hey guys im new to smallie fishing. im going up to schroon lake in a few weeks for a week and figure im gonna throw some live crawfish and maybe some super fluke jrs in basic minnow color. any suggestions and do the smallies like rocks more than weeds or it doesnt matter. i was under the assumption they liked the rock ledges cause of the crawfish. any help would be awesome. i htink im set but i could always use some more tackle! and i might night fish one night if i feel comfortable enough

Fish structure, not cover.

Lure/ bait suggestions:

Fat Ika; GYCB 5" Single Tail Grub (clear with silver flakes

and/or smoke); GYCB Hula Grub; 3 1/2" tube; Rapala X-Rap,

Husky Jerk or LC Pointer 100; 3/4 oz. Ledgebuster Single

Willow Blade Spinnerbait; Zara Spook or LC Sammy.

If you decide to fish live bait, shiners on a split shot rig rule!

I recommend using #6 Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks,

light line on spinning equipment, and a reel with a drag you

can trust.

8-)

Crayfish also thrive in the weeds. I think it was Kim Stricker who put together a video of the crayfish clinging to hydrilla. So tubes are a great all around bait regardless of structure/cover.

what kinda tubes do u guys recommend. not sure on the average size smallie up there. im sure its not too too big. and im thinking of getting some tubes in craw fish color. what kinda hooks do u guys use with em?

Go with green crawfish, or any dark colored tubes, I've had a lot of success with that color when fishing in the Adirondacks a few years back, we caught some big Northerns on them too while fishing for Smallies.

any special hooks or tubes from certain companies that u liked and inch wise?

any special hooks or tubes from certain companies that u liked and inch wise?

Gitzit makes the green craw tube, I think it's 3-1/2 inches

1/8oz to 1/4oz insider tube heads

Mizmo 3 1/2" Firefly: http://www.mizmo.com/smalljawscatalog.html

In relatively open water, Gamakatsu 1/8 oz inserted jig head. Otherwise, T-rigged, weedless. 1/8 oz bullet weight, 3/0 Gamakatsu or XPoint Offset Worm hook.

I think you will have much greater success with #4 or #6 line on spinning tackle. It really makes a difference.

8-)

it seems like uve got a good game plan but also try throughing spinners at structure tight to the shore line.  caught some of the biggest bass of my life doing that