Downrigging for Smallmouth
Downrigging for Smallmouth
The depth-locater's display started to pace up a digital stairway, outlining a large shoal. Black plumes of baitfish swirled and drifted over it like puffy clouds across an LCD sky. The first smallmouth bass was half-way to the surface from 60 feet (18 m) below before the rod-tip rebounded from the strike. The second fish hammered a silver spoon and accelerated too, while the first fish cleared the water. Smallmouth seem to have no idea where water stops and sky begins. Gravity is the only restraint on an indignant 6-pound (2.7 kg) bronzeback. My companions hooted and hollered as they each played a fish.
Most anglers never see smallmouth the size of the two above because they rely on common methods and fish locations. This works fine in remote lakes with abundant, naive fish. On hard-fished waters, however, big, educated bass are harder to catch. Successful anglers are always trying new methods and locations. Although a standard technique of trout and salmon seekers, downrigging is relatively new to smallmouth anglers. By presenting lures at controlled depths, though, it also opens deep water to bass fishing. Broad expanses and steep shorelines can be effectively searched for fish. Most big bass I find occur as singles or pairs. Connecting consistently with them by casting, jigging, or other traditional fishing presentations is almost impossible.
Timing is important to knowing when and where to use downriggers. Until early summer, smallmouth tend to frequent water less than 25 feet (7.6 m) in depth. In lakes with deeper water, by mid-June some bass venture offshore to feed on smelt, cisco, emerald shiners, juvenile perch, and emerging insects. As summer progresses, more bass move deeper. They avoid angling pressure, and grow big, even in heavily fished waters. They're prime downrigging candidates.
I use two approaches. The first is to explore open water. On large lakes with pelagic forage, bass might be anywhere, although they tend to concentrate on top of deep shoals, above breaks to deep water, between narrows, and off long, sloping points. I seldom find them deeper than 60 feet (18 m), and more often in the 20- to 45-foot (6 to 13.7 m) range. Concentrate downrigging lures at these areas and depths.
Where to fish
Area 1 is a good location for smallmouth chasing smelt or cisco. It's also handy to a broad flat. Area 2 combines many foraging opportunities. Bass can move up around the rocky island for crayfish in the evening and early morning, and back down into deep water for smelt during the day. The prime attraction at area 3 is the deep cut between the island and the point.
Area 4 might hold bass anytime, but deep points are often evening feeding locations for schools of cisco that rise from deep water to chase zooplankton on the surface. Area 5 is a bottleneck where bass can attack passing baitfish. Area 6 offers access to deep water and feeding flats. Area 7 is a deep-water shoal, a classic smallmouth location.
Forage in small lakes might be limited. In these lakes, smallmouth tend to remain shallower (10- to 30 feet, 3- to 9 m) and move between traditional structure and open water. I've caught plenty of bronzebacks, stomachs packed with crayfish, down 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6 m) over 80 feet (24.4 m) of water. Often, localized schools of aggressive bass suspend in the middle of deep bays and corral smelt.
Shoreline configuration and the presence of islands and other structure is useful information to incorporate in your deep-water search. While working open water, I watch my depth-finder for changes in bottom contours, for big fish, and for baitfish. I note boat speed, compass direction, and trolling path in relation to wind speed and direction, and the angle of the sun. Clues to the presence of bass are often subtle, such as a few scattered baitfish in an apparently barren lake.
The second approach is for bass hanging off shorelines, while waiting to move into shallower water at peak foraging times. The 20-foot (6 m) contour is a key starting point in this pattern. It represents about one atmosphere of pressure, which is about as much change as a bass can handle over a short period of time. Downrigging deep shorelines is especially effective at the 15- to 30-foot (4.8 to 9.1 m) level in mid- to late summer when fish suspend over the thermocline.
Ten- to 13-pound (4.5 to 5.9 kg) cannonballs work well for fast presentations at greater depths, but I prefer to use 4- to 5-pound (1.8 to 2.27 kg) weights for trolling above 40 feet (12.2 m). They're easier to retrieve on hand-cranked 'riggers and are less likely to cause serious problems if they hang up on bottom.
Some line releases used for trout and salmon are a bit strong for smallmouth weighing less than 3 pounds (1.36 kg), above which they can trip a release as well as can a trout three times as large. With clip-style releases, experiment with line placement until a satisfactory set is achieved. I recommend a minimum of 8-pound-test line. Check it frequently for wear at the release snap. Medium to light spinning and baitcasting gear work well for downrigging smallmouth. Heavy salmon equipment detracts from the fight.
Slim minnow baits that imitate long silvery baitfish are favourites for downrigging smallmouth. I like jointed versions, although straight models also work well. Floating plugs are a plus when a ball gets caught on bottom or the boat is stopped for any reason. Sometimes, though, I use sinking lures and a long lead from the release so that the bait swims 5- to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.4 m) below the ball. This keeps it clear of irregular bottoms.
I've also had great luck trolling spinners, thin silver spoons, and chunkier crankbaits. Often, innovation rewards the angler who experiments with lures, depths, boat speeds, and trolling patterns. Don't let tradition get in your way. If you continue to fish like an average bass angler, expect average results. But if you want bigger bronzebacks, break out those downriggers.
This article is written with permission by Fish Ontario. Visit their website, http://www.fishontario.com, for more Ontario fishing information.
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