Description
This week was extremely busy with double guide trips every day, and one thing is clear: a large percentage of the smallmouth bass population is still actively spawning. We spent much of the week targeting bedding fish, and while there are certainly some post-spawn fish beginning to show up, the majority of our success came from fish still locked into the spawning cycle.
The biggest challenge right now is simply locating fish. Smallmouth are spawning across massive areas of the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario. We found beds in as little as 3 feet of water and as deep as 20-plus feet. Fish are spawning in protected bays, around islands, on flats, and even out in the middle of the main river where suitable habitat exists. There is no single depth or location pattern that will consistently produce fish right now.
Once you locate a bed, catching the fish is often another story. Every fish reacts differently. Some fish will bite almost immediately, while others require precise bait placement, specific movements, and a lot of patience. Understanding the mood of the fish and adjusting your presentation accordingly is often the difference between success and failure.
The baits that produced best for us this week included:
Megabass Hazedong Shad (Green Pumpkin Shad)
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/search-tackle.html?start=0&count=20&searchtext=Megabass+Hazedong+Shad&from=SMCR
Megabass Spark Shad
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Megabass_Spark_Shad_Swimbaits/descpage-MSSHSB.html?from=SMCR
Yamamoto Fuzzy Nut
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yamamoto_Fuzzy_Nut/descpage-YMFZN.html?from=SMCR
Mustad No-Twist Drop Shot Hook
https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Mustad_No-Twist_Drop_Shot_Hook_5pk/descpage-MNT.html?from=SMCR
If you're planning a trip to the St. Lawrence River or Lake Ontario over the next week, expect to find fish in all phases of the spawn. Continue covering water, use your electronics and flogger efficiently, and be prepared to fish a variety of depths until you locate active fish.
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Thanks for watching and good luck on the water.