Review: Bean’s ‘The Last Smallmouth’

[Read and reviewed by BassParade reader Chad Keogh.]

If your favorite fishing rod is a lot like a pool cue with a small winch attached to it, the book The Last Smallmouth is likely not for you. Author, smallmouth bass pro guide, and lecturer Tony Bean has written this book for anglers who prefer spinning gear and brown bass.

I have to admit that even though I consider myself pretty fluent in all things smallmouth, I’d never heard of Tony Bean before. Turns out he was (is?) a well-known Tennessee fisherman, but has been out of the limelight for over a decade. Now he has the time and motivation to get back out there helping smallmouth anglers again, and I’m glad he’s back.

Though Tony mostly fishes on Percy Priest Lake, the patterns and techniques he has developed apply anywhere smallies swim – patterns like targeting humps and points using proven techniques like topwaters, swimming grubs and working the bottom with jigs.

About the only thing I would’ve liked added in the book to make it truly “The Definitive Smallmouth Bass Fishing Guide” (as the cover states) would be discussions of additional smallmouth lures and rigs. Some that come to mind are jerkbaits, shaky-head jigs, the dropshot rig and wacky rigs.

Having said that, there are a couple techniques in the book that I’ve never heard of before and I will be adding to my arsenal immediately. Sorry, no hints here, you’ll have to get your own copy.

More Unique Stuff

Another unique feature of Tony’s book are the numerous full-color photos of past guiding customers including celebrities, pro athletes, family, friends and other pro anglers. Many of the photos also come with some funny-yet-appropriate-to-the-topic stories as told by Tony in his humorous humble style.

There was one other thing in the book that I really liked and hadn’t read before. Tony’s solution for “learning feel” with respect to what’s happening on the other end of your line is so simple yet effective: Go fishing somewhere you can actually see the other end of your line. He suggests going to clear, shallow creeks.

Another way of getting the same result would be sight-fishing in shallow, clear water, which is how I learned feel. That way, when you’re hopping your bait over a log, you know what it feels like. Same goes for rock, gravel, sand, mud, and of course bass lips.

Bottom Line

I liked the book. If you’re like me and want to be a better smallmouth angler, regardless of what skill level you feel you’re currently at, I highly recommend you go to Tone’s website, smallmothsecrets.com, and get a copy of The Last Smallmouth. Thanks Tony!