HOW TO CATCH SMALLMOUTH NOW WITH ROGER STEGALL
Buzzbaits in November Will Help You Catch Smallmouths
Editor’s
Note: Longtime pro fisherman Roger Stegall of Iuka,
Mississippi, has guided fishermen on Pickwick Lake on
the Alabama/Mississippi/Tennessee border for over 17
years. Here's some of his tactics for catching big smallmouth
during the month of November.
A lure that many fishermen over look is the buzzbait
at this time of the year, since most anglers think of
the buzzbait as a spring and summer lure. But actually
it's very deadly in the fall. I like the Strike King
Bleeding Bait Series of buzzbaits, particularly the
white with some red on the head and a chartreuse-and-white
skirt. I like this bait
because it has the three dominant colors the smallmouth
prefer in November, white, chartreuse and red. On cloudy
or rainy days, I'll fish this buzzbait around boat docks,
stumps and logs or on open-water flats where the smallmouths
are schooling in 5-7 foot water. One of the ways that
I modify this bait is to take the rivet off the blade
and soak it in Purex to bleach it and cause it to squeak
more than it normally will. The smallmouth can't stand
a squeaky buzzbait and just have to eat it. During the
fall, smallmouths will become extremely active when
you're fishing the
buzzbait..
Another advantage to buzzbaits at this time of year
is that most people aren't fishing them. This lure is
one smallmouth aren't accustomed to seeing and are more
likely to hit. I've had some of the best strikes I've
ever had fishing a buzzbait at this time of the year.
I fish the buzzbait on the same rod as I do a spinner
bait. But I'll use a baitcasting reel and 17-pound-test
line because the bigger line helps the bait stay high
in the water, which makes it fish better. I like the
super-tough Shakespeare
Supreme line when I'm fishing this bait.
To learn more about fishing below the
dam at Pickwick, contact the Hardin County Convention
and Visitor’s Bureau at info@tourhardincounty.org,
call 731-925-8181 or 800-552-3866, or visit www.tourhardincounty.org.
Pickwick Landing State Park offers fishing, boating,
hiking, camping, swimming and golf. Lodging includes
the lakeside inn with over 100 rooms, cabins that sleep
eight and a campground that contains 48 sites with grill
and electric/water hookup at each site. A restaurant
at the park offers delicious southern cuisine. Call
731-689-3135 or 800-250-8615 to learn more.
TOMORROW: JERKBAITS FOR SMALLMOUTHS IN THE FALL
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