MT's Super Duper Secret Smallmouth Slayin Trick

Well, I'm runnin out of good stuff and had hoped a few folk would put themselves out there and pick up some of my slack by sharing a few of their favorite fishing tips. PM if you want to pick up a month and I will not post a tip that month.  

But I still have a few tricks up my sleeve to share with my very special friends at QJ. And it can all be yours for only $19.95 plus shipping...but wait there's more......

This strategy will absolutely whack the smallies and what I like about it is that it will take the big ones even when conditions are tough. This is a spring/early summer strategy or anytime the bass are 10' or less. It is easy to fish and even novice anglers can expect good luck by employing this method. If you rig exactly like I suggest you should do quite well.

1. The Jig Head; It is a low quality hook that I despise as it has cost me some whoppers but there is no other jig head like it as far as I know.
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I use it in the 1/16 and 1/8 ounce sizes

2.The Worm: Any straight tail worm in the 4" category can work. These worms are often called finesse worms or drop shot worms. I much prefer the more natural colors such as motor oil etc. These are especially good but pricey   (You need to Login or Register
If you are a bit more on a budget Zoom makes an excellent 4" straight tail motor oil worm which will put a hurt on the smallies.

3.The Line; This is crucial. You must not exceed 6lb test if you want to spank them. I will often drop to 4lb if conditions are tough such as it being calm and clear. With 4lb you had better have the right rod and reel and know how to use it otherwise stay with the 6lb. Another aspect of the light line is the ability to lay it out there a good distance.

4. The Knot: Well here I go again. Do yourself a favor and pick up a tie fast knot tying tool. This tool ties the gryp knot. There is no room for error with 4 and 6lb test and a 5lb smally. The loops tighten around the main line when under pressure.....the physics are just better. Use 6 loops with 4 or 6 and 5 loops with 10 or 12. (3 loops with 60 for you baby pollyhumper hunters 8-) )

5. The retrieve: Flick it out long and let it sink. Watch your line. If it gives a little jump they have it. Sometimes it happens within seconds of casting it out. Otherwise vary your retrieve. I never point my rod however, directly at the lure when retrieving. A broken line will usually result. I typically glide it through the water and then let it drop. They will eat it.

6. The hook set: I use a combination of quick reeling and a flick of my wrist to set the hook. The worm must lay straight on the jig head BTW. It needs to glide through the water. I strongly suggest you take a small file to the hook and get it razor sharp. The hooks are not sharp and if they don't penetrate they will bend out if your not careful.

Here is my most heartbreaking fish story;
I was fishing a small lake in BWCA. I had stumbled upon it by accident while searching for a way to get away from the wind on a larger lake. When a flotilla of baby smallies came up to me at the portage I knew I might be on a good lake. As I paddled along I looked into the water and bass where everywhere. Both largemouth and smallmouth. I decided to stay. After setting up, eating and resting I rigged up with my little slider head and a gulp leech. Another good package.

When I set up on Mr. Big she took to the air. My eyes told me it was a smallmouth but my intellect said it had to be a largemouth because it was so big. On the second jump even closer now I clearly saw I was dealing with a huge smallie. She dug deep and I backreeled. Slowly, inexorably, I gained line and soon had her on her side. My mouth fell open. I had no doubt she would go 6 but would she go 7 was my only thought. Suddenly she mustered enough strength for one more small jump with a lot of head shaking. I knew what was coming next.......she flung the cheap little jig head right out of her mouth.

I have seldom experienced the intenseness of emotion that losing that fish caused. It was a very brief but intense emotional experience. In my minds eye I was already celebrating and taking pics. I hung my head for a few quiet seconds, took a deep breath and reached for another gulp.  

Ahhh yes, small plastics on light wire hooks!! In the bass world they call this finesse fishing, tho' bass call it lunch. If anyone wants to try a little larger hook they should look at these......   (You need to Login or Register
I would pick any of them but lean toward the regular offset worm hooks.
If you really want to learn more about finesse fishing for bass I would recommend Mike Iaconelli's video on the subject. He teaches you about tubes, shakey head, drop shotting, wacky rigging, and one very similar to MT's tip called the french fry.

Very nice tip MT! [smiley=thumbup.gif]

You know me, a stickler for details ;). I will gently try and steer you back. This is not a worm on a light wire hook only. Otherwise I couldn't call it secret now could I ;).

Note the shape on the original slider head. It's flat. I know of no other jig head that is like it. I have tried lots of round head jigs with premium hooks trying to get away from the cheesy little crappie hook on the original slider. I even wrote the company asking if they would do a run with hooks that I would provide (owners) but no response :P.

I know most of us like to do our own thing. That is a big part of the satisfaction of fishing IMO. But you who are new to the sport and a bit unsure of how to proceed I can promise you if you rig exactly like I suggest, practice and use the tie fast tool, use fresh 6lb line (nothing flourescent) and make sure your drag is set correctly (or practice backreeling) you and your inexperienced young ones will catch a boatload if the bass are less than 10' deep.

As a side note for using this with kids. It is certainly lots safer to use this than any lures with treble hooks. Plus it is light and easy to fish with. If they stop reeling and look around from time to time that's good! Lastly the fish don't just strike it and let go, they will swim around with it for some time allowing time for the less experienced to say "hey, wait a minute!" ;D

Where do I get one of those Tie fast tools. My fingers are getting harder to tie my knot with.

Hey Ben
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You might need a little practice with this. It is easy once you get the hang of it. You just need to make sure the loops don't go over each other but instead snug up next to one another.

Once you get your six loops take your tag end and put it through the channel. Give a straight pull on the tag line and pull the entire knot off the tool. Pull on the main line to snug.

This is an excellent knot and really excels to tying a light line to a thicker eyelet. That is no easy feat.

so, MT, I haven't fished in a few decades, and did not fish often even then.  But my group is thinking of doing so on our trip to Q in September.  So here I am, reading your fish tip of the month, even tho I'm not a fish nut.  Anyhow, thanks for mentioning the fast knot-typing tool; did not know there was such a thing.  I even watched a video at   (You need to Login or Register.  I had enough of a hard time tying knots in light line when my fingers were slender and nimble.  The tool will certainly help lower my frustration level.

As for nctry_Ben's question about where to get them, a google search for Tie-Fast Knot Tyer will get him far more hits than he needs.

You rock MP. Excellent!

Note how he uses the forefinger to trap the loops against the tool to prevent them from getting out of place. Also note the subtle snap to get the knot off the tool. The only thing I don't agree with is using just 4 or 5 wraps. I find 6 is better with light line. Less wraps as your line gets heavier. It really does work swell. A bit trickier to tie a lure on but still no big deal. This knot is 100% strength [smiley=thumbup.gif]

Thanks MT... Sorry I didn't think to Google :-[, I just figured you'd have the best source. I ordered two as the shipping was the same and it might make a good gift for a nephew that's taken to fishing...

Nice tool!  I should be able to tie knots even without my glasses on!  I'll have to have 1 (or 2) of these!

Thanks for the tip MT!

dd

Do they make a left handed version?

Just kidding, I bought two also. Thanks for the tip.

Pat

I should mention one thing about the tie fast tool. It does poorly tying a knot when the line is thicker in diameter than what is being tied to. This is not usually the case in freshwater fishing however. Wet your knot before snugging it tight and even though you can snap the knot off the tool be certain you don't pull quickly to tighten the knot down.

This goes for any knot actually. A quick pull can generate heat which will alter the molecular composition of the nylon and result in breakage.

Be sure and test your knots often especially with 6lb line! It is very common for me after catching a bass in the 4 or 5lb class to re-tie my knot. If you just keep catching fish you will break off sooner or later (probably sooner). This is not very nice to the fish so check that knot often and re-tie. The knots do wear through (as well as the fine teeth on a bass having an abrasive effect on the line itself). Bass are quite hardy and will recover quickly so no harm done with the light line.

Whoops, I have been informed there are no "motor oil" colored worms to be had in the products I have suggested. I gravitate to natural colors in clear water. How about something in a root beer or pumpkin? If the water is real dark then a brightly tipped tail wouldn't hurt you either.

a similar effect can be had by rigging a worm on a worm hook with a split shot 6-10 inches in front of the bait. this presentation allows for the weight of the hook to make the worm dart around and it is also weedless. the sinker also makes for way less hang ups on a rocky bottom.

i fish rubber worms very often, straight tail finesse worms, curly tail ring worms, anything in the 4" range basically. i have used the glider jigs before and they are neat. i prefer the worm hook and sinker when fishing water in that depth range. i only use a jighead with worms when im in unfamiliar water in a boat/canoe and im searching for structure. otherwise its all about the worm hook/sinker. jigs tend to snag up a lot more from shore as well.