Every October, northern New York anglers start asking the same question: where did the big smallmouth go, and why am I only catching shorts? The answer is not a secret spot. It is a repeatable pattern that showed up again in the 2024 state-record catch and the 2026 Bassmaster Elite record on the St. Lawrence River. If you want to put fall trophy smallmouth tactics into practice on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, you need to fish deeper, slower, and more precisely than you did in summer.
On this page:
- Why fall giants hold on deep rock
- What the record catches have in common
- The two presentations that keep showing up
- Electronics and boat positioning
- Weather, timing, and current
- Gear that matches the presentation
- Putting it together on your next trip
Why Fall Giants Hold on Deep Rock
Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River cool fast once October arrives. The shallow rocks that held smallies in June and July can thin out as water temperatures drop. Many big fish use offshore structure where they can find stable temperature, abundant gobies, and less current stress.
Lake Ontario’s October 27 record-fish roundup pulled together the Piraino smallmouth, the Kung tournament, and other state-record catches from the same system. A regional forecast for October 26 through November 1 also points anglers toward hard bottom, reefs, first breaks, and bait schools, with slower presentations after cold nights. Dante Piraino’s 9-pound state-record smallmouth came out of 30 feet of water near Cape Vincent in late September 2024. Evan Kung’s record-setting August 2026 Bassmaster Elite win on the St. Lawrence was built on fish living in 20 to 40 feet of water around rock structure. Patrick Hildenbrand’s 2016 record-tying smallie also came from 35 feet of scattered rock. Those catches do not prove every late-October fish is deep, but they make offshore hard bottom a smart place to begin the search.
What the Record Catches Have in Common
Three different record fish, three similar stories. Each angler found the fish on electronics, made a precise cast, and used a compact bait that stayed close to the bottom. Each fish was also released after documentation, which is worth remembering on a fishery this special.
| Catch | Depth | Structure | Bait / Presentation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piraino 9 lb, 2024 | 30 ft | Rock near Cape Vincent | Green pumpkin Berkley flatnose minnow on a Ned rig |
| Hildenbrand 8 lb 4 oz, 2016 | 35 ft | Scattered rock upriver | Goby-colored Berkley PowerBait Dropshot Minnow |
| Kung 109 lb 9 oz total, 2026 | 20 to 40 ft | Rock structure | Bottom-oriented finesse baits |
Notice the depth range. These fish were not on the bank. They were on offshore rock, and the anglers used their graphs to locate individual fish or pods before making a cast.
The Two Presentations That Keep Showing Up
Ned Rig
Piraino’s record fish ate a green pumpkin Berkley flatnose minnow rigged on a Ned rig lead head. The Ned rig is not fancy, and that is the point. A short stick bait or finesse worm on a light mushroom head sits on the bottom and twitches in place. In 30 feet of water, that subtle movement is exactly what a cold smallmouth wants.
Keep the head light enough to stay in contact but heavy enough to reach bottom in wind. On the river, a 1/10- to 1/5-ounce head is common. Cast past the target, let it fall on a semi-slack line, and drag it with small hops. Most bites come on the pause.
Drop-Shot
Hildenbrand’s record-tying fish came on a goby-colored Berkley PowerBait Dropshot Power Bass Minnow fished on a drop-shot. The drop-shot keeps the bait hovering just above the rocks while the weight sits on bottom. That is a perfect imitation of a goby picking at the rocks.
Use a 3/8-ounce cylindrical or teardrop weight in 35 feet. Tie a 1/0 drop-shot hook 12 to 18 inches above the weight. A straight tail or minnow profile in goby, green pumpkin, or brown purple works from Clayton to Cape Vincent. Shake the rod tip without moving the weight. The bait should hover and quiver in one spot.
Electronics and Boat Positioning
You cannot fish what you cannot find. Piraino saw his record fish on Garmin LiveScope before he cast. Kung and the 2026 Elite field relied on forward-facing sonar and mapping to stay on rock piles and transitions in 20 to 40 feet.
Start by idling over known rock piles, shoals, and points that drop into deep water. Look for individual arcs or small groups suspended just off bottom. When you mark a fish, drop a waypoint and drift back into casting range. Do not drive over the spot. Position the boat so you can cast up-current or cross-current and let the bait sweep naturally back to the fish.
Weather, Timing, and Current
Fall smallmouths feed in windows. Low-light periods, wind-blown banks, and pre-frontal afternoons all produce. On the St. Lawrence, current matters. Fish stack on the down-current side of rock piles where gobies and crayfish get washed past. Kung noted that some days the river produced better, while other days Lake Ontario was the stronger area. Be willing to move between the lake and river until you find active fish.
Wind and waves are part of the deal. The day Piraino ran to Cape Vincent was rough enough that other boats had already beaten up the area. Rough water can actually turn the fish on, but it also makes boat control harder. Use your trolling motor, drift socks, and patience to hold position without spooking the school.
Gear That Matches the Presentation
Keep it simple. A 7-foot medium-light spinning rod with a 2500-size reel handles both Ned rigs and drop-shots. Spool 10- to 15-pound-test braided main line and tie on a 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. The braid gives you sensitivity and solid hooksets in deep water; the fluoro disappears and sinks.
Hooks should be sharp and light. A 1/0 drop-shot hook or a light-wire Ned hook will stick a big smallie without tearing the bait. Carry a mix of head weights so you can adjust for depth and drift speed.
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Putting It Together on Your Next Trip
Fall trophy smallmouth tactics on Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River are not about luck. A strong starting plan is to locate offshore rock in 20 to 40 feet, choose a bottom-hugging finesse bait, and fish it slowly with your electronics. The record catches from 2016, 2024, and 2026 show why deep rock deserves attention, while current conditions should decide whether you stay there or check shallower water.
Pick a few rock piles you have not fished since July. Graph them at idle speed. Drop a waypoint on every good mark. Then make repeated casts with a Ned rig or drop-shot until the fish tells you what it wants. Some days they want the bait dead still. Some days a slow drag gets the bite. Let the fish show you.
Stop by Shorette's Bait & Tackle and we will help you rig up for the kind of smallmouth that make October worth the cold.