This Saturday at 5:30 A.M im going to be leaving for a smallmouth fishing trip on a lake that is about 2 hours from my house, but i dont ever go there because other lakes are closer to me and are mainly largemouth lakes. I've fished for largemouth my whole life, and love it, but i have never went fishing for smallmouth. I was just wondering what the basic rod and reel setups you guys use for them and what lures and techniques work best for you guys for hauling up those fiesty bronze fish.  ;D

thanks ;D

I like to use lighter equipment and Crankbaits, hula grubs, tubes, dropshot, and jerkbaits/ topwater .There also is  alot of lures that work good too. Use light line fish 2 times deeper than regular largemouth and have fun.

I fish daily for smallmouths. all black 5 inch senkos rigged weightless have been really producing for me this year. bleeding bait tubes by strike king have also been a go to lure of mine this year. and you can never go wrong with a jig with a crayfish trailer. hope i was able to give you some good go to lures.    good luck

I fish a medium power/ fast action spinning rod becasuse we have big smallmouth here in the Midsouth. Generally I think you'll have more fun fishing a medium light/ fast action rod, it's more fun if you're catching bass under 5 lbs.

Line size matters. I recommend 6 lb diameter line, I fish 4 & 6 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid.

I fish live shiners on #6 circle hooks on the Tennessee River. On Bull Shoals Lake I fish artificials: Lucky Craft Pointers, Rogues, a Rapala Husky Jerk, baby diaper yellow Gitzits and lizards C-rigged. Probably the most popular baits are grubs.

Smallmouth suspend around structure, not cover. Concentrate on structure in or very near deep water. Generally, I would recommend primary points, not coves.

All of the above is good information, but just a word of warning -- if you have never fished for Small Mouth, get ready for some of the best action on the water.  Pound for pound these suckers will make your eyes light up -- good luck and give us a report when you get back.