The leaves are all but gone from every tree in sight and a light dusting of snow from the night before covers the boat ramp. We wonder whether or not the truck will make it up the steep incline while towing a half ton of bass boat at the end of the day. As we get into our winter coats and heavy pants, a brisk fall wind brings the scent of winter to our already-red noses. Most bass anglers at this part of the season have their boats winterized and stored away. They have no idea what they’re missing.

Fishing in deep water is not a strong point of many bass fishermen. Whether it be those just starting out or even a seasoned pro, we know that finding deep bass on some days can be like finding a needle in a haystack. Our alternative? Fish shallow, and usually fish the shoreline structure of a lake for those shallow bass. The problem? These bass are highly pressured and sometimes won’t hold in the huge concentrations that deeper bass will. Shallow water bass aren’t herding up on a secondary point, waiting to ambush schools of shad. Usually they are territorial, hiding behind logs or in patches of grass, waiting to ambush a prey fish like a bluegill or stray shad. Big fish are tougher to catch from shoreline cover, but maybe with a little patience and knowledge you can pull trophy fish from the shallows like a pro.

Living in Ontario, Canada - on the north shore of Lake Erie, has taught me to be versatile. I have not only learned to target largemouth bass in areas you wouldn’t expect to find them, I have also learned to fish smallmouth bass as a main target fish in tournaments, and to fish other species with general expertise. While I still have a lot to learn, I believe I have learned enough about smallmouth to put together a pretty good pattern on a regular basis. Not just on Lake Erie, but on any lake that holds a decent population of bronzebacks. Hopefully with this I can help you too cash in on perhaps the feistiest of the bass species - the smallmouth bass.

When people hear the words “Pro Bass Fishing” they probably think of high profile tournament anglers, wearing jackets covered in patches from sponsors and fishing tournaments from coast to coast in just about every body of water you can think of. Usually the main thought is of pros involved in B.A.S.S. or FLW tournaments for large sums of money and major recognition from a national TV audience. Nobody ever thinks of the great white north when it comes to big money, highly skilled anglers and national recognition... but perhaps it’s time to give Canada a little credit