Early spring supercharges the smallmouth aquatic environment, making for good times when it comes to catching the gamiest bass of them all. Here are two proven tips for catching smallmouth in the springtime. Cast a 1/8-ounce jighead impaled with a grub. Raise your rod to the 10 ‘o clock position, then make eight or 10 quick turns of the reel handle to cause the grub to look like a minnow swimming off the bottom. Then, stop reeling, and the grub will swim toward the bottom instead of falling vertically. When you see slack in the line, the grub has hit the bottom. Then, reel eight or 10 more times, and stop the grub again.

Fish a 3/4-ounce spinnerbait with a gold blade and a chartreuse skirt. In clear water, fish a chartreuse-and-white skirt. Cast the spinnerbait, and allow it fall on a tight line, swinging like a pendulum to the bottom. In doing so, you can feel the blade turning as it falls, be attentive as most strikes will occur as the lure is falling. Once the bait touches bottom, raise the rod again, reel about 10 times and allow the bait to swing like a pendulum back to the bottom.

You’ll be surprised how many big smallmouth you’ll catch using this technique. You also can fish this tactic successfully in the late spring, summer and even in the fall.