Smallmouth Bass fishing
Micropterus dolomieu. Jaw stops near the middle of the eye, unlike the past-the-eye jaw of largemouth bass.
Smallmouth Bass fishing uses a spinnerbait or live crawfish on 2 to 10 lb line, at dawn and at dusk. Smallmouth reproduce on their own wherever they take hold: males sweep out a gravel nest in spring and guard the eggs, so a water rarely needs repeat plants.
Published by Fishypedia · Sources last checked September 19, 2026
Drafted by AI from the cited sources and checked before publishing.
- Active times
- Dawn and Dusk
- Line
- 2–10 lb
- Hook sizes
- Size 2 or 4 for live bait, fished with split shot a foot or two above the bait
- Stocked in
- 10 states
- Peak in MI
- September
Identification
- Jaw stops near the middle of the eye, unlike the past-the-eye jaw of largemouth bass.
- Dark olive to brown back and yellowish sides marked with dark vertical bars that are most pronounced in clear water.
- Typically 12 to 16 inches, with quality waters producing fish 16 to 24 inches.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Top lures
Dragged slowly on rocky bottom to imitate crawfish, the species' favorite food.
Deep summer and fall structure fishing below the thermocline.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Top baits
Hooked underneath the tail and worked back along rocky bottom.
Fished with split shot a foot or two above the bait to reach the bottom.
Line & tackle
- Line
- 2–10 lb
- Rod power
- Light to medium-light action spinning rod with an open-faced reel
- Hook sizes
- Size 2 or 4 for live bait, fished with split shot a foot or two above the bait
Sources: iowadnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , ohiodnr.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Depth by season
Spring
Fish use shallow gravel flats and stage along current seams ahead of the spawn.
Summer · 20–30 ft
Fish rest below the thermocline during the day but move shallow at dawn and dusk to feed.
Fall
Transitional depths as water temperatures drop toward winter.
Sources: wdfw.wa.gov, accessed September 18, 2026
Stocked behavior
Smallmouth reproduce on their own wherever they take hold: males sweep out a gravel nest in spring and guard the eggs, so a water rarely needs repeat plants. Populations west of the species' native range came from intentional stocking for sport fishing, and biologists put smallmouth into Flaming Gorge Reservoir to crop down its Utah chub.
Sources: mdc.mo.gov, accessed September 19, 2026 , nas.er.usgs.gov, accessed September 19, 2026
Common mistakes
- Fishing away from rock; in lakes, smallmouth bass relate more to structure such as large rocky substrate and docks than to current breaks.
- Staying shallow all summer; once lakes stratify, smallmouth bass spend much of the day on the bottom below the thermocline in 20 to 30 feet of water.
Best time to fish Smallmouth Bass
Most commonly stocked in September in Michigan, based on 12 stocking events on record.
Most commonly stocked in July in Montana, based on 36 stocking events on record.
Where it's stocked
86 locations shown. Tap a pin for details. · Open this area in Google Maps
Michigan
Montana
Ohio
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Wisconsin
State records
| State | Weight | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 6.69 lbs | Raymond Ong | Aurora Reservoir | 2011 |
| Idaho | 9.72 lbs | Dan Steigers | Dworshak Reservoir | 2006 |
| Kentucky | 11.94 lbs | David L. Hayes Leitchfield, KY | Dale Hollow Lake | 1955 |
| Michigan | 9.98 lbs | – | Indian River, Cheboygan County | 2016 |
| Montana | 8.4 lbs. | Joshua Johnson | Fort Peck Reservoir | 2024 |
| New York | 9 lb. 0 oz. | Dante Piraino | St. Lawrence River, St. Lawrence Co. | 2024 |
| Utah | 7 lbs. 6 oz. | Alan Iorg | Midview Reservoir (Lake Borham) | 1996 |
| Virginia | 8 lbs. 1 oz. | Donald S. Eaton, Jr. | New River | 2003 |
| Washington | 8.75 lbs | Ray Wonacott | Columbia River, Hanford Reach | 1966 |
| Wisconsin | 9 lbs. 1 oz. | – | Indian Lake, Oneida County | 1950 |
| Wyoming | 5.94 lbs. | Bubba O'Neil - Evanston, WY | Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Sweetwater County | 2003 |
Common questions
What lures work for Smallmouth Bass?
Spinnerbait, a spinner in chartreuse/white and brown. Football jig with soft plastic grub, a jig in green pumpkin, brown, and orange: Dragged slowly on rocky bottom to imitate crawfish, the species' favorite food. Drop-shot finesse worm, a soft plastic in green pumpkin, watermelon, and smoke: Deep summer and fall structure fishing below the thermocline. Topwater popper, a crankbait in white, bone, and black.
What bait works for Smallmouth Bass?
Live crawfish: Hooked underneath the tail and worked back along rocky bottom. Nightcrawler: Fished with split shot a foot or two above the bait to reach the bottom.
Where do Smallmouth Bass hold?
Spring: Fish use shallow gravel flats and stage along current seams ahead of the spawn. Summer: 20 to 30 ft. Fish rest below the thermocline during the day but move shallow at dawn and dusk to feed. Fall: Transitional depths as water temperatures drop toward winter. Winter: Fish move beyond 30 feet deep and become largely inactive.
How big do Smallmouth Bass get?
The Colorado record is 6.69 lbs from Aurora Reservoir in 2011. The Utah record is 7 lbs. 6 oz. from Midview Reservoir (Lake Borham) in 1996. The Washington record is 8.75 lbs from Columbia River, Hanford Reach in 1966. 8 more state records are on this page.