I'm from Skaneateles, NY and all of my fishing (during the Summer) is for Smallmouth and Perch. I live fish almost exclusively. Anyone else fish live bait, or is this mostly a lure fishing Forum? What's most important for me is location, location, location. Once I've found the spots where they are, live bait will ALWAYS do the trick. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a live bait "snob" it's just that at this stage of my life casting is getting hard to do. Any tips on lake habitat...like from Spring through the Summer?

In the summer a do nothing baits like a senko or tube will do wonders for smallies.  Cast them out and spend 5 minutes to slowly reel them back in.  If you have the fish located like you mentioned this should work.  

As far as live bait, in my opinion, as long as you are not "gut" hooking fish then who cares?  When I see people using worms and gut hooking fish they don't intend on keeping, it makes me a bit upset.  

A barbless circle hook will do wonders to prevent such tragedies.  

Jeff

I use Matzuo, eye up circle hooks exclusively, in salt water and fresh water...#4's, #6's, and #10's for Smallmouth and Perch.  99 times out of 100 they hook in the corner of the fish's mouth, never in the gut.  The design of the hook prevents it...