Fall Smallmouth Fishing And the K.I.S.S. Method With Bill Schultz

After more than 30 years and 36,570 smallies landed (at the time of writing), you could say Bill Schultz knows a thing or two about smallmouth fishing. With the weather beginning to cool and fishing patterns beginning to resemble the typical fall bite, we decided to check in with Bill and see if he had any advice for other anglers looking to dial in their approach to smallmouth this upcoming season.

As a firm believer in the expression, “If it ain't broke, don't fix it,” Bill's approach to the fall season is pretty similar to his approach throughout the rest of the year. But with a smallmouth fishing pedigree as strong as his, it's certainly hard to argue with the results.

Question: What are your favorite fall lures for targeting smallies?

Answer: In all of my fishing I follow the KISS method, Keep It Simple Schultz!  So, whether it’s fall or any other time of the year here in Wisconsin I’m using only a few very productive lures.  #1 for me is a light NedlockZ Chartreuse jig with a Green Pumpkin Goby Finesse TRD, small swimbait like the “new” 2.8 Octane MinnowZ, 2.5” or 3” Slim SwimZ, traditional tubes and occasionally the TRD TubeZ.  That’s really it. 

Most of my fall fishing is wading small rivers in SE and SW Wisconsin and more often the big waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan in Sturgeon Bay/Door County, Wisconsin.  My #1 presentation in the fall is the Ned Rig with TRD.  There are many good colors, but 99% of my Ned Rig w/TRD fishing is with the Green Pumpkin Goby.  If I find the smallmouth bass more active then I enjoy using the small swimbaits like the 3” Slim SwimZ.  For smaller rivers I usually use the 2.5”.  Just recently I’ve had a chance to spend some very productive time with the “new” 2.8 Octane MinnowZ and have been extremely impressed!  And, as with all the Z-Man ElaZtech lures the durability of the ones I use is tremendous!

Q: What conditions do you have most success with when bass fishing in the fall? 

A: On the big water the primary weather condition that really makes a big difference is “wind”, as well as water temperature.  Very calm in the clear waters I fish is a challenge.  I prefer at least 5 to 10 mph, which puts a nice chop and improves the numbers a great deal.  Many times in Sturgeon Bay/Door County  the wind is even stronger with 2 to 3 footers and occasionally bigger waves.  I actually like this much better than calm.  Although, not as much of a problem in my YarCraft 186TFX it does add more of a challenge in my Jackson Kayak Coosa FD.  It just means more exercise pedaling in the wind.

On those small rivers wind is not as much of a factor, although it is nice to have some movement on the surface.

I do pay attention to water temperature, especially in the spring and fall with the smallies  gravitating to warmer water.

Q: What type of structure do you target when fishing the early fall? What about late fall?

A: This does not change for me whether early or late fall. On the big waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan I like fall because those bigger smallies that have gone deeper are now heading back in.  Overall, not as shallow as spring, but back into that 5 to 14 foot range.  On the big water structure is comprised of sand bottom, rock bottom and in some areas boulders.  Or, in some locations where there is a drop off where shallow bedrock drops off to 8 to 10 feet, which I had success with recently.  So, ideally, I look for a rock bottom with smaller rocks and areas near that have sand.

Q: Do you have different colors you tend to lean on in the fall when bass fishing?

A: Again, using the KISS method, I have found keeping it simple I actually am using the same colors on my Z-Man lures the entire year.  The Finesse TRD has many great colors, but for me almost all of the 5,000 to 6,000 smallies I’ve caught on the Ned Rig since 2016 when I first used it and the Z-Man lures have been on Green Pumpkin Goby.  It’s the winner for me on small rivers and the big water. 

It is the same for me with the Slim SwimZ.  In both sizes on both small rivers and the big water I’m using the same colors year-round, Bad Shad and The Deal in Sturgeon Bay and I add Pearl Blue Glimmer for the small rivers.  With the Octane MinnowZ colors that are darker on top and lighter on the bottom like Smelt, Bad Shad, The Deal, Pro Blue Red Pearl and Electric Shad.

Q: Do you tend to catch more bass in the fall? Is the average size bigger or smaller?

A: The bodies of water I fish I’m fishing spring, summer and fall.  I would say no to larger numbers.  As far as size goes my bigger smallies come in the spring and fall on Green Bay and Lake Michigan.  All, but one of my 6+ pound smallies have been spring and fall.  Because it can get very cold and windy in Wisconsin after late October, I always hope for a warm period, like I had in early November 2020 and all-time biggest at 7.25 pounds and 6.75 pounds, along with many four to 5+ pounders.

Q: Do you change your retrieve speed at all through the fall when fishing for smallies?

A: The few productive lures I use, I fish the same all year, slow!  Slow with little or no movement is the best way to use the Ned Rig and slow and steady is by far the best for small swim baits!

Q: What’s your favorite species besides smallmouth bass to target this time of year?

A: Well, I have pretty much been a “one trick pony” since 1998, smallmouth bass!  Having caught and release my first in May of 1994 I still remember being very impressed with how they fought and they are a “pretty” fish!  Lol   Over the next few years I targeted them more and more.  I’ve now caught and released close to 37,00 and don’t see myself chasing any other species, even though I do catch others types of fish from time to time.  Over 15,000 on the big waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan in Sturgeon Bay with over 20,000 coming from those small rivers I wade.

Q: What’s your all-time favorite way to catch bass, regardless of the season?

A: I would say swimming a small swimbait and always having the excitement  from the hit!  But, when you look at productivity, which is important, then I add the Ned Rig with Finesse TRD big-time!

Q: What weight and size rod/reel do you like for the Ned Rig and Finesse TRD when targeting smallmouth?

A: Having spent a great deal with the Ned over the past 11 years.  It is definitely a spinning rod/reel presentation.   I’ve been with St. Croix Rods for 29 years using some tremendous rods in all their series.  For my river fishing I mostly use their 6’10” MLXF in several series.  This is perfect for the Ned and small swimbaits, like the Slim SwimZ, with generally smaller smallies.  But they can still handle the occasional 2-3+ pounders.  For my big water fishing and the potential for bigger smallies my new favorite action is St. Croix’s  Medium Fast, which comes in all the series as either a 7’ or 7’1” and I also use 7’3” Medium Extra Fast rods.  Both the MF and the MXF are great for the Ned Rig and the smaller swimbaits I use. 

For reels I use Daiwa 2500’s in Fuego LT, Exceler LT and Regal LT.   I also like the newer Seviin reels in the 2000 size which is the same reel as 2500, just a shallower spool meaning no backing, just braid.   My line choice has been 10-pound Daiwa J-Braid 8X in chartreuse for the visibility factor.  I have just tried and really like the Berkely X9 braid.  Since 2007 I always use a 3’ to 4’ fluorocarbon.  I use 10 pound fluoro for both river and big water fishing.