Hello My Fishing Cape Cod!  My name is Dan Jones, store manager at the Goose Hummock Shop in Orleans, Massachusetts.

In this article we will be discussing strategies and techniques that work on Cape Cod for targeting the elusive bronze-back beauty, the smallmouth bass. 

Smallmouth bass (pictured below) are a hard fighting and acrobatic freshwater fish. Fishing for smallmouths can be very exciting and challenging.

Unlike largemouth bass (see photo below), which will feed on almost anything such as soft plastics, top water plugs, stick baits, shiners, etc., smallmouth bass (also known as "smallies") prefer deep and clear water, rocky bottoms, and a more finesse fishing style.

The information provided in this article will cover: 

Braid has a much smaller diameter and also has zero stretch, which allows you to feel even the slightest of bites. This can be very useful when finesse fishing or drop shotting small plastics or live bait.

For spinning reels, I like reels in sizes 1500, 2000, 2500 and 3000. Smallmouth bass average 1 to 3 pounds with a "big one" weighing in at 5 or 6 pounds, so there is no need for a reel bigger then these.

Once again there are many brands and styles to choose from such as Shimano, Penn, Quantum and others. All have reels in this size range with prices starting anywhere from $60 to $150.

In summary, if you are just starting out, you can get a good quality rod and reel for as little as $100.

Smallmouth Bass can be very subtle and finicky.  

Drop-shotting can be very successful but the angler needs to be patient. This application involves attaching a drop shot weight to the end of your line and attaching a drop line off the main line with some type of soft plastic bait or minnow.

The weight lets you know when you’re on the bottom. At this point your bait will be approximately 8 to 12 inches above bottom. The bait is then slowly moved along the bottom, enticing a strike.

Other options for smallmouth bass include tube jigs and chatter baits.

These baits are also jigged and bounced along the bottom.

Another option is to use slow sinking and suspending stick baits, which can be cast from shore or from a boat, or even slow trolled. Yo-Zuri, Baker’s Lures, Rapala...there are plenty to choose from. 

Some of my favorite lures for smallies include:

There is a wide spectrum of colors to choose from as well. I like to stick with natural shiner, smelt or killifish patterns in 2 to 3 inch sizes.

Last but certainly not least is live bait.

Sometimes simply anchoring up and dropping a shiner or night crawler to the bottom can get the job done. The only problem with live bait is you may catch a variety of other fish as well, such as perch, bluegill and bullhead. 

Where & When To Catch Smallmouths

When I first moved to Cape Cod fifteen years ago, I had no idea how good the freshwater fishing was. Here on Cape we actually have more than 350 kettle ponds to choose from.

Not long after moving here, I began targeting some of the larger, deeper ponds with depths of more than 20 feet. Remember that smallmouth bass prefer a rocky or gravely bottom in anywhere from 15 to 40 feet of clear water.  

Smallies will move up into shallower water during spawning season. During the spring they will move into 4 to 6 feet of water, and create large spawning beds 3 to 6 feet in circumference. However during other times of the year, smallies are generally found in deeper water.

Once I got serious about smallmouth bass, one of the first things I did was obtain maps of some of the known smallmouth populations. The maps can be viewed on the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife website. 

Here are some helpful links for the State's website:

I try to look at the contour of the lake or pond, as well as the surrounding land structure. I make sure to study steep drop offs and rocky structure which may hold fish.

Fishing from shore can be productive but access restrictions and wading around ponds can be difficult. I have had much more success fishing from a kayak or jon boat, either anchoring in 15 to 20 feet of water, or drifting while casting artificial baits, which allows me to cover more area.

Almost all of the ponds on Cape Cape have some type of horsepower restrictions, so make sure you know the rules before heading out.

You can fish for smallmouth pretty much year round. Smallies can even be taken during the winter through the ice. Having a fish finder on your boat can be very helpful in locating schools of smallies or individual fish hanging out near the bottom. Using this technique allows you to vertical jig or dropshot directly over the fish.

Here is my list of my 5 favorite ponds to target smallmouth bass on Cape Cod.