When the subject of Lake Erie smallmouth bass fishing comes up, the top two questions are always “where are the best spots to fish?” and “what are your favorite lures?”

Truth is, I have no pat answers. That’s because bass fishing in this lake is always in a state of flux. The spot that produced one day doesn’t the next. What worked on Monday, won’t on Tuesday. I don’t know why, but I understand that this is just the way it is so I prepare for all contingencies.

However, I have some favorite lures that I never leave the dock without – bucktail jigs and tube baits. If these fail, I unveil the bunker buster which is drop shotting with a live gobie. In Lake Erie there is no shortage of gobies and smallies love’em.

There are several methods of making a drop shot rig. One involves losing the weight upon a strike or snag and the other hopefully preserves the weight for use again, which I favor.

Because I use braided super lines on all my reels, I start by adding about six feet of 10-pound test fluorocarbon leader, joining the lines with a uni-knot. Fluorocarbon line is invisible underwater and thus won’t spook the fish.

Take a look at the fishfinder and determine where most of the fish are holding. This tells you where to tie the hook in relation to the weight. If the fish are suspended two feet off the bottom, place the hook two feet above the weight.

There is a wide variety of hooks that can be used on a drop shot rig. Off-set and just plain baitholder hooks in #1 and #2 sizes work just fine. Tie the hook to the leader using a Palomar knot. This will allow the hook to stand straight out and give a natural presentation of the bait.

Adding weight is determined by lake conditions. On a windy day I’ll go with a half-ounce sinker then lighten up if the wind subsides. Now, on to the sinker itself.

If your game plan to is preserve the lead, add a small snap swivel to the end of the line and use a bell sinker. That’s it. Attach the bait head first and drop to the bottom, letting out line to compensate for the drift. Keep the rod tip up so you can work the rig over rocks.

Many anglers leave the sinker behind on a hookset. How they do it shows that anglers do have imagination.

For instance, I know one bass fanatic that uses a barrel sinker and tooth pick. He will thread his leader through the sinker then shove a round tooth pick in from the top.

There is just enough holding power here to prevent losing the weight. But when pressure is applied during a strike the line will cause the pick to pop out and sinker to slide off. Ditto for a snag.

Another method employs a 4-inch piece of soft wire. Simply make a loop on one end of the wire, then slip it through a swivel. Run the other end through a barrel sinker and bend upward slightly. When the hook is set on a fish, the force will straighten out the wire and the weight will slide off.

Fishermen say the fight of the fish is stronger without the weight. As for myself, I don’t see much difference. But the main advantage comes into play when the angler catches a snag. With a little line pressure you can pull your rig free, minus weight, and avoid having to make another one. Just attach a new sinker.

Bucktail jigs and plastic tubes are always a part of my arsenal. Don’t waste your money buying a wide assortment of colors. Black and dark brown bucktails are always the top producers. Same color for tubes, but add pumpkin and mossy green with or without sparkles.

There are many other productive lures for Lake Erie smallmouth bass and they can be pricey, up to $15 for one lure. The Rat-L-Trap, Strike King Redeye, most spinner baits, and diving crankbaits are lures to consider. Lipless and suspending cranks are also, productive.

As for locations, I’m not one to keep the lid on. Truth is smallies can be found all over Lake Erie. But the Western Basin attracts the most attention because of all the islands, rocky shorelines and reefs.

A starting point? How about South Bass Island? Then you can work your way to Middle Bass Island and finally to North Bass Island.