Tag Archive: Ontario

Five things you need to know before you go smallmouth fishing in NY.

By Jim Root

If you’re like most people you’ve probably heard stories of how legendary the smallmouth bass fishing is in NY.  From Ontario, Erie, St. Lawrence, Oneida, Champlain, Cayuga, Susquehanna, you can find yourself hooking up with smallmouth in the 5-7+ pound range on every trip if you know what to look for, what to bring, and what to expect.  Come unprepared, however, and you will leave with a coldness in your heart as deep as those lakes.

1.  Go Big.

Forget everything you’ve been told about smallmouth fishing.  Our fish are a different breed.  Ask anyone who’s ever caught one here and you’ll learn quickly that these brown fish have a serious attitude problem.  The real fight won’t begin until the fish can see the boat.  With that in mind, you want to leave your medium light spinning rod and four-pound-test fluorocarbon line at home.  These fish require a different strategy, and heavier game plan.  Your three main baits are going to be cranks, tubes, and drop shot.

I prefer to use a 7 foot, medium heavy spinning rod like my Dobyns Champion Series 704SF.  This is a great rod because it affords you the sensitivity you need to feel when you’re getting bit, but packs plenty of backbone to allow you to have some input while reeling in the fish.  Liter rods will leave you at their mercy.  This rod, combined with 10 or 12 lb Seaguar InvizX, will let you horse those fish a little more.  It will also let you work a tube if you choose.  However I prefer the Champion 734C for that, with the same line.  For my cranks I use a 765CBGLASS.  Not only is this a great rod and useful for many different depths, it’s strong enough to fight those bigger fish and still have the give in the tip that you need when throwing cranks.

Categorised in: Team STORMR