[conquistador]

Fished 12/21 from 10am till 4. Boated 7 smallies and 2 largemouth between 1.5lbs to 2.25lbs.

We caught most cranking Bandit red cranks. The pattern and technique were the same as I described in the AZOD published article "Speed Cranking Smallmouth".

Had a few missed bites. Maybe a color change was in order or move to the in-line spinners. The fish seemed to be suspended and not relating to rock out cropping as they sometimes do. It also seemed that vertical structure was better than 45 degree or flater structure. Didn't try the wide area flats.

Another boat caught the same sized fished with in-line spinners. They are working as well.

 

[Guest]

Conquistador, Please Elaborate

I am curious about this post. I've fished Apache dozens of times, and when the fish are not relating to the structure such as points, flats, or shelves, the only way I've been able to catch suspended smallies is on a jigging spoon or a jig head with a live minnow. And the jigging spoon is hit or miss.

Are you catching the suspended smallies with crankbaits? Do you run them at mid-depth in the water column, or as deep as possible?

 

[conquistador]

I'm fishing the banks and am making pinpoint casts to rocks, pockets or edges. Sometime the fish hit right at the bank.

Well, on that day they hit half way back to the boat in open water. I'd guess 15'-25' bottom. The crank was going about 8'-10'.

They were not tight to the bank nor on rocky points or flats. I can only guess they are suspended.

I was using a crank. Tried a sinnerbait but not as effective. I think because the crank when deeper than the spinnerbait. I know that in-line spinners worked that day.

 

[Bayou]

Keep those reports coming, Joe. I love 'em. I've picked up a case of smallie fever I believe!