Key baits for smallmouth bass this summer

By Jody White – Major League Fishing

Browsing your local shelves or the internet for tackle is always an enjoyable and rewarding task, with no downsides. There’s no such thing as wasted money when it comes to fishing – at worst, you’re “eliminating water.” Still, it’s not bad to know what you really need for the given situation, and these days there are lots of good options.

Here are the essentials for successful smallmouth fishing in the North.

Thin the herd

For a touring pro, the trip north might be the easiest time of the year to pack. For locals, the addition of largemouth lakes or two-species fisheries complicates things, but, when you’re honed in on smallmouth, the boat is usually loaded pretty light. For tournament success in the North, finding the fish is the main key – from there, a limited array of baits can usually get the job done.

There are certainly times when a specific bait can be noticeably better than others, but, if you’re headed north for the first time, don’t think you need everything. A lot of seasoned northern anglers might carry only a couple of different drop-shot baits in two colors – well shy of the whole tackle store. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL STORY