Check out this episode of Bass University Live for an insightful conversation with smallmouth expert Scott Dobson as he breaks down Northern bass fishing strategies and the significant impact of forward-facing sonar on the sport. This video is a must-watch for any angler looking to catch more smallmouth bass, particularly on the Great Lakes.
Scott Dobson shares his experiences and insights from premier Northern waters like Lake St. Clair, the St. Lawrence River, Lake Champlain, and Saginaw Bay. Discover how live scoping has revolutionized smallmouth tournaments, shifting from traditional bed fishing to offshore fishing, now requiring 22-23 pounds to contend for top places on Lake St. Clair.
Learn Scott Dobson's tips for live scoping:
- Adjusting sensitivity and color gain based on water conditions and bottom type (hard bottom versus grass).
- The importance of sweeping the trolling motor slowly back and forth to locate fish off the bottom.
- Understanding how fish react to sonar ping, noting that bass may be shy of it.
Explore effective baits and techniques for Northern smallmouth:
- Post-spawn strategies
- Top baits discussed include spy baits, hair jigs, jerk baits, and chatter baits.
- A game-changing tip: How you can dramatically increase your landing percentage on spy baits and blade baits by up to 70%.
Scott also discusses the NPFL tournament on the St. Lawrence River, which has banned forward-facing sonar. He predicts a return to old-school grinding smallmouth fishing focusing on visual fishing in shallow water (3-10 feet), current seams, rock jetties, and sand divots, with bed fishing still playing a role.
Don't miss insights into the current health of Lake St. Clair, described as the best it's been in 15-20 years with abundant bass (1.5 to 6 pounds). Scott also touches on Saginaw Bay conditions and the expanded tournament limits.
