Once upon a time quite a while ago my dad and I took a trip down the New River and we caught over 200 smallies in 2 days and I was HOOKED! I love to catch smallmouths the only problem is that since then on my home lake the only time I ever catch a smallmouth, its by accident (fishing for largemouth) and it seems like whenever I go with purpose to catch smallmouth I don't even get a bite. I don't know if I'm going to the wrong spots or what! I'm 21 now and fish almost religiously and i would like to be able to increase my ability to catch smallies. I know we have a lot of smallmouth experts here and would love some advice. Fort Loudon lake in east Tennessee is my home lake. Really dirty water with lots of rocks. Please advise...Thanks for the help in advance.

Double tailed grubs on a jighead. Unnatural colors for more visibility

I'd say get some 3-4" tubes in black or darker colors if the water is dirty.  Use a 1/8 oz. weedless jighead inserted.  Find some rocky 8-20 ft water and go to work.  Let the tube hit bottom, then slowly drag it, pump it, crawl it, whatever they want but generally start SLOW.  You will lose tubes doing this, but it comes w. the territory.  Tubes are smallie catchers, so I think you will have the best chance this way....plus they work all year round.

Good Luck-Ben

1)Look for current. Whether it's from incoming streams or wind generated.

2)You could try just turning around and fishing off shore structure.

3)Chase offshore baitfish.

4)Look for offshore grass(sparse rather than thick grass(rock a big plus)).

5)Look for edges. Rock to sand. Shallow to deep.

6)Any of the above with deep water close by(primetime )

Listen to slingingsouthpaw. He has put you on the right track. Also, I am not sure how muddy this water is but, the muddy water will push them a little further toward the bank. Current, if you can find any is critical. Use white flukes, tubes in green pumpkin/red flake with a 1/8 or 1/4 jighead in 3 1/2". My best all around color, at least for here, is a dark melon/purple flake. Also, 5" grubs in the bluegill color are great. Zara Spooks, Spitn Images, are great in the early morning and late evening. Always have a white spinnerbait ready for these smallies as well.

Thanks for all the great advice guys. Now the only excuse i have for not catching more smallies is if they come unhooked.   Thanks a ton!

Chris

1)Look for current. Whether it's from incoming streams or wind generated.

2)You could try just turning around and fishing off shore structure.

3)Chase offshore baitfish.

4)Look for offshore grass(sparse rather than thick grass(rock a big plus)).

5)Look for edges. Rock to sand. Shallow to deep.

6)Any of the above with deep water close by(primetime )

That's great advice.

Check out what the FLW pro's do down there next week.  They'll let you know what the potential is for catching good smallies at what should be a prime time for them in TN.

I plan on trying to follow around a couple of them on Thursday if I can, I'm so pumped about the FLW coming here, i've already got my VIP tickets!

In warmer weather, fish the upwind shore for the smallies.  And try the inlets.  They are looking for a little cooler, better water than the largemouths.