badgerboyng

I know that smallmouth come into the bays during May/June, but where do you find them in July (before they become pelagic)? Also, where do you find them in late fall? Back in the bays? What month in fall do they become easy to catch again?

@Bluebasser86 That is a beautiful smallie - nice work! I'm honestly surprised that something as small and simple as a Ned rig can catch bass that big. Thanks for sharing. What's the best way to retrieve a Ned rig? Drag it, swim it just off the ground, high in the column, deadstick? I'll look into slider jigs too.

@the reel ess 50 pound braid seems overkill to me, at least in WI. Is it really necessary to go beyond 30? I am definitely going to use this for frogging, so it seems like I'll need braid. @frosty What rod do you use? The micro guides on the Avid X are very tiny... but I'll take your word for it!

I respect the simplicity of your approach. I was just wondering if one rig was noticeably better than the other, but it seems like bass love the sight of a worm on the bottom - period. There are many ways to accomplish this, and you might be right about the fish not caring much.

I suppose it's because I constantly hear people saying that you need fluorocarbon... especially in clear water. I'm not sure if it's true or if it's just a marketing scheme.

I'm about to seal the deal on a St Croix Avid X Slop n' Frog rod (7'4, H, F). I live in Wisconsin and I'm planning on using it for 4 things: occasionally dragging football jigs, frequently pulling swim jigs (1/4 - 3/8oz) through weeds, pitching beavers, and frogging for largemouth. I'm having a hard time deciding between heavy fluorocarbon (something like 17lb Sunline sniper) and braid (maybe 30-40lb power pro). Since I fish in natural northern lakes, I'm afraid that I won't get as many hits on braid. I don't think a fluoro leader would work, either, since the rod has micro guides. Although if I'm pitching, it might be possible to have a shorter leader that doesn't enter the guides? What do you guys suggest?

Thank you everyone for the replies! So far it seems like shaky heads should maintain bottom contact, whereas Ned rigs can swim just above the ground if needed. It makes sense that shaky heads are better in tournaments, since the trailer is larger. Cgolf, that's a good point about it being difficult to use a Ned rig in Wisconsin lakes, since many of our lakes are so weedy. My friend slayed a 5lb smallmouth on the Wisconsin River with a Ned rig last year, though. I think I'll reserve these rigs for river situations.

That makes sense to me. I suppose if the days are getting shorter, then they have a smaller window of feeding time. And with it being the hottest month, they have to eat even more than before. I haven't fished for smallies during the peak heat of summer yet, but I'll have to try it out! Up here the hottest month is July.

When/where do you use each one? Is one more effective than the other? I know that Ned rigs generally have lighter jig heads and smaller worms than shaky heads. I fish natural lakes in Wisconsin, so I'm thinking that I'd be better off using small Ned rigs. What do you think?

Thank you both for the responses. I think I'll avoid Sturgeon Bay in the summer and focus on rivers instead. Further North, do you have any recommendations for smaller rivers or streams that are good for smallies? Preferably in Central Wisconsin, because I have a cabin just north of the Dells.

I live in Wisconsin, and want to get into smallmouth fishing. From what I've heard Sturgeon Bay and the Wisconsin River are both great for smallmouth. From what I understand, the best time to fish for smallmouth in the bay is during May, right before the spawn. After that, fishing for smallmouth gets tough out there. The thing is, I have school until mid June, and I'm afraid that by the time I get up to the bay, it'll be too late to catch them in abundance. I would appreciate any knowledge about when smallmouth typically spawn in the bay, and how/where to catch them in the bay after the spawn. Does it really become significantly more difficult to catch them after the spawn? I can also fish the Wisconsin River, if the smallmouth are more active / easier to catch there in the summer. Again, I would appreciate any knowledge about how smallmouth behavior changes from month to month from May-September in the river. I'm wondering if smallmouth scatter after the spawn. If that's the case, then I imagine it would be difficult to catch them in the bay (because they could move into the depths of Lake Michigan), but it might be easier to catch them in the river, since they are confined to a smaller area. Any knowledge, insight, or tips would be greatly appreciated!