nor should |
| Shallow running baits generally run at three to five | | | | your lure. |
| feet, deep running baits between ten to fifteen | | | | If you are fishing a known spot to hold |
| feet. The speed of your retrieve will alter the bait | | | | Smallmouth Bass and are having little success you |
| somewhat as well, a faster retrieve equates to a | | | | can assume the fish are not very active. |
| deeper running depth. | | | | In this situation you will need to change your |
| Your other primary concern in selecting a | | | | approach by switching lures. The jig and pig |
| crankbait is matching the forage of the fish. When | | | | combination is excellent for these situations. |
| fishing a river you will want to keep your bait | | | | A jig and pig is simply a weighted jig head with a |
| small, in lakes you can use larger baits. | | | | piece of colored pork rind attached to it. You can |
| If the primary forage is crayfish you should select | | | | also use a plastic twister tail or other plastic |
| a crankbait that compares to a crayfish in both | | | | attachment with equal effectiveness. I do |
| color and shape. In lakes where the primary | | | | however like contrast when using this bait. |