Small mouth bass are popular game fish, known for hard strikes and tenacious fights. Unlike their cousins the large mouth bass, which lurk in the shallows of lakes and ponds waiting for prey to happen by, small mouths are more predatory and frequently cruise streams, rivers and lakes with current to catch their prey. Several different lures work well in this environment.
Crank Baits
Crank baits work well to catch small mouth bass. Use crank baits that average 2 inches or less to accommodate the smaller mouth of this species. Use deep-diving, dark-colored crank baits that hug and bounce along the bottom to attract attention. Also try trolling crank baits behind boats
Soft Baits
During the summer season, small mouth bass often feed on crayfish, which are abundant at this time of year. Try working soft plastic baits that resemble crayfish along the bottom. Bounce the lure occasionally to stir up silt from the bottom and imitate a real crayfish swimming. Plastic worms also work well on small mouth bass. Rig your line with either a Carolina or a Texas rig, and work the lure through structure or along the bottom with a twitching motion.
Jigs
Jigs are particularly effective at catching small mouth bass. Try lightweight jigs with the hair skirt between 1/8 and 1/4 ounce in weight. Dress the jigs with pork rinds or soft baits, such as grubs, and have twister tails, in colors such as white, yellow, chartreuse, blue or purple. Work these lures with a pumping action across rocky bottoms or through weed beds. Also try float fishing jigs under bobbers during winter months.
Spinner Baits
The flash and sound that spinner baits produce also work to generate a strike from smallies, especially in murky water conditions. Use smaller spinner baits with No. 0 or 1 hook sizes. Fish spinner baits in shallow conditions around 2 feet below the surface near fallen logs, rock piles or other structure.
Swim Baits
During both early spring and late fall, when crayfish populations are lower, small mouth bass often focus on minnows for food. Small swim baits that imitate minnows or other bait fish can prove a good choice at these times. Work swim baits through grassy areas and near structures where bait fish are likely to congregate. Try altering your retrieves from fast to slow, and see what works best.
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