Indiana Smallmouth Fishing

[SmokeyJ]

I am a relatively novice angler, and have always fished largemouth and occasionally panfish. I have heard that smallmouth creek fishing is much better around here (Lafayette, IN) than any of the local options for largemouth.

I don't have much in the way of lighter tackle (panfishing was done with other people's UL gear), so I was wanting some recommendations on some gear. I was thinking for a spinning reel one of the smaller pflueger president's (gives you an idea of the price range I was looking at). As far as rods go, I am open to any suggestions in a similar price-range to the pflueger reel. I think I would like a two-piece rod for ease of transport. Lure-wise I have a pretty good handle on what works from doing some research, just need to pick some up.

Any recommendations would be appreciated, and anyone in the area willing to tolerate a rather inexperienced angler, I would love someone to fish with.

[Zib]

The Pflueger President is a nice smallie reel. I’m not a fan of 2-piece rods but since you need to pack it you have no other choice. A great rod for a low price is the Berkley Lightning Rod. They have 2-piece 6’6” medium action rods for $34.99 plus the are offering a $5 rebate. They are very light & very sensitive for an IM-6 rod. If you can spend more the Shimano Compres are excellent smallie rods but they will cost you $90 at most places.

I mainly fish light tackle for smallies. 4’ finesse worms, 3” to 5” grubs (pumpkinseed is my favorite color) on 1/8 to ¼ oz darter heads is what I like to use for the grubs & worms. I also use 1/8 oz to 3/8oz football head jigs (depending on the water depth) with a YUM Wooly Bug. Minnow/jerk baits, rattle baits, & a pink (bubblegum) Zoom Super Fluke Jr. are also some of my favorite smallie baits. I use 6 pound fluorocarbon line (the BPS brand is pretty good for the price) for the jigs (darter/football) & 10 lb for the other lures mentioned

I also like using a drop shot rig & shaky head jigs as well (6 Lb flouro). A plain Mepps Aglia #3 in rainbow is a very productive early season lure for me.

[fishcrazy]

We have alot of small streams in sw wisconsin that I fish for smallmouth and you would be surprised how well your largemouth lures will work for them. Since most of the streams and rivers are no deeper than 5 ft I just drop the weight of my jigs to 1/8 and 1/16 and as far as spinner and buzz baits go I use the same size I do for largemouth. There is a bait out there that is really consistent for smallies everywhere 2" and 3" swimmin minnow by strikeking. The only place I can find the 3" is http://www.buehlersales.com/

Mike

[thedude]

2 good stretches of wildcat creek are under the 26 bridge and north and also from the park off of 750 E south of 26. And yes, they are right, LM fishing in the area leaves something to be desired. If you can get your hands on a boat, the tippy river below oakdale is the best stretch near there for nice smallies. The wildcat will give up some nice fish but expect to catch mostly 8-10 inchers.

Because of the average size, I always just used ultralight gear, 6'6" - 7' L action rod with a small spinning reel and 4-6'lb test. My best producing bait was a crappie tube in yellow w/ red flake. Look at the gander guide series reels. They are made by pflueger and are basically presidents.

(BTW Boilermaker alumni here. Go PURDUE!)

[SmokeyJ]

Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it. I know some people with boats, maybe I can get someone to take me up to the tippecanoe river.

BTW I work at Purdue. I wonder if employees can participate in the bass fishing club

[thedude]

Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it. I know some people with boats, maybe I can get someone to take me up to the tippecanoe river.

BTW I work at Purdue. I wonder if employees can participate in the bass fishing club

All clubs at Purdue must have at least one "faculty sponsor" who basically keeps the kiddies in check. Put in your application

Also - you can shore fish/wade below oakdale dam on the river in spots when the water is lower. They've caught several hybrid white bass down there also - in the dam - that are currently or were state records. About a 45 minute drive up 52 and onto 41 is also Willow Slough. Great panfish fishing there and lots of 12-16" bass. Bring a battery and trolling motor and i think they still rent out jon boats (elec motor only).

[SmokeyJ]

Thanks alot, this is really helpful. Now I just need to find someone as nuts about fishing as me to go with me.

[outdooradvantage]

For Smallies you might want to pick up some Rebel Crawdads I use the Wee Crawfish floate diver on the Kankakee River for Smallies I also fish Willow Slough A lot and a person can catch 20 to 30 Bass a day and they do rent boats and trolling motors. Here is the number if your interested 1-219-285-2704 and thedude is correct they have excellent panfishing.

[thedude]

For Smallies you might want to pick up some Rebel Crawdads I use the Wee Crawfish floate diver on the Kankakee River for Smallies I also fish Willow Slough A lot and a person can catch 20 to 30 Bass a day and they do rent boats and trolling motors. Here is the number if your interested 1-219-285-2704 and thedude is correct they have excellent panfishing.

OA - i grew up in Lowell, IN actually about 5 miles north of schnieder on the river. the indiana side sucks for smallies, but there is some decent LM fishing in the bayous at Lasalle. About 6 years ago they pulled an 8lber out of black oak bayou.... i'll be down that way fishing saturday.. might have to go to indy, but i'm going bassin somewhere.

[Fishaholic]

Yep, the Indiana portion of the Kankakee does hold quite a few smallies, but they run on the small side...I fish the Kankakee over a hundred times-a-year and have to say that it's a great fishery for pike, walleyes and largemouth - especially largemouth!

LaSalle, Grand Kankankee Marsh, 10 mile road (near English Lake) are all great areas for largemouth - I took my personal best at the Grand Kankakee Marsh on a Bettencourt Baits Assassin, a hefty 8.5 pounder.

If you want to fish smallies though, my recommendations are for the Tippiecanoe River near the Little Monon and the section near the islands close to Buffalo, the Yellow River (underrated, but in the Fall you can get 30-a-day), the Southern tip of Lake Michigan, Wolf Lake (Hammond), the Kankakee River (in Illinois), the DesPlaines River (ILL), the Grand Calumet River (ILL).

I generally down-size for smallies, but plenty are caught while fishing for largemouth too. My bait of preference are 2 choices: a 1/8 oz. round head jig with a 3" Lindy grub and any of the 2.5 - 4" tubes T-rigged with an oversized or wide-gap hook.

[Bterrill]

Looking for Indiana stream smallie info? Check out: Indiana Smallmouth Alliance • Index page

INSA is the Indiana smallmouth conservation group/fishing club with an educational website where you can be put on to some good tips and spots.

I'm somewhat of a Indiana Smallmouth Guru myself. My two largest fish last year are from wildcat creek a 21" and 21.5 (see avatar), both caught on a 4" Sammy 100 topwater stick. I had several 50+ fish days out that way. Inclucing a 67 fish day with 16 going 16"+. I throw big baits and the results would not be typical for most anglers as they often misidentify how many large fish are in creeks.

Of course, they are subject to overharvest, so if you find a good stretch keep it secret and release your smallies quick.

I go large or stay home, throwing dinky baits for Smallmouth in streams is counter productive unless during the cold of winter. 6-10"ers become 12-20"ers when you trhow bigger stuff. Throw a small bait, catch lots of small fish. Throw a larger bait, catch large fish, 4" tubes, buzzbaits 3.5" jerks, chatterbaits, etc. Anyways, check out the site, lots of cool and knowledgable fishermen there to help you out with Indiana techniques and proper gear.

Definately use largemouth gear. Smallmouth have relatively large mouths despite their name.

[Bterrill]

Small baits for smallmouth is one of the biggest myths in fishing.

[smalljaw]

Thank you Bterril!! I do a ton of smallmouth fishing every year, in fact 90% of my fishing time is spent on smallies and like yourself, I go big. I use 3/8oz to 1/2oz spinnerbaits and 4" Rattlin' Rogue jerkbaits along with 5" senkos and 4" to 4.5" tubes, if the bite is really tough or I'm fishing water less than 45 degrees is the only time I downsize. I've hear all too often that you have to fish smaller lures for smallmouth and it couldn't be farther from the truth, you should see the looks I get from some anglers on the river when they see me using a baitcasting reel spooled up with 12# line and throwing a Zara spook, however it's hard to argue the logic of it when a typical 35 to 40 fish day you land 14 fish in the 3lb class along with a 4 or 5 lber to boot!!

[Bterrill]

Thank you Bterril!! I do a ton of smallmouth fishing every year, in fact 90% of my fishing time is spent on smallies and like yourself, I go big. I use 3/8oz to 1/2oz spinnerbaits and 4" Rattlin' Rogue jerkbaits along with 5" senkos and 4" to 4.5" tubes, if the bite is really tough or I'm fishing water less than 45 degrees is the only time I downsize. I've hear all too often that you have to fish smaller lures for smallmouth and it couldn't be farther from the truth, you should see the looks I get from some anglers on the river when they see me using a baitcasting reel spooled up with 12# line and throwing a Zara spook, however it's hard to argue the logic of it when a typical 35 to 40 fish day you land 14 fish in the 3lb class along with a 4 or 5 lber to boot!!

:yes:Just means they catch the little ones, and can be unaware of the monsters. But that's ok if it is harvest fishermen, let them remain in the dark. It can take a Smallie 15 years to get to 4-5 lbs. That fish is a treasure that needs to go back in the water. There are almost always more big fish than one thinks. They may be hidden from the sun under rocks and wood. It's shocking to see them come out of nowhere sometimes.

[HookUp]

Ray Rigby's got a board out there that caters to Indiana small mouth. Google around, I'm sure you'll find it. Carefull, some obnoxious guys on that board, but they all have a big heart once you get to know them.

As for baits, I fish smallies allot and because I'm out of a yak, am a minimalist.

Green (any flavor), White and Pumpkin/Natual soft plastics in grubs, stix baits (Senko's, etc.) or tubes are my staple.

When I'm on a bigger boat I'll add cranks (usually Bandit 200/300) or Jerkbaits (usually LuckyCraft 78 and 100 pointers).

Just finding out the virtue of spinnerbaits. Basic colors - white/chartreuse.

Buzzbaits aren't always the bait the fish want, but when the buzzbait bite is on, no funner way to catch a bass.

Avoid the UL and L tackle - go with M for creeks and MH for the bigger waters. You dont want to loose a smallie of a lifetime because your gear is undergunned.

[outdooradvantage]

I agree with big baits big Bass I use a lot of Rattlin Chug Bug's for Smallie's. Nothing cooler than seeing a Bronzeback jump completley out of the water..........

[IamSpartacus]

Can't give you any advice on Indiana, but I fish almost exclusively in creeks for smallmouths. One of the most effective and overlooked baits I've used for smallmouths is the shallow shad rap. I can't say for sure the size (I think a 6) but the bluegill pattern and perch pattern both work great here. Awesome baits for bouncing along rocky bottoms trying to trigger strikes. Hope it helps!

Mike

[Bterrill]

Ray Rigby's got a board out there that caters to Indiana small mouth. Google around, I'm sure you'll find it. Carefull, some obnoxious guys on that board, but they all have a big heart once you get to know them.

HookUp, he changed it to HoosierBassin.