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Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth Bass

Micropterus dolomieu

  • 4lakes
  • 275logged catches
  • 18.47 kg heaviest logged

Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu) is considered one the toughest fighting freshwater gamefish. Its body is generally brown (seldom yellow) and mottled with a darker color. Smallmouth Bass prefers low temperatures and is usually found in clear, cool lakes and running streams with rocky areas as well as sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs. It can reach a max length of 70 cm (27 in) and weigh up to 5 kg (12 lb). Smallmouth’s average length is about 25-50 cm (10-20 in), while the weight is usually around 0.5-1.6 kg (1-4 lb). Its natural diet mostly consists of insects, small fish and crawfish.

What actually catches it ranked by real logged catches

Baits

Shiners 11 Duck Mussel Meat 4 Shrimp 3 Small Minnows 2

Lures

Crankbait 1 m, #2/0 9 Worm 15 cm 9 X-Series Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 8 Narrow Spoon 21 g, #3/0 7 Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 6 Walker 14 g, #3/0 5 Worm 12.5 cm 5 Bass Jig 21 g, #3/0 3 Bass Jig 28 g, #2/0 3 Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 3 Worm 15 cm 3 Worm 15 cm 3

Best setups by lake 4 lakes with data

Neherrin River — 129 catches , best 3.48 kg

  • Crankbait 1 m, #2/0 Spinning Shore 9×
  • Worm 15 cm Hook #4/0 Spinning 9×
  • X-Series Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 Spinning 6×
  • Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 Spinning 6×

Saint-Croix Lake — 74 catches , best 4.92 kg

  • Narrow Spoon 21 g, #3/0 Spinning 7×
  • Worm 15 cm Spinning 3×
  • Worm 15 cm Spinning 3×
  • Worm 12.5 cm Spinning 3×

Falcon Lake — 46 catches , best 1.88 kg

  • Shiners Hook #3/0 Feeder bottom 5×
  • Bass Jig 21 g, #3/0 Spinning 3×
  • Bass Jig 28 g, #2/0 Spinning 3×
  • Shiners Hook #1/0 Feeder bottom Shore 3×

San Joaquin Delta — 26 catches , best 18.47 kg

  • Duck Mussel Meat Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom Shore 4×
  • Grub 7 cm Hook #4/0 Spinning 3×
  • Shrimp Hook #6/0 Feeder bottom 2×
  • Shiners Hook #4/0 Feeder bottom 2×

How to catch

How to catch a unique Smallmouth Bass? You can catch this fish either with bait or lures.

If you prefer to use natural baits, then the best way to catch Smallmouth Bass would be to use Crawfish on a size #1/0 hook.

If you are more into artificial lures, you should go for some Worms. The most successful lure is Yellow/Black X-Series Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0.

Where to find it

San Joaquin Delta California Saint-Croix Lake Michigan Falcon Lake Oregon Neherrin River North Carolina

Also listed as effective documented, but not seen in the catch log

#135#130#144#122#128#131#133#132#134#2171 Bass Jig 14 g, #4/0 Bass Jig 14 g, #4/0 Bass Jig 14 g, #4/0 Bass Jig 14 g, #4/0 Bass Jig 14 g, #4/0 Casting Spoon 21 g, #3/0 Crankbait 7 m, #3/0

Data compiled from fp-collective and the Fishing Planet Wiki . Snapshot taken 2026-08-20. Game content and imagery © Fishing Planet LLC.