End of Nov on LSC

[Mojo]

Question: Is there any part of LSC, Rivers or Erie where the smallies still attack lures? Are you blade jigging now or are is there a spinner bait, jerk bait or crank bait bite on ? Any depth ?

What temps are we at now on LSC ? Chime in with your expertise ....

[LennyB]

Mojo,

From know through the end of the season is prime time with a blade bait once you find them. Big numbers and BIG BASS. That being said, LSC has fished tough this November do to the dirty water. Gostenik sent me some pics from last week before it started blowing again and they have been crushing them. The biggest was caught by Gerry and Joe Thomas while filming Stihl's Reel in the Outdoors and it went 6pounds 9ounces. Right know though, it is tough because of the wind and dirt. If it flattens out for a few days and you get a window of calm conditions, you can smoke them, if you can find them. The last 4 rows of pics are all late October through late November fish. http://www.greatlakesbassfishing.com/photo-albums/2012-bass-fishing-photos.html

Hopes this helps.

P.S. I'll post a link to the show when we get a copy up on YouTube. It was shot right before Thanksgiving. Also, watch Dan's video with Dobson. That show tells it all.

[Mojo]

That is just unnatural. Wow. Anyone wanting To get their last cast needs to hook up with Gerry and MBFT. Here is a snippet from their site:

The Cold Water Period (Late October-Dec). As the water temps start to fall from the 50's into the 40's the bass start moving from the shallows to their winter haunts. Location at this time of the year is critical. The fish are very concentrated and once found are very easy to catch. Tubes and Silver Buddies are about all that is used now. The biggest fish of the year come during this phase. The weather is cold but the fishing more than makes up for it. If you are after a true trophy smallie this is definitely the time for it. 2011 saw some fantastic November weather with nearly dead calm conditions and clear water. When this happens it's lights out fishing.

The YouTube video you posted with DK and Scott D is an education. Thank you for sharing.

Question is: what are the current water temps ? where to go ?In the channels? Along the edge of the channels? Mouth of the channels ? Middle of the deepest part of the lake ? Who can help here ? No tournaments so veterans - feel free to throw some advice.

[dartag]

Drove to Algonac today to drop my props off at Henry Smiths.  Spent the afternoon driving home looking at the lake.  Not sure on water temps but there was skim ice along shore and in the cuts.  There were trailers at Selfridge and couple other launches.  Might be duck hunters.  Did not see a boat on the lake at all.  The water is really low.  The St Johns marsh is dry.  Never seen that before.  Good luck if you get out there.  I am hibernating till spring.

[bigjc]

Water temp on Erie last Thursday was 45ish in the am, and rose about one degree by noon.

[LennyB]

Here's a few more "Goodins" from Thanks Giving time.

[djkimmel]

I missed my chance to go a week and a half ago. Someone was 'nice' enough to send me a picture of what I missed... sigh. I love fall fishing all the way until the boat can't be launched anymore. Scott Dobson does a really good job of telling anglers just about everything you need to know about late, late fall smallmouth bass fishing in the video. I was very pleased at the amount of detail he provided!

Late fall, winter smallmouth bass fishing is pretty similar just about everywhere in lakes and rivers. The exact spots may change by water body but what the majority of the bass need and seek is pretty much the same. I learned that years ago from the Lindner brothers and their shows and books, along with a few other sources more specific to rivers including reading DNR studies from various states.

Actually going out and fishing that time of year, on my own - slower, and with other diehard experts -faster, helped quite a bit to put the theory and data to the test. I think smallmouth bass are easier that time of year than largemouth. Not every day, but overall. Largemouth seem to be a little more variable in their behavior but are still fairly predictable on some lakes.

If you have access to them, check out the older In-Fisherman books about smallmouth bass. The best way to learn that time of year is to go out and fish it a lot like some of the experts do. That's how they became experts.