Everything I have read (do a google search smallmouth + fall + 45/50/60 degrees, etc.) says they start hitting not only the shallows but spinnerbaits and crankbaits (water temps 45-to low 60's, however, maybe this could be regional as well, who knows!?!? LOL).
These back to back cold fronts have been confusing the hell out of these fish! LOL! MAybe November will be THE MONTH...
Here's a source article snippet:
http://www.bassinonline.com/articles/bassin/find_the_best_spots_fast.asp
Early Fall
As water temperatures fall from the mid-60s to the low 50s, shorter daylight periods trigger summer’s deep smallmouth to move shallow for a fall feast. Both spinnerbait and crankbait presentations are popular throughout the smallmouth belt during early fall.
Professional angler Mark Burgess eagerly looks forward to the spinnerbait bite on Northern clear-water lakes. Smallmouth in natural lakes across New England and New York show a particular affinity for bright spinnerbaits in fall.
“Waking a chartreuse-skirt/chartreuse-blade spinnerbait in the shallows absolutely drives those brown fish wild,” exclaims Burgess. “We always said it was because smallies were feeding on yellow perch at this time. But last year on Lake Champlain, I had brownies slamming my colorful Booyah spinnerbait in less than 2 feet of water, yet crayfish were the only thing those bass were eating. Go figure.”
In Michigan, Balog targets chunky smallmouth at the mouth of the Detroit River with a crankbait.
“Big smallmouth bass from Lake Erie gather on current-swept hard-bottom shoals to feed on shiners,” he says. “They position themselves along the rocky and gravel humps that rise from 25 feet to about 6 or 8 feet. A Rapala DT10 is the perfect bait to cover the key depths. Both the bluegill and shad patterns have a small amount of bright color that is a just-right trigger. It only takes a few casts on structure to discover whether the fish are there or not.”
Sorry just saw your post. I have been fishing from shore in my hometown middleton, almost always at the town resevoir. Not only do i not have a boat, but no car at the moment. The res is right near my house (walking distance) and it is a pretty decent pond. Good sized but really rocky. I have lost many jigs in a fishes mouth when they run me against a sheer rock. Its the only problem I have with braid. I lost two jigs/fish like that today. I think I need to start using a flouro leader there. But anyways I fish mostly there as of late except when my bro towelie or someone comes and grabs me.
Are you talking about putnamville resevoir? Nice, have to try a jig. I was there a couple weeks ago (early Oct) working a tube, and nothing
Sorry just saw your post. I have been fishing from shore in my hometown middleton, almost always at the town resevoir. Not only do i not have a boat, but no car at the moment. The res is right near my house (walking distance) and it is a pretty decent pond. Good sized but really rocky. I have lost many jigs in a fishes mouth when they run me against a sheer rock. Its the only problem I have with braid. I lost two jigs/fish like that today. I think I need to start using a flouro leader there. But anyways I fish mostly there as of late except when my bro towelie or someone comes and grabs me.
Are you talking about putnamville resevoir? Nice, have to try a jig. I was there a couple weeks ago (early Oct) working a tube, and nothing
Its the actual reservoir in Middleton, when you go to google maps its actually called Middleton Pond, but its a pretty good size body of water and its used for drinking water. not to be confused with emerson brook reservoir which is also in Middleton or Putnamville Reservoir which is in Danvers.
I'm starting to think unless I have my boat & can get out in the middle of the day when the weather is warmest, my season might be done!
Mornings are just not producing. The weather is getting colder fast. Never really saw the fall freanzy this year. Maybe it came & went earlyer in the fall & I missed it?
Anyone else having better luck?
