Slow Plastics Down Deep for Fall Smallmouth
Once Indian summer gives wat to fall, smallmouth head deep and so should you.
by Craig RitchieI'm the first to admit that summer is my favourite time of year to catch smallmouth bass, and especially when fishing with surface baits. There's just something magical about smallmouth and topwater fishing that sets my heart racing like nothing else.
By early October smallmouth begin to concentrate on deep structure near between their summer hunting grounds and the deeper open lake spaces where they'll pass the winter. Sharp drop-offs that connect deep water to shallow areas are key spots where bass will congregate. When they're hungry, they can move just a short distance to find prey in areas from 10 to 20 feet deep. But when a storm comes through, they similarly don't need to go far to find deeper, calmer water. Steeply breaking shoreline drops, saddles connecting islands to shorelines or groups of islands together, and shoals in open water all become key spots, especially if they offer direct access to the main lake basin and span depths of 10 to 40 feet or more.
In the early part of the fall smallmouth will still be aggressive, making big, easy meals the order of the day. Slowly dragging a big tube - either on a jighead or as the business end of a Carolina rig - is tough to beat since the bait provides a thick, enticing profile yet remains neutrally buoyant enough to allow a gentle presentation. The idea is to drag the tube along as if you're trying to sneak it by without being seen. Don't bounce it up and down, try to slide it along the bottom like a real crayfish. Don't worry, the bass will find it.
To really juice your game, try giving your tube a little extra pizzazz by inserting a piece of an Alka-Selzer tablet into the bait. As it dissolves in the water, it will leave an enticing trail of bubbles behind - a unique little extra that can entice even the most reluctant bass to give it a smack.
There are literally hundreds of soft plastic tubes available to anglers today, in salted and non-salted styles, and in a rainbow of colors. My all-time favourite remains the original 3.5-inch Berkley Power Tube in dull finishes like smoke gold, breen green, and watermelon vapor. The original power tubes are readily available anywhere, they're durable, and they simply catch a lot of fish. I'll fish them on medium action spinning gear, using a longer rod in the eight foot range with a light tip, which I find gives me just a bit more control in working the bait.
While it's still hard to beat the thrill of fishing topwaters for smallmouth on a hot summer evening, fall is the time to catch those photo album fish. Fish deep and slow and you could just have some of the best days of the year.