Let's take a look at some of the common misconceptions about smallmouth bass...

 

 

Good one sir. 

Great info @Glenn  as usual. No smallies in my area but I suspect the info you’re sharing apply to LMB as well 

Definitely agree with most of that, I never really fished a hair jig so I can't speak to that, but the rest of it pretty well reflects my own experiences too, great stuff.

 

    The imported / invasive gobies of several types have made MY waters FANTASTIC  year around food sources......SOO......The  "  I will go anywhere, anytime  for a UNLIMITED supply of food. "

 That condition is the reason why river &  local bays can be so erratic compared to the LMB & solitary life in & under .......MAN MADE structures. Boats, docks, Marina covered docks, boathouses and bridges.  Natural covered areas. 

However N J has several reservoirs which are stream & spring fed. ONLY LMB and shad were put into it.  Result is a bass that MUST form swimming  schools & herd the bait into a feeding ball or cove.  Result is the LMB look very much like HUGE male smallies. The exercise alters them to be like a smallie. So the land & water must & do determine the fishing patterns that produce the 5 fish limits.  Without constant monitoring of fish numbers every year ?  The bass eat the limited baitfish stocks up. Then the complaints start & restocking begins.  Again

 

 

Glenn is on the mark like usual, where I fish every water body has both LM & SM. We have caught both species from the same structure at times, I have however only ever seen other SM chase one thats hooked up to the boat as we reel it in. They are usually the same size class and veer off when they see us standing and the boat. Course this signals that a bite is on and there are others to catch while they are attacking balls of shad right in casting range.  

3 minutes ago, Tatsu Dave said:

Glenn is on the mark like usual, where I fish every water body has both LM & SM. We have caught both species from the same structure at times, I have however only ever seen other SM chase one thats hooked up to the boat as we reel it in. They are usually the same size class and veer off when they see us standing and the boat. Course this signals that a bite is on and there are others to catch while they are attacking balls of shad right in casting range.  

I was reeling in a smallie once and a bunch of spotted bass were chasing and following it. Then a 5 lb class largemouth came into the mix and scared all the spots away, trying to get the lure from the SM. It was wild 

I have seen almost every type of fish do that pull the lure away from the hooked fish.  I or 2 have become a 2 fish reel in.

That was a good video 

I chase smallies multiple times a week up here in Northern Idaho and I think this is the best video Ive seen in a hot minute about fishing for them...

Wow!  That's quite the compliment!  Thank you, I appreciate that.

 

I work hard on each and every video to bring you guys the best information I can.  I don't just launch the boat and say, "Ummm...what video am I going to make today? Maybe something will happen...." I wish it were that easy! But the reality is, each video represents several weeks of work.

 

So, I appreciate it when you guys recognize the work I do.  I makes it all worthwhile!

 

Very nice video.  I really like the point that moving smallies are following baitfish while smallies feeding on gobies and crawfish are more likely to stay in one area.  This definitely matches my experience.

 

On a side note BASS Times had an article a year or so ago that had Feider, Gustafsson, and some other BASS smallie guys discuss myths of smallmouth.  It was a great article and some of the same points were discussed in this video.