If you had only one choice?

[RKenney]

If you had to choose between fall or spring, what would be your
best bet to catch a trophy smallmouth? All varibles are in the
equation.

 

[bowriter]

Spring by a longshot. Early spring at that. Once I start finding water temps over 55 degrees.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Depends though Bowriter.

Pickwick is hard to beat in October. March might be close and early March at that.

You do have a point with the water temps though. Once they get up there, the smallies aren't seen near as much.

 

[shorefisherman]

fall time for lakes (november in dale holler)
spring time for rivers and creeks
my biggest smallie came out of a creek.

 

[stik]

spring is for fishing
fall is for hunting ;)

 

[chunkandwind]

Spring for me.

 

[Baxter83]

Late September-October for me. It's hard to go hunting and fishing at the same time though. I usually just pass the fishing opportunity to sit in a tree.

 

[rsimms]

Winter... smack dab dead of winter.

 

[Kimberman]

Winter for a big fish, pre spawn in the spring can be good as well.

 

[Bertman]

Spring

 

[bowriter]

I am addicted to smallmouth, have fished for them all over the country. Addmitedley, I have not done a lot of fall fishing and dam near no winter fishing except for Dale Hollow. But let them brown fish start moving up to that pre-spawn pattern and I'll tear them up. Won't tell you what my largest is but I had five one day over six on Dale. Wind from the west at about 15, 45 degrees and found 58 degree water on a sloping, rocky bank. I think we caught 31 that morning. Had to keep fighting Billy Westmoreland off.

If Buck Perry had been there, we probably would not have caught a fish. :)