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Targeting Trophy-Sized Bronzebacks
By Jonn Graham
As long as man has picked up a fishing rod and wet a line, he has been obsessed with catching trophy sized fish! Though many anglers profess that catching big fish is of no matter to them, and that numbers of fish are of more importance, I still refuse to believe that they do not receive the same adrenaline rush as I do when a big fish comes to rest in my hands. Now, do not get me wrong, I have no problem catching large numbers of sub-trophy sized smallies, but nothing compares to hooking and landing a trophy stream smallmouth!
It is truly difficult to explain the feelings an angler gets when a large fish is conquered. It is even more difficult to transfer these feelings into written word. I guess it is safe to say that any angler reading this article knows the feelings and emotions I am speaking of. Fisherman are not the only group of sportsman that covet that "trophy" feeling. Big game hunters are always in pursuit of that once in a lifetime, trophy-sized buck, bear, elk, or whatever big game animal suits their fancy. Unfortunately for the hunter, they cannot release their trophy after capture like fisherman often do. Catch-and-release hunting, now wouldn't that be great!! Someday in the near future maybe hunting CPR will become the norm much the same way as it has become in the world of bass fishing. We can always dream!
In the case of the smallmouth, what makes catching a large stream specimen so special? The answer to this question is fairly obvious. One need only to examine the scant numbers of trophy smallies that inhabit our state's streams to gain an understanding of how special a true giant is. For the sake of this article, I will quantify the term "trophy" as any smallie measuring twenty inches or greater. I understand that the term "trophy" may be only truly explained on an individual angler basis, as beauty and size, as they say, is in the eye of beholder. Many stream smallmouth anglers may consider a bass of much smaller proportions a true giant. And I for one would never argue with them! I have said many times that any and every smallmouth is in many ways a trophy and a treasure that we should never take for granted. But from what I have gathered from my many days of fishing and talking with like-minded anglers, the twenty inch benchmark is the most widely accepted trophy measurement. You may be asking why a weight measure is not of importance when discussing trophy benchmarks? Well, the weight of a stream smallmouth varies greatly depending on many factors such as time of year, water temperature, and forage base, just to name a few. So measuring giant smallies by weight would not make for a very good overall standard. In addition, it is much easier on the fish and the fisherman to just simply measure the bass in inches rather than in pounds.
As mentioned previously trophy stream bronzebacks are few and far between. Unfortunately, most of our states' streams, creeks, and rivers contain very few fish of trophy proportions. Even in our best streams there are probably, on average, no more than one twenty inch smallmouth for every mile of stream. And in a lot of cases this number would be LESS THAN ONE!! This fact in itself is another reason why catch-n-release of mid-size smallies is so important! They will not reach the coveted twenty inch mark if they are harvested when they are just sixteen inches. Of course, the number of trophy-sized smallmouths any river can and will produce depends on numerous factors with proper habitat probably topping the list. In order for a bronzeback to reach "mythical" proportions, you might say he needs the best accommodations money can buy! Big smallies do not just live anywhere. They normally lay claim to the best "spot" or hole their river has to offer. Quite often it is the best habitat for miles in either direction.
So, one can see how tough it can be and how long it can take to "hook up" with a trophy stream bronzeback. There are numerous factors that favor the bass and work against the angler. First of all the number of trophy smallmouths living in any system is low and these fish live in select areas. Secondly, after finding them you still have to get them to bite and, if that is accomplished, an angler must still endure a bruising battle in order to land the smallie of his dreams. Those of you who have fished for smallies know that battling just a juvenile smallmouth in current or around any number of obstructions can be a real test. Now multiply that two or threefold and that is what you are up against when trying to tame a twenty-incher.
Thus far I have painted a fairly grim picture when it comes to catching big stream smallies. I have made it seem that these mythical smallmouths are a fish of 10,000 casts. And for many anglers like myself it does take at least 10,000 casts before the opportunity arises to even tangle with your first "stream 20". But take heart, these big smallies are out there and armed with a little knowledge, you can begin to tip the scales in your favor.
The following are five tips to consider when stalking trophy bronzebacks:
1. Be on the Water -- The more hours spent fishing, the better your chances of hooking and landing that special smallmouth. Though this seems elementary, it cannot be understated in its importance. You cannot expect to catch a twenty-inch fish if you fish once or twice a month. Sure it could happen, but chances are slim to none. While any and all times of the day are good times to be searching for big bronzebacks, try to concentrate your efforts during peak feeding times. For instance, in early spring and late fall this might mean concentrating your efforts during the middle of the day when water temps are at their highest levels and consequently smallies are most likely to be actively feeding. Conversely, during the summer months an angler would want to be fishing "big fish areas" during the low-light periods of early morning or late evening. Another consideration when it comes to being on the water is the time of the year, or season. A trophy smallmouth can be caught at any time, but historically spring and fall are especially great times to tangle with trophy bronze. I myself would favor the fall season as big smallies are usually in a feisty mood, eating almost anything and everything that crosses their paths. Lastly, use your time on the water wisely. Do not continually fish the same stretch of river day after day. Do not hesitate to fish new, unknown stretches of river. The first exploratory trip on a new stretch of water can be very exciting. You will challenged to learn its secrets and you may be forced to abandon techniques that worked on another stretch of stream in favor of a new, more profitable approach.
2. Fish Where Big Fish Live -- In simple terms, if given the choice, a trophy smallmouth bass would much rather stay at the Hilton rather than Motel 6. But seriously, under most circumstances trophy stream smallies select the choicest spots to live. In most cases these spots are the best for miles in either direction. It is the stream stalker's job to find these hidden "honey holes" if he or she wishes to come into contact with bully-size smallmouths. Under most conditions, big fish hangouts display similar characteristics. For one, trophy smallies love to hunker down next to some type of cover. This cover can take many forms such as a large boulder or two, a log pile, or a bridge abutment. If the piece of cover conceals their identity, the trophy smallmouth feels safe and secure and may live the bulk of their life in and around this piece of structure. In addition this cover in most cases has to contain at least a moderate amount of water. What I mean by this is water depth. Mr. Smallmouth does not feel safe if the log he is laying next to is only laying in a foot or two of water. He feels considerably better when his piece of structure lies in four to six feet of water. The more water overhead, the safer the big smallie feels and the happier he or she will be. Another item to consider when searching for big smallie living quarters is current! It has been my observation that trophy bronzeback hideouts usually have at least a moderate amount of current traversing through the area. While I have caught mature smallies in faster flows and areas with no flow at all (eddies), it seems to me that big river bass prefer areas with a moderate current flow which brings them a constant supply of fresh water and oxygen and also the occasional easy meal. Areas characterized by fast current speeds are rarely used by big smallies as permanent hangouts. They may be used for short feeding sprees, but spending large amounts of time in these areas would mean sure disaster. Of course this leads us into another characteristic of big fish hangouts - FOOD! As is the case with any size of fish, there must be a good supply of food nearby for a trophy bronzeback to prosper. If the food is not there, the smallmouth gets a little grumpy, like we all do when our stomach is empty, and he tends to "pull up stakes" and go searching for a meal thus leaving his permanent "pad" behind. Lastly, twenty-inch stream smallies are LONERS!!! In most cases, a trophy stream bronzeback will not be found living with subordinates of his same specie. Once they pick a spot to live, the smaller fish in the area know they better relocate or end up in the large smallmouth's stomach.
3. Fish Overlooked Waters -- Community, or public, fishing areas are rarely, if ever, going to lend themselves to catching trophy-sized smallmouths. Your best bet is to get off the beaten path!! Find smaller out of the way flows that nary see an angler. These types of places may not be the prettiest to look at but even the ugliest of backdrops look mighty fine when you are holding a twenty-inch smallmouth while modeling for the camera! In addition, if you can find big smallies in these hidden, unknown waterways, they are normally much easier to catch, as they probably have not seen a lure in months or maybe years!
4. Feed 'Em A Mouthful -- Readers beware! The following paragraph is simply my opinion and many readers will agree with my philosophy concerning the connection between big fish and big baits, and others will wholeheartedly disagree. Both sides of this long running debate have credible evidence to back-up their claims. My opinion is that under many circumstances a larger bait will appeal to a trophy smallmouth more than a smaller bait. Notice I did not say ALWAYS! I have caught some real big smallies on very small baits, but I believe under normal river conditions, trophy stream smallmouths are crying out for you to present them a larger bait. So, what is large? Well, long-withstanding smallie baits usually measure three or four inches in length. Increase the size of your baits to five, six, or even seven inches in length, and you have yourself a bait that just may pique the interest of that once in a lifetime fish. When it comes to actual baits, I would have to say large topwaters are at the "head of the class" when it comes to catching big stream smallmouths. Buzzbaits, Zara Spooks, and soft jerkbaits (Zoom Super Fluke) have elicited favorable reactions from many a large river smallmouth over the years. Other large baits such as five and six inch twister-tail grubs and #9 and #11 Rapalas can some times be just what the doctor ordered when it comes to eliciting a strike from big bronzebacks.
5. Approach With Caution -- last, but certainly not least, is the importance of stealth when stalking big, bruiser-sized smallies. Trophy stream smallmouths are very similar to trophy whitetail bucks in the sense that they did not get that big by being careless. Big bass are incredibly alert and aware of their surroundings. Because of this anglers should approach any fishing area quietly and cautiously. Try to keep a low profile (especially in clear water environments) and eliminate unnecessary noise. In addition, do not get any closer to the spot than is absolutely necessary. Oh, one more thing, make your first cast count!! In most cases, your first cast to a likely big smallie hangout will elicit the strike, provided your first cast is an accurate one.
In conclusion, few things can match the pure adrenaline rush one receives when battling and conquering a true trophy-sized river bronzeback. Their low numbers, propensity to choose only the most select living quarters, and their overall awareness of their surroundings make catching them a terrific challenge! The mission almost seems impossible at times. But have faith; a little bit of knowledge and persistence will go a long way in procuring your next trophy smallmouth. Oh, one last thing, always carry your camera; any self-respecting trophy smallmouth expects to get his picture taken before being released!
All rights reserved - copying any information is strictly prohibited without the consent of the Illinois Smallmouth Alliance.
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