All jokes aside, I need help finding small smallmouth. I'm stuck from shore, and the majority of fish seem around 15-18 inches where I am, and I'd like to throw one in my fish tank (yes, I know it is a legally grey area). Do the 12 inchers go to seperate spots than their older siblings? Thanks!

Downsize your lures. 

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

Downsize your lures. 

Yup; try small inline spinners of different colors, green pumpkin TRD on a Ned head, small crankbaits, small white flukes

Throw a 3" Yum Dinger or a Z-Man Hula Stickz wacky style on a split shot rig. You will get all the dinks you can handle.

How to catch small smallmouth?

 

Just Follow Me .....

You must have a pretty big tank if you're looking to put a 12" Smallie in there. 

 

I would set set a tank up close to what their environment is like. 

 

Personally I would not do it. I don't see anything good coming out of it. But, I'm not a marine biologist. I know it would not be in my best interest to do. 

 

But it I do hope you have fun with your expirement. Good luck. 

Where are you fishing? I'm goin there next weekend! 

 

Try a smaller lure in shallow water or where the current isn't so strong. Ned rig, or a 3-4" stick bait near grass or brushy/wood cover usually works. Of course, I've had 5" smallmouth chase down and hammer 6" senkos twitching them in heavy current, so they'll try to eat just about anything. 

1/8oz Roostertail seems to really catch the eye to tiny bass for me. 

night crawlers on a split shot

8 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

1/8oz Roostertail seems to really catch the eye to tiny bass for me. 

2” curly tail on 1/16 oz head with a very small safetypin spinner (or just a couple beetlespins).

small smallie magnet. Also the smaller rebel wee craw

I would say go fish in calm coves that are close to points with good current (where the larger fish will be).  That's where I most often catch tiny smallmouth.  They seem to retreat to calm, shady areas.

Small squarebill cranks catch a ton of dinks along with big fish in my local river.

Fly rod with a small woolybugger

On 8/29/2018 at 3:46 PM, webertime said:

Fly rod with a small woolybugger

This will catch virtually everything that swims. 

On 9/11/2018 at 12:24 AM, Turkey sandwich said:

This will catch virtually everything that swims. 

Yup.

try dropshotting a 4 inch skinny plastic worm

Strike King bitsy bug tubes on split shot or Mojo rigs