If you live near smallmouth bass fisheries, the late fall is arguably the best time of year to tangle with numbers of big bass (tackle & gear listing at the bottom). Wired2Fish’s Ryan DeChaine explains in detail how to tackle winter hole smallmouth when water temps are in the 40s and lower (product links at the bottom). Specifically, he addresses the use of spoons paired with specialized treble hooks to attract and trigger strikes from bass in concentrated schools. While spoons and blade baits reign supreme in the 40s, Seth Feider expands and shares his favorite fall smallmouth baits from the 70s to the mid-to-high 30s in this comprehensive round-up video (https://youtu.be/atn0vNrviXY). DeChaine lays out his 8 late fall spoon tips for trigging aggressive feeding responses from fall and winter smallmouth bass: 1. Incorporate a line-thru spoon into your bait lineup. This unique spoon design’s primary strengths are the elimination of line twist and reduction of fish leverage against the bait once hooked. 2. Match spoon size and color to the predominant forage. For DeChaine, this is a baitfish pattern, not a crawfish one. He opts for spoons with a close baitfish match in size, finish, and color. 3. Treat trebles hooks as lures. Extra flash and vibration to a treble hook can improve existing lures while making the hook a primary target of attack. Better hooking percentages seem to support this. 4. Add a bobber stop to the fluorocarbon leader. Much like a Texas rig, DeChaine varies the bobber stop from a pegged position to approximately 2-feet up the line. He envisions separation between the spoon and bladed treble as mimicking a school of baitfish rather than a single bait. The underwater video support this train of thought. 5. Keep off the fish. DeChaine advocates positioning the boat either upwind or downwind of the bait to reduce the spooking factor that has become more prevalent on highly-pressured fisheries. 6. Use a medium to medium-light power rod paired with a high-vis braided mainline and a fluorocarbon leader. 7. Make mini moves on the spot. DeChaine leverages Spot-Lock to pin the boat either up or downwind of the fish, then systematically fan casts the area. Whether in response to dispersal from fish catches or natural movements, once you stop getting bit, make small moves in the immediate vicinity to regain contact with the school. 8. Use a heavier slab spoon in high winds. When the wind is howling, upsize a heavier spoon with less flutter action to maintain bottom contact. TACKLE USED • Savage Gear Line Thru Baitfish Spoon, 2-inch: https://wired2.fish/SavageLineThruSpoon • VMC Bladed Hybrid Treble, size 6: http://bit.ly/VMCBladedHybridTreble • VMC Sinker Stop: http://wired2.fish/2Qgkbrw • Savage Gear Squad Spinning Rod, 7′ Medium (Replaces Browser Rod): https://wired2.fish/SquadSpinningRod • Sufix 832 Braided Line Hi-Vis Yellow, 10lb: http://wired2.fish/2HUDsjw • Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon, 10lb: http://wired2.fish/2JSvqGK • Luhr Jensen Crippled Herring Spoon: http://wired2.fish/2kGbsoW • VMC Glow Resin Treble Hook: https://wired2.fish/GlowResinTreble-RA • Savage Gear Savage Grip Treble Hook: http://wired2.fish/3c3IzYY • Frabill Clear Rubber Conservation Net: http://wired2.fish/2ZaNgOD • StrikeMaster Surface Bib: https://wired2.fish/StrikeMasterSurfaceBibs FISH FINDERS / ELECTRONICS • Humminbird MEGA 360 Imaging: @ Tackle Warehouse: http://wired2.fish/MEGA-360-Imaging-TW, @ The Bass Tank: http://wired2.fish/2ZBOn90 • Humminbird SOLIX 10 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 (bow stack): @ Tackle Warehouse: http://wired2.fish/SOLIX10-G3-TW, @ The Bass Tank: https://wired2.fish/SOLIX10-G3-TBT • Humminbird SOLIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 (bow stack): Tackle Warehouse: https://wired2.fish/SOLIX12-G3-TW, @ The Bass Tank: https://wired2.fish/SOLIX12-G3-TBT • Humminbird SOLIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ G3 (console): @ Tackle Warehouse: http://wired2.fish/SOLIX15-G3-TW, @ The Bass Tank: https://wired2.fish/SOLIX15-G3-TBT • Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor @ Tackle Warehouse: http://wired2.fish/UltrexTrollingMotor-TW, @ The Bass Tank: http://wired2.fish/UltrexTrollingMotor-TBT BOAT & EQUIPMENT • Lund Boats 2075 Pro-V Bass XS (extra seating): https://wired2.fish/Lund-2075-Pro-VBassBoat • Mercury 250hp Pro XS FourStroke: https://wired2.fish/MercuryProXS • Minn Kota Talon Shallow Water Anchor, 10ft: https://wired2.fish/MinnKota-Talon-TW • Minn Kota Ultrex Trolling Motor: http://wired2.fish/MinnKotaUltrex-TBT ► SUBSCRIBE for more AWESOME FISHING TIPS: http://wired2.fish/YTSub ► SHOP WIRED2FISH GEAR HERE: http://www.wired2fishgear.com FOLLOW US HERE AS WELL: ► http://www.wired2fish.com ► http://www.instagram.com/wired2fish_official ► http://www.facebook.com/wired2fish ► http://www.twitter.com/wired2fish
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