Tryin to figure out deep water smallies on a natural lake. Any suggestions what to look for? Temps, depth, water clarity, avalible forage?

No replies?? Must be one of those best kept secrets in the smallmouth world;))

Had a great day a couple of weeks ago:  http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/141661-pickwick-719-720/#entry1577941

More information about the body of water you're fishing would be good. Also time if year you will be there. I look for transitional ledges where fish have immediate access to deeper water that are near the highways and byways forage travels. Less than 20 I've had good luck crawling a swim bait like a bb1. Deeper I opt for a football jig with rage craw.

First thing you need to figure out is your FF. I'm assuming you have a decent quality graph and that it is set-up correctly. If not, then that is step one. This time of the year, the only thing you must figure out is where the bait fish are. Targeting large schools of bait - on your graph - will get you a lot closer to the smallmouths in your ecosystem. They will be deep (usually 15' - 40' depending on the body of water). They will be relating to structures such as humps, points, drop offs and/or deep water channels. They will be following the bait fish. Don't go looking for bass. Look for bait. You'll find the bass. Then the ball is in your court.

Depending on the water you fish, fishing deep isn't always the answer. I fish a deep natural lake filled with trout, perch, pumpkinseed, rock bass and crayfish. More often than not, the fish I catch are found between 3 to 15 FOW. If smallies have no reason to go deep, they won't. There might not always be a cloud of baitfish to find on your sonar, so you have to think outside the box sometimes.

 

I would usually start with main lake or secondary points with rock and/or weeds on it. The bigger the boulders, the better (in my experience anyways). Start fishing for active fish first with reaction-type lures like poppers, jerk baits, spinnerbaits, etc and comb through the area. If you don't get anything, then it's time to slow down and fish the same area with a jig & craw, tube or a drop shot. Work the contours and let the fish tell you what's going on that particular day.

Smallies in the summertime usually stay between that 10-30ft range. They stay as deep as where the thermocline starts in any given lake. A good graph is the key to targeting deep water smallmouth. Mainly I look for drop offs where bait congregates and where bait is near the thermocline. Also near really deep weed edges and rock ledges are great also. Then again, you are in a natural lake. Not all smallies in natural lakes go deep, some do stay shallow depending upon the forage. If the forage is there, then the fish should be too!