Smallie's

[Iceman12]

Just wondering how people fish for them mostly? Is it the same as you would for Largemouth? I might fish for them this weekend on Vermilion and wondering what the go to bait for them is. Thanks

[Deitz Dittrich]

The big V is one of my fave lakes to fish. This time of the year, it would be tough to beat a hard plastic jerkbait. Like a husky jerk. That would be what I would start with.. I have also pounded the smallies on a #3 gold blade brown sqirl tail mepps spinner.

Look for them on rock islands and rock flats(pretty much the whole lake!)

Have fun and tell us how you do!

[LEECH21]

I pretty much fish them the same way as I do for largemouth. But,I do tend to downsize my lure selection a bit and look for more natural colored baits.

[freebledsoe]

Tube jigs have always worked well for me, especially in the spring.

[JPSavage]

I have found the smallie fishing to be quite different than largemouth.......Rocks , gravel, wood, and some weeds , but not your typical inside or outside weedline, or slop fishing.....Smallies roam far more and suspend off deep water breaks frequently.....After spawn most smallies will be relating more to the deep break than most other locations........I normally downsize on plastics , but, not as much on husky jerks or topwater.....Favorite baits are 3-4 inch grubs, tubes, husky jerks and a skitter prop.....Just my thoughts.

[musky hunter]

You've got options with smallmouth. My favorite in summer, the rubber frog. I just love it when the suck in a rubber frog. But it depends on the situation. I've caught many on jigs and minnows while fishing for walleyes, particularly around structure. And throwing stickbaits works well too. Depends on the situation, vegatation, current, water clarity, water depth, and time of year. Fall fish are usually deep, spring and summer, shallow. And I've caught a bunch, and the biggest, while throwing musky baits. But I cna't offer any Vermillion advice, never fished it.