Ultralight Smallmouth Tactics

[Chief Grey Bear]

I thought by the title you were going ULTRAligtht.

Most suggestings are just barely on the light side and really hovering in the medium range.

If you want to try ultralight use 4lb mono. Its tougher than you think. Although I did swtich over to a 8 lb test 3lb dia. braid a few years ago. But was mainly for the abrasion reasons. And in the long run it is hands down cheaper.

For the rod, I stick with a 5' or 5'6" ultralight spin. I have two Falcons and a couple of Loomis rods at the moment. Both have horsed some very respectable fish from the brush. And that is also where a small dia. braid helps. I also won't fish any rod without ceramic eyes. Especially on the tip. Lines will cut into the tip eye and create grooves that cut into your line.

I like smaller, lighter spinning reels. Somewhere in the 5oz range. I have tried a lot of different manufactures over the years and they have all worked about the same. I usually change out reels about every 5 years. I have used Pflueger, Shimano, Diawa, Shakespeare, and even a BPS rebuild that worked great.

Small rods mean small baits. If you are tossing a 1/8 oz anything like stated above, you are not fishing ultralight. On the smaller creeks I like to toss Rebel Deep Teeny Wee Craws, Super Teeny Wee R's, Wee Frogs and Crickhoppers. I love throwing a 4 inch texas rigged worm. A 1/16 oz jig head with a 2 or even 3 inch soft craw is deadly. Just about any 1/16 oz type jig is really good. Maribou, hair, what ever. And like you stated a Torpedo will get some action. But I would make it a Teeny Torpedo. Really to simplify, just downsize your baits.

But don't think just because you downsize your baits and your approach, your fish will be downsized too. Yes you will catch a bunch of smaller fish, but that is because you are fishing predominantly smaller water. But there are some very respectable fish in there. Don't be shocked when you pull some 2 maybe 3 pounders from those waters. Its a freaking blast on the small rod!

[Chief Grey Bear]

One thing I forgot to mention, I always upsize my rear hooks on those smaller baits. Most come with a #14 treble. I like to change to a #12 or more preferably a #10. You will loose a lot of your bigger fish with those smaller hooks. If you upsize to a #10 trebel, and I like to use gold, you will have a much better catch raito on those bigger fish.

[ollie]

I use to use only ultra light on the smaller creeks for bass. Thought I could save some money and use my trout rod set up for the bass. It works like Chief says and I have caught some nice size fish as well............... but I have also lost some bigger fish from being under gunned on my set up. I went up to 6' rod and 8# test. Also a larger size reel. Now I feel I can horse that fish or at least have better leverage when fighting it. I have more confidence now that I can land a bigger fish. Had too many heart breaks losing fish trying to go ultra small. Now my trout rod is a whole different story.

[Al Agnew]

To some extent it's what you get used to, and if you're used to true ultralight, sure you can probably handle fish as big as you're going to find. But...I dislike spinning tackle in general and have gone almost entirely to casting tackle. I was using a spinning rod this past week on my Minnesota trip, fishing tubes, because I could skip them under overhanging limbs and brush much easier than with casting tackle. And to me, that has become the ONLY reason to use spinning tackle when smallmouth fishing. I've made or acquired casting rods as light as a true light power, and was casting unweighted Superfluke Jr.s on my casting rods with distance and accuracy...and I was using a medium power casting rod to do it. With a quality casting reel, a medium power fast action casting rod will throw anything I want to use. My small creek rod is a 5.5 ft. light power that's probably about halfway between moderate and fast in action, with one of the small old green Curado reels on it, and 8 pound Yozuri line at the moment.

It just depends upon what you want to catch. I'll forego catching all the sunfish and 6 inch smallmouth in order to catch more of the bigger specimens in the stream, which is why I never go smaller on my lures than a Lucky Craft G-Splash or the smaller version of the Gunfish, and most of my topwater fishing on creeks is with a walk the dog lure about the size of the Sammy 85, either a modified Sammy or one of my homemade wooden ones. I don't have much trouble enticing a whole lot of 8-10 inchers on those lures, along with the bigger ones. The casting rod handles them all. I don't know about Chief's streams, but if I used the stuff he is advocating on mine, I'd be forever unhooking 4 inch longears and getting their fins stuck in my hands. No thanks.

And I've said it before...I hate leaving a lure in a fish more than just about anything. Sure, you can handle big fish on 4 pound line, but your margin for error is so much smaller. All it takes is a tiny nick in the line or a fish that decides to make a lunge into some brush. When I used to use that kind of tackle, I simply didn't cast into a lot of dangerous spots because I knew I'd never get a big one out of them.

[fishinwrench]

I'm surprised that you haven't mastered skipping with a BC, Al.

Not that you "should", but considering your preference for casting gear I'd expect you to have that down solid by now.

[Mitch f]

I'm surprised that you haven't mastered skipping with a BC, Al.

Not that you "should", but considering your preference for casting gear I'd expect you to have that down solid by now.

Somebody better tell Dion!!

[fishinwrench]

Somebody better tell Dion!!

Where do ya think his boys learned it ?

[Chief Grey Bear]

To some extent it's what you get used to, and if you're used to true ultralight, sure you can probably handle fish as big as you're going to find. But...I dislike spinning tackle in general and have gone almost entirely to casting tackle. I was using a spinning rod this past week on my Minnesota trip, fishing tubes, because I could skip them under overhanging limbs and brush much easier than with casting tackle. And to me, that has become the ONLY reason to use spinning tackle when smallmouth fishing. I've made or acquired casting rods as light as a true light power, and was casting unweighted Superfluke Jr.s on my casting rods with distance and accuracy...and I was using a medium power casting rod to do it. With a quality casting reel, a medium power fast action casting rod will throw anything I want to use. My small creek rod is a 5.5 ft. light power that's probably about halfway between moderate and fast in action, with one of the small old green Curado reels on it, and 8 pound Yozuri line at the moment.

It just depends upon what you want to catch. I'll forego catching all the sunfish and 6 inch smallmouth in order to catch more of the bigger specimens in the stream, which is why I never go smaller on my lures than a Lucky Craft G-Splash or the smaller version of the Gunfish, and most of my topwater fishing on creeks is with a walk the dog lure about the size of the Sammy 85, either a modified Sammy or one of my homemade wooden ones. I don't have much trouble enticing a whole lot of 8-10 inchers on those lures, along with the bigger ones. The casting rod handles them all. I don't know about Chief's streams, but if I used the stuff he is advocating on mine, I'd be forever unhooking 4 inch longears and getting their fins stuck in my hands. No thanks.

And I've said it before...I hate leaving a lure in a fish more than just about anything. Sure, you can handle big fish on 4 pound line, but your margin for error is so much smaller. All it takes is a tiny nick in the line or a fish that decides to make a lunge into some brush. When I used to use that kind of tackle, I simply didn't cast into a lot of dangerous spots because I knew I'd never get a big one out of them.

Why is it that anyone that doesn't do it like you, is doing it wrong?

Whether it is fishing or canoeing or what canoe they may own, what rod they use, what line they use, what bait they use, what presentation they use, whatever it is, if it is not how you do it, it seems it is wrong and won't work.

I can count on one hand the number of fish I have lost on 4lb test. And if you are catching nothing but 4 inch perch and 6 in smallmouth, you are fishing the wrong water. I know you are better fisherman than that and I know you know how to read water. You don't have to go the the very extrem to make a point.

I'll put my fishing style against yours in a friendly manner on any stream any time. I'm not saying I am going to smoke your butt by any means, but I think I can hold my own.

Lets do one on your side, one in the middle and one over here. I'll let you pick all three.

[fishinwrench]

I think it goes without saying that any experienced anglers "recommendations" are going to be tilted towards their own "style".

What's wrong with that?

If I was to feed this inquiry then you're ALL doing it wrong for not leaving the "gear" at home and using a flyrod.

[rps]

Kyle,

This Spring I made a Ned rig rod from the following components. I found it to be perfect for the little bait, yet strong enough to deal with the fish. Think about building one.

BSV3XG-20 1 Pacific Bay Black Spin/Cast Guide BSV3XG 20MM 1.63 1.63 Yes BSV3XG-10 1 Pacific Bay Black Spin/Cast Guide BSV3XG 10MM 0.88 0.88 Yes BSV3XG-6 1 Pacific Bay Black Spin/Cast Guide BSV3XG 06MM 0.73 0.73 Yes BSV3XG-4 5 Pacific Bay Black Micro Guide BSV3XG 04MM 0.70 3.50 Yes BFM3XT-4-5 1 Pacific Bay Black Micro Top BFM3XT #4(5) 1.69 1.69 Yes TXT12-980-R 1 Texalium Tubing 12" - .980 ID/Red 21.98 21.98 Yes GH-950 BC 1 EVA Butt Cap for 0.980 Texalium Tubes 2.95 2.95 Yes GH-980 TR 1 Trim/Winding Check for 0.980 Texalium Tubes 1.25 1.25 Yes CS722-MHX 1 MHX Cast/Spin 6'0" 1pc. 6-12lb B0.452 T5 Slate 44.00 44.00 Yes AJ454-B 1 PAC BAY SINGLE FOOT FLAT WIRE HOOK KEEPER BLACK 0.60 0.60 Yes