This is one of my favorite times of the year. You can catch smallmouths on top if you know what you're doing.
I guess you always have to know what you're doing to catch smallies but you know what I mean. You can't just run around the lake fishing. You have to do it right.
That begins with forgetting about the water temperature. I know what you're thinking: That Headrick doesn't know what he's talking about. The sun's got to him. Everybody talks water temperature at this time of the year. Well, not me. I look for baitfish along the surface. I could care less what the water temperature is. If the baitfish are swimming around on top the bass will bite on top. If they're deep the bass will be deep.
When that happens — and it's not every day — the best places to fish are in the creeks, but only if the water's high. The second and third points back are the best. I think that's because the baitfish are moving back in there but I'm not sure. Anyway, it's the best place to fish in high water. When the water's down, fish long, tapering points in open water. I set my boat alongside one and work my lure across the point.
Some guys fish with the point, but not me. I catch mine the other way. Sometimes, though, when they're pulling water you can catch them right off the end of the point. If you're fishing out there it doesn't matter if you fish across the point or with it. They'll bite it no matter what. My favorite lures are a small Chug Bug or a Tiny Torpedo.
Here at Dale Hollow the fall threadfin shad are about 1 1/2 inches long. These baits look like the real thing. Full-size Zara Spooks are popular smallmouth topwater baits. Maybe they work for some guys but not for me. You can catch a few on them but you'll do better with smaller ones, at least I do. (Maybe if the baitfish are bigger in your lake it'll be different for you.)
I like monofilament or fluorocarbon line. You probably think the sun's got to me — again. Fluorocarbon sinks and pulls your bait down. But sinking doesn't matter if you're moving the bait really fast. If you let it sit for 5 seconds, fluorocarbon won't work. You won't catch as many fish, either. My rod is a medium action. I want some forgiveness in it. That business of waiting to set the hook sounds good in a fishing article but in the real-world it doesn't always work. Try waiting when a 5-pound brown bass busts the surface in front of you and grabs your lure. If you can do that you're a better man than I am. I jerk.
