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SmallMouth Bass

Many claim the Smallmouth bass is the toughest and hardest fighting fish to catch. The difficulty of catching a Smallmouth is what makes it such an exciting fish to pursue. Unlike the Largemouth bass, the Smallmouth prefers to swim in cool water. However, just like the Largemouth, the Smallmouth prefers clean water. In fact, the survival of a Smallmouth is greatly dependent on a clean body of water. If factors aren't just right, the Smallmouth will move to another habitat. Crayfish are one of the Smallmouth's favorite prey. However, they also eat minnows in the spring and insects during hatches. Once the water gets too cold, a Smallmouth will feed much less. This is why the best water temperatures for catching Smallmouth fish range between 47 and 78 degrees. Smallmouth can be caught with artificial lures, however the lures must be smaller than those used for the Largemouth. This is because the Smallmouth have smaller mouths than the Largemouth. Crankbaits, soft plastics, topwaters, spinnerbaits, jigs, and soft baits are effective when fishing for Smallmouth. The size of the lure ranges from 1/8 oz. to 1/2 oz. Lines ranging from six to ten pounds are sufficient when catching Smallmouth, with the eight pound line being most versatile. For those that catch Smallmouth in lakes, they can be found in the deeper water once temperatures rise. In rivers, the smallmouths do not like muddy bottoms. They prefer hard rock bottoms. During cooler spring weather, Smallmouths can be found in ledges and rocky shallow pools. Just like in lakes, Smallmouths will go deeper down once a river temperature warms up. When fishing Smallmouth, be prepared to fight. Many anglers say that pound for pound, the Smallmouth bass is the toughest fish to catch. This is why they are one of the most popular fish. In many ways, the Smallmouth are similar to the Largemouth bass. Even though it's difficult to catch them, it is still a very fun thing to do. Once the Smallmouth is hooked, the angler is in for quite a ride! Overall, Smallmouth bass are easy to find in the right conditions. With a little luck and a lot of patience, Smallmouth bass can be one of the funnest fish to catch. One of the main things to remember when catching Smallmouth is that the more it is done, the easier it becomes. Make sure to enjoy yourself out there!

Hottest crankbait style, with a slim waistline, a tight wiggle and a stump-bangin coffin lip! The slender slab-sided profile and the unique angled coffin lip together produce a tight shimmy and the ability to bounce easily off obstructions. A great shad imitator, equipped with premimum hook.

LargeMouth Bass

The Largemouth bass, a species of fish that is not an actually bass, is a very tough fish to catch. It is by far one of the most sought after fishes, and can be caught with either live or artificial bait. For those looking to catch Largemouth bass, they can be found near warm water. However, it becomes less active at higher temperatures. Many anglers use fishing lures to catch Largemouth bass. For example, one might use crank bait, plastic worm, or spinner bait to catch one. They are a very popular fish to sport, mainly because they are not harmed in catch and release situations. The Largemouth bass can be found in clear water. Also, because they are in deep water during the day, the best time to attempt to fish them would be at night, when they come up to the shallows to feed. Time is another important factor when catching Largemouth bass. They can also be caught in deep water with plastic worms or jigs. The heaviest Largemouth bass ever caught weighed in at 22 pounds. However, in the north, the bass rarely will weigh more than ten pounds. In the south, the Largemouth bass could weigh more than twenty pounds. They can be found in places such as ponds, sloughs, lakes, reservoirs, and backwaters. Largemouth bass usually live for more than fifteen years! Arguably, the best location to fish for Largemouth bass is Florida. They grow fastest and live longest in the Sunshine State. The diet of a Largemouth consists mostly of fish. However, they also eat frogs and tadpoles. The best temperature of water when fishing for Largemouth bass is between 55 and 75 degrees. In most places in the United States, that water temperature occurs from early April to June, and from September to October. Catching a Largemouth in the summer can be very difficult, because once the water temperature reaches 80 degrees, the bass move further down in an attempt to stay cool. Largemouth can also be caught in the wintertime when ice fishing. Many anglers that use live bait tend to have better luck than those that use large boxes of artificial lures. Catching Largemouth bass is very difficult. It is a temperamental fish, and one must be patient if success is the goal. To become an expert at catching them, learn the habits of the fish, and fish as much as possible.

Strike King Premier Pro-Model Spinnerbaits, a favorite of the 2001 and 2005 Bassmaster Classics? champion Kevin VanDam. Especially deadly in hot, muggy weather when retrieved slowly over open weedbeds and other vegetation.