huskybass

Don't overlook a zoom super fluke or super fluke Jr in pearl white. My go to bait for big smallmouth.

It really depends upon what bait you are using. I use baits from 1/16 oz. up to 4 ounces. Different rods/reels and lines for different purposes. A great all around smallmouth setup would be a St. Croix Avid 6'6" mediium rod paired with a Team Daiwa Sol 2000 and 8 lb. excalibur line. You could fish many different types of baits with this setup.

The 30.35 lb. limit was anchored by a 7.15 lb. lunker. That means their other 4 smallmouth AVERAGED about 5 pounds 13 ounces. Simply amazing.

The nicest spinning reel I have ever used is a Team Diawa Sol 2000 or 2500. Match it up with a 6'6" St. Croix Legend Tournament medium power rod and you will have a GREAT smallmouth combo.

- As long as the fish are in 10' of water or less, I would go with a soft jerkbait. In deeper water, I would use a tube or spider grub. Light line and long casts though are the key, I think.

I only fished Crescent Lake once, I caught this funny looking green thing. I remember catching a handful of very ordinary Smallmouth there as well.

Fished Maine the first week of June. Caught many real nice smallmouth on spinnerbaits and various soft plastics up to 5 pounds 5 ounces. Water temps ranged from 56 to 71 degrees. Hit 16 lakes over the 9 day period. Here are some photos from the week.

What baits do you prefer for smallmouth in waters that are extremely clear? The reservoir I fish is clear enough to see bottom in 20' on a calm day. The forage base is rainbow smelt and crayfish primarily, with some yellow perch mixed in. I have a handful of favorite baits, but I am always open to new ideas. Thanks in advance.

I got this 5-1 Smallmouth this afternoon in about 10' of water off a steep drop in Massachusetts. The bait was a Spider Jig fished on 6 lb. fluoro line and a Medium light 6'6" St. Croix Legend Tournament Rod paired with a TD Tierra 2000 reel. She was released right after the photo was taken.

Open the Maine Atlas, pick a lake. Find a rocky shoreline. Throw hard and soft jerkbaits, tubes and spider jigs on 6 or 8 lb. line. You WILL catch smallmouth.

Super Fluke weightless on 6 lb. test. Best of luck.

Great trip and report. Congrats.

Beautiful fish and photos as always Chris. Congrats.

Here's another beast at 5 pounds and only 19" that a friend caught, very thick fish.

Very nice smallie, congrats. I would not be surpised if she went 6 pounds.