Targeting Summer Smallmouth

When fishing for Summer Smallmouth, you should focus not just on water temp or clarity, but the weather. I’ve noticed, that the weather has a major impact on fish, but even a bigger impact on smallies. This being said, a cloudy day should still be a great day, but the fish will most likely be out deep with the baitfish. During sunny days, the fish will be shallower. Smallmouth are definitely my favorite type of freshwater fish to catch, mostly because they are built like tanks and can put up a fight like 2 largemouths the same size put together. But when you’re finding them, don’t go too shallow. Unless it’s nearing dark, then they might be moving up into shallower water. You should focus on using a tube, dropshot, or a spy bait somewhere between 12-21 ft. Look for rocks, weed lines, or drop offs. These places are typically holding smallies because of the big clouds of baitfish that congregate there. Also, using a spinnerbait for those shallower smallmouth in about 6-10 ft is also VERY effective. That’s it! But don’t forget to use technology to your advantage and look for fish with graphs.

1st fish- 5.9 lb

2nd- 18ish pound bag (including 5th fish)

3rd-4.5lb

Tuning your Crank Bait...

Crank baits are the 4x4 of baits. They are meant to be bounced off rocks, bangEd into brush piles, logs and or docks. Then we want to have it swim back to us nice and straight with that perfect wobble. After a few hundred retrieves it may need some tending to. This takes a small bit of tuning and it is very simple to do. If your crankbait is swimming to the right you want to twist the line tie just a bit to the left and follow this same process if the bait is swimming to the left, then give the line tie a small turn to the right.

You may need to take a couple casts and make an adjustment again but that’s all it takes.

In some cases you may want to force your crankbait to the right or left to bounce in and out of dock posts or around a point. Use this simple technique to make little adjustments and you will be tuned and true!

#gethooked #louslures #custompaintedbaits

In the Shop with Lou’s Lures

Painting my own lures is the best thing for me aside from being on the water and catching fish with my own baits. When I can’t fish, I get myself out to the shop and try to get in lite making zone. I got a cool set up with my computer work station and my dipping and assembly table. Then I have my cases of lure blanks along side my work bench and paint area. I have a decent little photo taking setup and a stencil making machine for making custom stencils. I have two walls covered with pics of fish that were caught on my lures and lures that I painted. Got a TV for some watching but mostly tunes from the Google home speaker. It is a great hangout!

One of the best parts about painting for me is creating custom baits for the customer and interacting with them and having them be a part of the process to create their own one of a kind!

While I am painting I am able to think about my next mission on the water. Will the fish be looking for something specific? What colors matter right now? Which lure body do I paint? The 2.5” Squarebills are fun to paint but they are hitting the rattle traps right now. Hmm, what to do? Maybe top water? The poppers and spoons are a blast to paint also. Either way at the end of the session I have accomplished and created an awesome custom bait. Maybe it’s going in my box or maybe it’s going across the country and someone may catch their personal best on it! It is a win win for me because this is my life and my passion. It will never be work!

#gethooked #louslures #fishingfiend #custompaintedbaits #byafishermanforafisherman