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Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse #12830903 07/17/18 02:39 AM
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dk2429 Offline OP
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I've been bass fishing many years, but I've YET to put a smallmouth in my hands..

Friend and I are going to take about a week up at Belton/Stillhouse in a few weeks. My #1 goal is to put a smallmouth in my hands. I don't care how big, I just want to haul in a smallmouth.

With that being said.... What's the trick to catching these things on these lakes? My friend I'm taking was actually born and raised in Erie, PA and fished Lake Erie a lot for smallies, but not sure if it's the same way down here. From my little research, I see a lot of people saying to throw crawfish crankbaits off of deep points/ledges.

What's the trick guys?? I'm extremely anxious to catch one....


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Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12830941 07/17/18 03:06 AM
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I'm the same way out there, I catch lots of spots and smaller largemouth and the occasional good largemouth, granted I usually only make it out there a few times a year.

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12830979 07/17/18 03:47 AM
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kingfish_1970 Offline
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Just go to BELTON and fish like you normally would for bass. You WILL catch smallies. I catch them nearly everytime I go out there. STILLHOUSE is another animal though. I caught my first smallie out of there in 06. I didn't catch another one until late May of this year. However, that day, all I caught were smallies. It was strange, cause it was very hot, and they were biting in about a foot of water. No size to them. But they were biting. My advice to you is to try BELTON first.

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831036 07/17/18 07:45 AM
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Fooshman Offline
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I have yet to catch one there. frown


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Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831195 07/17/18 01:43 PM
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That is all my son talks about is catching a smallmouth. He finally cuaght one on Whitney but is was 5 inches long. That did nothing for him.
Can you catch them during the summer or is it too hot?

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: coachallentca] #12831223 07/17/18 02:03 PM
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kingfish_1970 Offline
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There may be something to that, Coach. I just remembered that the two Stillhouse giants in my other post were both caught in between storms. One at night and the other in the evening with overcast skies. However, the last time that I fished Still house from a boat, we caught about 20 smallies. None over 14". All we're in extremely shallow water on rocky banks. We caught every one on a weightless fluke. It was probably 90 degrees and sunny blue bird skies.
Originally Posted By: coachallentca
That is all my son talks about is catching a smallmouth. He finally cuaght one on Whitney but is was 5 inches long. That did nothing for him.
Can you catch them during the summer or is it too hot?

Last edited by kingfish_1970; 07/17/18 02:48 PM. Reason: additional information
Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831254 07/17/18 02:26 PM
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shotgunwilly Offline
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Go to Belton and bass fish. You'll run into a smallie. It has a great population of them.

Summertime night fishing is a good way out there.

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831312 07/17/18 03:13 PM
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kingfish_1970 Offline
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Belton and Stillhouse fish from this year

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: kingfish_1970] #12831324 07/17/18 03:22 PM
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Jamoke Offline
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Smallmouth cruise rocky windblown banks. if you are in a boat, cast as close to shore as you can and slow retrieve with pauses. cast near every rock, stick etc. This has worked with Texas rigged worms, small spinners, and shallow diving lures. The water is so clear, you can often see them when you walk the bank. they are really scattered everywhere else that LM are but tend to congregate on these banks. GL

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831326 07/17/18 03:23 PM
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kingfish_1970 Offline
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A couple Still House and Belton fish from this year



Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831347 07/17/18 03:30 PM
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coachallentca Offline
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I will have to get my son down there and try.. I am tried of him bugging me about it.

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831639 07/17/18 07:41 PM
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Caught a 4.9 Sunday at Belton. Early morning has been the best for me lately. Like said earlier find a wind blown rocky bank. A hard jerkbait or fluke worked fast and erratic seems to get them fired up.


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Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12831937 07/17/18 11:56 PM
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dk2429 Offline OP
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Thanks a bunch guys! Yeah we'll be in a boat, Garmin graphs, whatever. I've been fishing forever, but again, never a smallmouth.

King, my main focus will be Belton, but being up there a week, if Belton for whatever reason doesn't produce, Stillhouse is right down the road. I've never been to either of the lakes so they are going to be new waters for me

I was thinking Amistad also since there smallmouth there, but from everything I've read and have been told, Belton and Texoma are about the best it gets for smallmouth here. Belton is closer, so I'll hit it.

We won't be going until a few more weeks, but when/IF I hang my first smallie, regardless of size I'll post a picture up.

I guess while I'm on the topic, where do y'all stay up there? Don't need anything fancy/high dollar. Just 2 beds, a commode, and a shower

Last edited by dk2429; 07/18/18 12:01 AM.

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Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12832105 07/18/18 01:26 AM
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Belton has a bunch. Fish the lower 1/3 of the lake. Shakey heads, flukes or go at night. Slow rolled black spinnerbaits along the rocky banks

Re: Smallmouth on Belton/Stillhouse [Re: dk2429] #12832185 07/18/18 02:15 AM
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Might be tough to do with traffic but try a shaky head or jig on the boat ramps - esp between the concrete lanes.

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