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ok does anyone else wonder what all those smallmouths are doing in lake George under the ice....ive put in hundreds of hrs out there and still have not landed one or seen one caught...just seems funny to me
They are there....but they are an incidental catch. You can't keep them so I know most people don't target them. (Image removed from quote.)
During the winter smallmouths pack together, infact in some small lakes it is believed that nearly all smallmouths will winter together in one location, if you find this location you could be in for the best fishing of your life but if you're even a few yards off of this "honeyhole" you won't catch anything as they do not move very much during the winter. As far as where these spots, when I've found them they are usually suspended about halfway down in the deepest parts of the lake and usually near some prominant vertical structure like a cliff, shelf or very steep drop-off. In lakes that lack any serious deep water (max depth less than 25ft.) you will often find them in much the same areas as you do during the summer just far, far less active. As far as baits go I've done the best with dead sticked minnows, lipless crankbaits jigged quickly but in very short strokes and jigging raps. Hope it helps.
I know they are schooled up in early spring(late april to mid may) so this makes sense. A buddy and I fished Mid May last year and caught 81 bass in 3 1/2 hours, all over a pound and some as big as 5. Best day I think I've ever had fishing, even though the weather absolutely sucked.
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