Smallmouth Bass
Smallmouth Bass are often considered the strongest pound-for-pound freshwater fish. These fish are extremely territorial but finesse fishing tends to be the most effective way to target them. Smallmouth are often found in bodies of water that contain deep, clear water with rocks or boulders on the bottom. They use these offshore boulders for cover and ambush points. Additionally, some cold water creeks and rivers will contains Smallmouth Bass.
Videos & Articles (107)
Top Three Jig Trailers
There are unlimited options for jig trailers. See which ones made the top of our list.
Top Three Soft Stick Baits
The stick bait is the most bass catching bait ever made! Here our top three.
Berkley Chigger Craw Tackle Breakdown
The Berkley Chigger Craw doesn't have any flashy features when you first look at it, but then you use it and you find out that it's a fantastic bait.
Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover Swim Jig Tackle Breakdown
Greg Hackney, one of the best vegetation anglers our there, created this jig with Strike King, bringing years of experience behind the design of this swim jig.
VideoTop 3 Summer Bass Fishing Techniques
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Where to Find Summer Bass
<p style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">The summer is when bass have made it to their homing area and will stay close by until the seasons start to change in the fall. The key thing to look for in the summer is anything that would generally have more oxygen associated with it (vegetation, current, above thermocline). During the heat of the summer, bass tend to be more active during low light (dusk/dawn) conditions and go through a lull when the sun is at its highest towards the middle of the day. Use more moving baits (crankbait, topwater, swimbait) first thing in the morning and in the late afternoon to evening. Then switch to slower/finesse (spinnerbait, jig, worm) tactics in the middle of the day. </span></span></p> <p style="text-indent:.5in"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif">Home in on points or flats close to cover/deeper water for the moving baits. In the middle of the day, look for shade/cover/vegetation and throw directly to it, trying to keep your bait in the strike zone as long as possible. For color selection, you will want to emulate what bass are feeding on in that specific lake. Generally, it will be greens and browns for soft plastics and silvers, purples, greens, and yellows for hard plastics. </span></span></p>
Seth Feider - The Gear I'm Using for the Bassmaster Northern Swing
Seth Feider gives all the details to what he is using when the Bassmaster Elite Series heads to northern fisheries!
VideoSeth Feider's Must Haves for the Bassmaster Northern Swing
Finesse/Marabou Hair Jig Setup (Rod/Reel/Line) - Seth Feider
Seth takes you through his rod, reel, and line setup for fishing with finesse marabou hair jigs.
How to Fish a Wacky Rig w/ Brad Leuthner
Wacky Rigging is one of the most effective and simplest rigging options for catching bass. Watch Brad explain the best way to fish it.
Seaguar Smackdown Tackle Breakdown
Using this with a fluorocarbon leader is the perfect combination that will put lots of fish in your boat.
Seaguar Tatsu Tackle Breakdown
As Seaguar's most premier line, it combines two kinds of fluorocarbons into one, giving you the characteristics of abrasion resistance and softness.
Seaguar AbrazX Tackle Breakdown
Pete breaks down all the positives and negatives about the line and how Seaguar has created this line to be even more durable than regular fluorocarbon.
Seaguar Gold Label Tackle Breakdown
This line is specifically made to be used as a leader, and it excels at just that. The smaller diameter and toughness make it the perfect leader choice.
How to Rig a Swimjig w/ Seth Feider
Seth Feider goes into detail about how to set up one of the country's most popular techniques for big bass.
Cumberland Pro Lures Apex Underspin Tackle Breakdown
The Cumberland Pro Lures Apex Underspin has a reputation across the southeast for being dynamite, but works in many situations across the country.
Damiki Armor Shad Paddle Tackle Breakdown
This small and lightweight bait with its finesse paddle tail will create action even with the smallest of movements.
How to Choose the Right Jig Trailer w/ Seth Feider
Seth goes into detail about what you should consider when choosing your jig trailer, namely movement and water temperature.
Hog Farmer War Pig Tackle Breakdown
Underspins have been gaining popularity across the country so see why Pete recommends the Hog Farmer War Pig.
Roboworm Straight Tail Tackle Breakdown
This bait is absolutely something you should consider when making your selection, because it will not let you down.
Football Jig Setup (Rod/Reel/Line) - Polish Pete
Pete discusses his preferred methods and techniques for fishing a football jig, and it all starts with a fast action rod and high gear ratio reel.
How to Choose the Right Football Jig
Pete explains what characteristics to look out for when making decisions on what football jigs to use.
The Smeltinator Swimbait Jig Tackle Breakdown
As Pete says, the little details matter when it comes to fishing, and this small jig will give you big results.
Venture Lures Steady Swimmer Tackle Breakdown
If you like a bait that you can fish aggressively with lots of bottom contact, this is the bait for you!
How to Rig a Finesse Hair (Marabou) Jig
Seth Walks you through how he sets up his Marabou jigs and shares tricks to give you extra distance on those casts.
How to Rig a Football Jig
From skirt trimming to trailer selection, Pete goes into depth to explain how to make your football jig see success.
Finesse/Marabou Hair Jig Setup (Rod/Reel/Line) - Seth Feider
Seth takes you through his rod, reel, and line setup for fishing with finesse marabou hair jigs.
How to Choose the Right Finesse Hair Jig
Seth Feider walks you through what details he finds important when selecting his hair jigs.
The Heddon Zara Spook Tackle Breakdown
Pete breaks down the Zara Spook, the bait that has stood the test of time for a good reason.
How Line Can Affect Your Jerkbait's Action
Glenn Walker discusses the importance of line and several other factors that can help you be more successful when fishing jerkbaits for bass.
Selecting the Right Lipless Crankbait
Glenn Walker explains how to select the right lipless crankbait to capitalize on the biggest bass.
Crankbait Setup (Rod/Reel/Line) - Seth Feider
Seth knows exactly what he wants when he fishes crankbaits and gives you his tournament setup here.
VMC Hybrid Swimbait Jig Tackle Breakdown
As screw-lock style jigs have gained popularity, Pete explains why VMC is one of the best out there with their Hybrid Swimbait Jig.
How to Choose the Right Medium/Deep Diving Crankbaits
Seth will take you through each and every characteristic to consider when looking for a plug.
The Rapala X-Rap Prop Tackle Breakdown
How to Choose A Wacky Rig Hook
Kate Field explains three wacky rig hooks she uses and what situations to use them for.
Choosing the Right Wacky Rig Worm
Kate Field gives you some tips to guide you in finding the right colors for wacky rigging worms.
The X Zone Mini Swammer Tackle Breakdown
Pete explains why this bait is becoming a favorite across the US for many reasons.
How to Choose the Right Shallow Diving Crankbait
Seth gives you his opinion and everything else you would want to know about Shallow Diving Crankbaits.
The X Zone Tube Tackle Breakdown
Pete explains why this tube is a staple in the angling community because of how many rigging options you can get out of them.
The River2Sea Whopper Plopper Tackle Breakdown
Pete breaks down the River2Sea Whopper Plopper, an incredible bait that is great for covering lots of water.
The Storm Arashi Cover Pop Tackle Breakdown
Pete breaks down the Arashi Cover Pop, an amazing, splashy, hard topwater bait.
The Evergreen SB-125 (Shower Blow) Tackle Breakdown
Pete breaks down the Evergreen SB bait, his own topwater confidence bait.
Seth Feider - Bassman Spinnerbaits (Compact vs. TW)
Seth Feider talks through the differences of his two favorite spinnerbaits, the Bassman Compact and TW Spinner.
Spinnerbait Setup (Rod/Reel/Line) - Seth Feider
Seth Feider shows his go to setup when fishing spinnerbaits for bass.
How to Rig a Spinnerbait
Seth Feider shows you in this video just how straightforward rigging a spinnerbait can be.
How to Choose the Right Spinnerbait Trailer
Seth Feider breaks down what makes a good trailer for certain conditions to help you make the right decision.
How to Choose the Right Spinnerbait
Seth Feider dives into the technical aspects of a spinnerbait so you can choose the right one for any condition.
Drop Shot with the Poor Boys Erie Darter
Hog Farmer Minnesota Rig Breakdown
Daiwa Tatula LT Spinning Reel Review
Catch More Fish on the Jika Rig
How to Fish a Spinnerbait
Lake Vermillion Smallmouth Fishing
Feider’s Missing Graphs on Champlain Found!
Lake Onalaska Tournament Recap
Big Mille Lacs Bass on Small Hair Jigs
Dropshotting For Giant Smallmouth
VideoThe Importance of Spinning Reel Spool Size
The Simple Ned Rig
Want to be successful with the Ned Rig? Keep it simple.
Hit the Brakes with the Rapala Rip Stop
Multi-Species Master the Rapala Rippin' Rap
Brown Bass Beatdown with the Shadow Rap
Rapala X Rap
Rapala BX Waking Minnow
How Does a Bass See Your Tackle in Water?
Learn how largemouth and smallmouth bass interpret color.
How do Bass See Color?
With the help of a scientist, we uncover how bass see color.
Simple Setups: Neko and Wacky Rig
Patrick Walters goes through how to set up the Neko and Wacky Rigs.
Winter Warm Water Discharge Fishing
Steve Pennaz shares an untraditional winter fishing location and how to catch fish there.
How to Set Up the Tokyo Rig with Seth Feider
Seth Feider walks through how to set up the perfect Tokyo Rig.
How to Set Up a Carolina Rig
Seth Feider goes through the steps required to set up the perfect Carolina Rig.
How to Set Up the Wacky Rig
Seth Feider goes over how he approaches the famous wacky rig.
How to Fish the A-Rig
Patrick Walters goes over how he likes tho fish the Alabama Rig.
How to Set Up a Drop Shot Rig
Seth Feider walks step by step on how to set up the basic Drop Shot Rig.
NEW Way to Fish the Tokyo Rig
Patrick Walters shows the versatility of the Tokyo Rig by sharing a new way to fish it.
How to Fish Southern Docks in the Fall
Patrick Walters shares how he approaches Southern Docks in the fall when fish are suspended in the water column.
Jig Trailers - Aggressive vs. Subtle
Patrick Walters takes us through how he chooses jig trailers for different conditions.
Jerkbaits: Speed vs. Water Temp
Seth Feider goes over why different water temperatures call for varying actions as it relates to jerkbait fishing.
Get Specific with Ned Rig Fishing
Five Baits to Fine Tune the Ned Rig
Spinnerbaits in Heavy Current and Cover
When heavy current is added to cover, pick up a spinnerbait to effectively catch fish.
Three Great Baits for Power Plant Bass
Live bait is one option for winter smallmouth, but it’s not the only one.
Gear Ratios Simplified
Seth's tips for selecting the right gear ratio by technique.
Bass Labs - New Series Launching Soon
Introducing the new series Bass Labs where we take a look at the science of fishing.
Best Search Bait Ever?
How Seth Feider uses swimbaits to efficiently locate fish.
Football Head Tricks for Bigger Bass
How Elite Series pro Chris Groh uses football head jigs to target big bass.
Where to Throw Squarebills in the Fall
Patrick Walters breaks down the benefits to using a squarebill crankbait in the fall.
Legally Fish the A-Rig Anywhere
Fishing guide, JP Kimbrough, breaks down how he fishes the A-Rig to be effective and legal.
Three Must Have Topwater Lures
Chris Groh goes over the three topwater lures he doesn't leave shore without.
Fishing Medium Diving Crankbaits During the Fall
How to throw medium diving crankbaits around submerged vegetation in the Fall.
Rapala BX Brat Breakdown
Seth Feider introduces the Rapala BX Brat and shows you how to use it to get more bites!
Seth Feider Tops St. Clair
Leech Lake Summer Bass Fishing
Bass Jig Fishing Tips
How to Fish the Umbrella Rig
Jerkbait Fishing
Lake Guntersville Fishing Report
Lake Champlain Fishing Report - Spring/Summer
How to Fish the Jika Rig
Crankbait Fishing: How to Use the Square Bill
How to Fish the Ned Rig
Sam Rayburn Spring Bass Fishing Tips
Interview: Seth Feider Previews the 2019 Bassmaster Classic
Essentials For Fishing The Neko Rig
Lake Mille Lacs Bass Fishing Report
How to Approach "Post-Feedbag" Fall Bass
Catching Suspended Bass
Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALLS!