Gear & Tackle

Species / Smallmouth Bass

Bass

Smallmouth Bass Fishing

A hard-fighting bass of clear rivers and rocky natural lakes, from the Great Lakes to Tennessee. Smallmouth love crayfish and gobies.

Best Months: Apr to Oct

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Plan by Month

Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Smallmouth Bass

Month

6 picks for October.

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Rod & Reel

Smallmouth Bass Setup

Smallmouth Bass

Fly 9 ft 6 or 7 wt rod, floating line, 10 to 12 lb leader. Crayfish patterns, Clousers, and poppers.

Spin / Cast 7 ft medium spinning rod, 2500 reel, 8 lb braid to a 6 to 8 lb fluorocarbon leader.

The US

Where to Catch Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Alabama

Wheeler Lake

A Tennessee River impoundment with ledges that hold bass and trophy blue catfish.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Blue Catfish

Lakes & Reservoirs · Arizona

Lake Havasu

A Colorado River reservoir on the California line with strong striped bass, largemouth, and smallmouth populations.

Striped Bass · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Colorado

Lake Pueblo

A Front Range reservoir with walleye, wipers, and bass in a high desert setting.

Walleye · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Connecticut

Candlewood Lake

Connecticut's largest lake, a rocky tournament destination for smallmouth bass.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass

Rivers & Streams · Connecticut

Housatonic River

A big Litchfield Hills river with trout in the cold reaches and smallmouth bass in summer.

Brown Trout · Smallmouth Bass

Rivers & Streams · Iowa

Mississippi River (Guttenberg)

Upper Mississippi backwaters and wing dams with walleye, sauger, and panfish.

Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Bluegill

Lakes & Reservoirs · Iowa

Okoboji Lakes

Clear glacial lakes in northwest Iowa including West Okoboji and Spirit Lake.

Walleye · Yellow Perch · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Idaho

Lake Coeur d'Alene

Deep Panhandle lake with smallmouth, bass, and cutthroat.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Rainbow Trout

Rivers & Streams · Indiana

St. Joseph River

A Lake Michigan tributary with steelhead and salmon runs into South Bend and Mishawaka.

Steelhead · Chinook Salmon · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Kentucky

Lake Cumberland

A deep, clear reservoir known for striped bass and big smallmouth.

Striped Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Walleye

Lakes & Reservoirs · Massachusetts

Quabbin Reservoir

A huge water supply reservoir with lake trout and smallmouth bass.

Lake Trout · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Maryland

Deep Creek Lake

Maryland's largest freshwater lake in the western mountains.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Yellow Perch

Rivers & Streams · Michigan

Detroit River

A spring walleye run of national fame on the river between Detroit and Windsor.

Walleye · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Michigan

Lake St. Clair

A shallow lake between Lakes Huron and Erie, among the best smallmouth and musky fisheries anywhere.

Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Walleye

Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota

Lake Vermilion

A rocky Northwoods lake with about 340 miles of shoreline and 365 islands.

Walleye · Muskellunge · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota

Mille Lacs Lake

Classic Minnesota walleye lake with a big ice fishing community and trophy smallmouth.

Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge

Rivers & Streams · Missouri

Current River

A spring-fed Ozark National Scenic River with trout in the upper river and smallmouth below.

Rainbow Trout · Brown Trout · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Missouri

Table Rock Lake

Clear Ozark reservoir with bluff walls, spotted bass, and a big bass tournament scene.

Largemouth Bass · Spotted Bass · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · New Hampshire

Lake Winnipesaukee

New Hampshire's largest lake with rocky smallmouth structure and deep lake trout.

Smallmouth Bass · Lake Trout

Lakes & Reservoirs · Nevada

Lake Mohave

A long, narrow reservoir below Hoover Dam with trophy stripers and smallmouth.

Striped Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Rainbow Trout

Lakes & Reservoirs · New York

Oneida Lake

A big, shallow Central New York lake with strong walleye and perch fishing.

Walleye · Yellow Perch · Smallmouth Bass

Rivers & Streams · New York

St. Lawrence River

The Thousand Islands region with world-class smallmouth and trophy muskies.

Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Northern Pike

Rivers & Streams · Ohio

Chagrin River

A Lake Erie tributary with a steelhead run and summer smallmouth.

Steelhead · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Ohio

Lake Erie

Western basin walleye water around Port Clinton, the self-styled Walleye Capital, with smallmouth around the islands and perch through fall.

Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Yellow Perch

Lakes & Reservoirs · Pennsylvania

Raystown Lake

Pennsylvania's largest lake fully in the state, with a striped bass fishery.

Striped Bass · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass

Rivers & Streams · Pennsylvania

Susquehanna River

A wide, shallow river near Harrisburg with famous smallmouth fishing.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye

Lakes & Reservoirs · South Dakota

Lake Oahe

A huge Missouri River reservoir and one of the best walleye lakes in the country.

Walleye · Northern Pike · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Tennessee

Dale Hollow Lake

A clear, rocky lake that produced the world record smallmouth bass.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye

Lakes & Reservoirs · Tennessee

Pickwick Lake

A Tennessee River lake on the Alabama and Mississippi line famous for smallmouth.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Blue Catfish

Lakes & Reservoirs · Utah

Flaming Gorge Reservoir

A deep reservoir on the Wyoming line with trophy lake trout.

Lake Trout · Kokanee Salmon · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Utah

Lake Powell

A massive canyon reservoir with striped bass boils and smallmouth on rocky points.

Striped Bass · Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass

Rivers & Streams · Virginia

James River

Smallmouth in the upper river and trophy blue catfish in the tidal James near Richmond.

Smallmouth Bass · Blue Catfish

Rivers & Streams · Virginia

Shenandoah River

A scenic valley river with some of the best smallmouth floats in the East.

Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Virginia

Smith Mountain Lake

A Roanoke River reservoir known for striped bass and tournament bass fishing.

Striped Bass · Largemouth Bass · Smallmouth Bass

Lakes & Reservoirs · Vermont

Lake Champlain

Smallmouth and largemouth in the same day, plus pike, salmon, and lake trout.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Northern Pike

Lakes & Reservoirs · Washington

Lake Washington

A big urban lake in Seattle with strong smallmouth fishing.

Smallmouth Bass · Largemouth Bass · Yellow Perch

Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin

Green Bay

A Lake Michigan bay with trophy walleye, musky, and smallmouth around Sturgeon Bay.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge

Rivers & Streams · West Virginia

New River

A big, rocky river through the New River Gorge with excellent smallmouth.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge

Lakes & Reservoirs · West Virginia

Summersville Lake

West Virginia's largest lake, with clear water and rocky smallmouth bass structure.

Smallmouth Bass · Walleye

Recommended

Gear for Smallmouth Bass

Fly Lines

RIO Bass Fly Line

A short, aggressive head that turns over wind-resistant poppers and bass bugs.

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Rods

St. Croix Triumph Spinning Rod

A sensitive, lightweight rod for finesse plastics and jigs.

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Fly Rods

Orvis Clearwater Fly Rod Outfit

A complete rod, reel, and line outfit that covers most trout water and small-stream bass.

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Fly Lines

Scientific Anglers Mastery Infinity Fly Line

A smooth-shooting, all-around freshwater line.

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Waders & Boots

Simms Freestone Stockingfoot Waders

Durable, breathable waders that hold up to seasons of wading.

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Nets & Tools

Frabill Rubber Mesh Landing Net

A fish-friendly rubber net that does not tangle hooks.

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Rod & Reel Combos

Ugly Stik GX2 Spinning Combo

Nearly unbreakable and sensitive enough for most freshwater fishing. A safe first combo.

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Reels

Shimano Sedona Spinning Reel

A smooth, durable reel in sizes for trout through inshore saltwater.

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Reels

Pflueger President Spinning Reel

Light and smooth for its price. A favorite for finesse and panfish rods.

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Line

PowerPro Spectra Braided Line

Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.

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Line

Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon

Low-visibility fluorocarbon for leaders and clear water.

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Soft Plastics

Yamamoto Senko 5 in

The original salted stick bait. Fish it weightless or wacky rigged.

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Smallmouth Bass Fishing by State

Virginia (3)New York (2)Ohio (2)Pennsylvania (2)Michigan (2)Tennessee (2)Utah (2)Minnesota (2)Missouri (2)Iowa (2)Connecticut (2)West Virginia (2)Washington (1)Wisconsin (1)New Hampshire (1)Arizona (1)Colorado (1)Idaho (1)Indiana (1)Kentucky (1)Massachusetts (1)Maryland (1)Alabama (1)Nevada (1)South Dakota (1)Vermont (1)