trophyhusband
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i went bass fishing for the first time last weekend, in a tournament no less. i was happy to turn in 5 fish, but they came in at just under 7 pounds. i have another tournament april 20. i'm told that they will be spawning and much more aggressive. what kinds of baits should i have on hand? what are the techniques? are there bait, lures, or techniques that will catch maybe fewer but larger fish? i'll take all the help i can get.
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SHAUNPMR
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It depends on the fisherie and types of water your fishing. But for better quality fish, I would go with a jig, cranks, tubes, and big creature baits.
If they are on beds then I would throw a dropshot rig, but with a 1/0 hook and on baitcasting gear with 25lb test, use a bright pearl white worm. Cast the rig past the bed and drag it onto it and let it sit on it and quiver. Its deadly!
Shaun.
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trophyhusband
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how do you find a bed?
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SHAUNPMR
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look in the shallow water. Its usually a light circle a few feet across. But ive also saw beds that were as big as a car. Just cruise the shalows and look. Also keep in mind, when there are bass on beds, not every fish on the lake is on beds. you can also catch them with other techniques.
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trophyhusband
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i'll keep an eye out for them. the water may be too murky though.
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Mojo
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TH, where is your tourney? We caught some pigs at Strike today. We being everyone but me... 
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Chromeo
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Smallmouth will almost always make their beds around some kind of structure. Look around sticks in the water dock pilings and any other kind of structure you can find. From my expierence smallies tend to build their beds deeper than largemouth. If the water is clear dont be suprised to find them in 12' of water or more.
As far as the gear i like a 7' 4-8lb spinning rod with a drop shot rig on a #4 hook. I like the KGM dropshot baits and some minnow imitations that i will not mention here...
If they dont bite at first or they move away from the bed when they see you set your rig on the bed and back off until you cant see the bed and just shake the drop shot. They'll come back and grab it. If you can see the fish and it is nosing down on your bait, swimming around the bed fast, or moving their fins back and fourth they will bite just keep pestering them.
GOOD LUCK!
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trophyhusband
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it's at strike.
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Mojo
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Well, there might be some smallies spawning April 20th, but I doubt you will be able to see any beds. The water will be muddy, and it may be 10 degrees colder than it is right now, if runoff starts. I'd stick with finesse tactics and small green plastics. That's what worked best for us yesterday.
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trophyhusband
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thanks, i'll be sure to get some of those.
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Trouthead
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Chromeo, I know what baits your using, I think. Do you order the KGM baits direct?
Cold, dirty water, yuck. Smallies will probably be deep. Think slow. Football head jigs with Yamamoto curly tails or split shot for search baits (browns and greens). Drop shot once you find them. A suspending jerk bait, pulled not jerked, and a rattle trap for shallower water (less then 20 feet).
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alanmikkelsen
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We were out on Dworshak on April 3 for smallies, couldn't turn a nibble. We drop shotted, fished tubes, a couple of cranks, etc. Marked a few on the finder, water temp was 43 degrees.
We're hitting it on April 26 with Knottyer, so things should be looking up!
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50 years of foolin' fish.
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Chromeo
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I get them at three rivers
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fishingmom
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starting to hear that things are picking up on the snake for smallmouth - paddled around wawawai today and had 2 really nice sized fish and then this on a gold floating rapala....  
alan,,,,where about were you on dworshak, i was around canyon creek that day, didn't see anyone bass fishing (the kokanee are looking really nice this year, inch or two bigger then last year)
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luv2fish
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Great job Sue! Nice smallie. Taking the kids Sunday to chase some of those kokanee! Weather should be perfect and I don't really care if we catch a fish or not! 
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Mojo
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Johnny, Pez and Mojo are taking Mojo's kid after gators tomorrow. Nothing better than getting the kids into fish...
I hope to have some killer pics to post tomorrow.
Good luck with the kiddos on Dworshak. If you see any good turkeys up there, GPS the spot would you? Thanks!
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fishingmom
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luv2fish,,,,kokanee are really looking great - it'll be a beautiful wkend up there (big eddy and dent are the only ramps open according to 1-800-321-3198)....(secret turkey spot is big eddy road at dusk, had to stop and let them cross)
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BorntoFish
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wow, that's a dandy sue. did you happen to get any vital statistics on it?
what size are the kokes running on the average? as i recall, last year they were kinda on the smallish size compared to what we were getting down here.
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fishingmom
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wish i had a tape measure along but didn't expect to catch one that sized! my husband never believes me unless theres a pic to go with the story so at least had the camera....kokanee are 8-10" and chunky, its promising seeing that size this early up there...we are headed to a friends house at rogersburg tomorrow for my first sturgeon, i hope, and smallmouth...
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Mojo
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Sue, andy Toad Gobblers in that bunch? We'll be up this week with shotguns in hand. Always looking for another goot Turkey spot.
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fishingmom
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gosh i don't know if they were toads, they were turkeys though which is about all i can say  ...we have boat camped up around cranberry creek and have had them come thru bright and early, its neat to see, along with the eagles and deer, its perfect up there...
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SHAUNPMR
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Nice smallies fishingmom! I like your avatar!
Shaun.
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alanmikkelsen
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Hi Sue, we were across the lake from Canyon Creek and then ran over and spent an hour and a half working the banks. We were able to mark a few fish, but no bites. I saw several boats fishing kokes, wasn't sure if one was yours.
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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Mojo
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We managed a few bass today while fishing for sturgeon (hooked 2 and the kids fought 'em dilligently till the big fish won the battle). Here is what mey turn out to be the best picture of me and a fish ever takem. My daughter is an artist!
16 3/4 inches of rabid smallie...
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Lilfisher
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Nice one Mojo and Sue! How did you guys do Luv? LIL
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fishingmom
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thats another nice bass mojo....im still waiting for a sturgeon,,, as we were enjoying coffee and the view off the deck this morning somebody broke one off in the rogersburg beach hole - we fished it for several hours but only came up with a few nice bass....  ...next time
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Mojo
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Wow Sue, that looks like the same fish I got yesterday. They sure fight well, don't they.
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Tight Lines,
Mojo
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alanmikkelsen
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you guys are killing me with them smallies!
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50 years of foolin' fish.
Bass Ackwards: The art and science of hurtling blindly in the wrong direction with no sense of the impending doom about to be inflicted on one's sorry ass. Usually applied to procedures, processes, or theories based on faulty logic, or faulty personnel.
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fishingmom
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almost twins, mine only taped 16 (did i mention we saw several turkeys up there too?)....alan do you bass fish on flathead?
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luv2fish
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Re: catching smallmouth in april
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