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John's Journal... Entry 200, Day 5

FIVE SECRETS FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH BASS

Diamonds for Smallmouth

EDITOR'S NOTE: Larry Nixon has fished competitively for more than 27 years. He's won the Angler-of-the-Year title on the BASS Circuit twice and the BASS Master's Classic in 1983. He's appeared at 24 BASS Masters Classics. He's also won four MegaBucks tournaments.

QUESTION: Is there any other lure you recommend to bring in a mess of smallmouth?
ANSWER: Yes, I catch a lot of smallmouth on Strike King's Diamond Shad. Anytime the smallmouth are holding in water depths of 5 to 7 feet, and they won't come up to the surface to take a spinner bait, I can usually catch them on the Diamond Shad by reeling it really fast. Remember, I said that the smallmouth like to chase a bait. When they don't want to chase the spinner bait close to the surface, they will chase the Diamond Shad when you reel it deeper in the water. I like to fish the Diamond Shad around bushes, rocks, small points and any place that I think the smallmouth may be holding during the prespawn. The prespawn seems to be when the smallmouth are the most aggressive and most likely to chase a bait like a Diamond Shad. On a windy day, if you can find the wind blowing in on a gently-sloping rocky bank or little points, the smallmouth will gobble up the Diamond Shad. I like to cast the lure on 10-pound-test line on a baitcasting rod and reel.

QUESTION: What color do you like to use?
ANSWER: My favorite color of Diamond Shad is metallic gold with a black back. This color is close enough to a crawfish color, and the bass really seem to like it. My two favorite colors are the chrome blue and the gold with the black back. If the water is clear and the sun is bright, I'll choose the chrome color with the blue back. If the water is not so clear, or I'm fishing an overcast day, then I like the gold with the black back.

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about FIVE SECRETS FOR CATCHING SMALLMOUTH BASS ...

Day 1 - Use a Spinner Bait
Day 2 - Bet On The Wild Shiner
Day 3 - The Tube = Mr. Consistency
Day 4 - Bet on the Carolina Rig
Day 5 - Diamonds for Smallmouth


John's Journal