BassinBoy Posted July 24, 2014 Posted July 24, 2014 What would you guys consider your go to smallmouth baits? More specifically, when fishing rivers for smallmouth, NOT DEEP WATER Quote
Super User iabass8 Posted July 24, 2014 Super User Posted July 24, 2014 small Tube LC 78 pointer Jerkbait Shakey Head /w baby rage craw or roboworm Quote
Super User Scott F Posted July 24, 2014 Super User Posted July 24, 2014 Depends on the river, but a 4 inch senko and a #4 Mepps are what was killing them for me the last 3 days on the shallow rivers I was fishing. 1 Quote
Super User flyfisher Posted July 24, 2014 Super User Posted July 24, 2014 nose hooked 4" stick bait will always produce. Next would be your pic of craw plastic on a draggin' head and then of course there are the top waters of which i prefer buzz baits myself. On the fly rod i am chucking poppers, gurglers, rabbit hair leeches, claw dads and some type of minnow imitation like a clouser or EP baitfish fly. Quote
annexation Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 I like using a black / blue finesse jig in my local smallie rivers, which tend to have lots of rocks and faster current. Something with a round head, trailered with a plastic that has limbs. Funny you should pose this question today - I just caught these three this morning on that exact jig (5/16 oz) with the back half of a GrandeBass mutant for a trailer: 1 Quote
jtharris3 Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 On the rivers that I fish I like 3" Twister Tails on a 1/16 or 1/8 oz. jig as a go to bait. Mepps and Panther Martin spinners are an excellent choice too. Sizes 2 or 3 work well. Quote
Back Country Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 Heddon Spit' N Image, Shad Rap, Rapala J-11. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted July 25, 2014 BassResource.com Administrator Posted July 25, 2014 Green pumpkin Yum dinger, wacky rigged on a 1/2oz football head jig 3" green pumpkin or watermelon tube and a 1/2oz open jig or split shot (mojo rig). Done. Quote
Super User Munkin Posted July 25, 2014 Super User Posted July 25, 2014 Smallie beaver Fluke 4" senko Slider worm Bandit 100 in a craw color Allen Quote
Uber Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 River for me is the upper Niagara. Has a bit of current. Go to is a white spinner, then a hot pink x-rap xr08. If that fails then I'll head out off of the 3-12ft. Water to about 15-20ft and try a silver or watermelon tubejig. Quote
OntarioFishingGuy Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 Gold spinners seem to produce very well for me. A split shot rigged wooly bugger fly is also a great technique. 1 Quote
Super User smalljaw67 Posted July 25, 2014 Super User Posted July 25, 2014 Rapala flat Rap, Manns baby 1 minus, Cotton Cordell Big-O are the hard baits to use. For plastics, anything will work but 2.75" to 3.5" tubes, 3" Senkos fished on a small 1/16oz to 1/8oz jig head with a size #1 hook, 4" flukes and of course, 4"and 5" Senkos fished wacky or Texas rig weightless. 1 Quote
THE_Vue's Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 if there was only one lure. The Fat ika destroys, even the senko. But with smallies the little guys will destroy the bait easily too and baits are expensive at 8 bucks a pack. This pic actually a kinami palm tree just an idea of how it looks 2 Quote
Super User Scott F Posted July 25, 2014 Super User Posted July 25, 2014 Green pumpkin Yum dinger, wacky rigged on a 1/2oz football head jig 3" green pumpkin or watermelon tube and a 1/2oz open jig or split shot (mojo rig). Done. Wow, you sure do fish different rivers than I do. A 1/2 oz football head jig wouldn't last 3 casts in the shallow, fast, rocky rivers I'm used to. And by shallow, I mean it's hard to find water more than 4 feet deep. 90% of the river is less than waist deep. Even kayaks often have to be dragged through some areas. More often than not, anything with much weight just snags on the bottom. Quote
BassResource.com Administrator Glenn Posted July 25, 2014 BassResource.com Administrator Posted July 25, 2014 I fish heavy current. Downsize as needed for slower current. Quote
DTack Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 It's been brought up that rivers can vary... As general use which covers clear and dirty rivers all remaining somewhat shallow... Small red/orange crankbait (kvd 1.0 or 1/8 oz speedtrap) 78 or 100 size Lucky Craft Pointer usually something with chartruese on it1/8-3/8 oz darthead with chartruese or off-white 4 or 5 inch yamamoto grub 1/4-1/2 oz spinnerbait in white and chartruese with silver gold blades Quote
Super User webertime Posted July 25, 2014 Super User Posted July 25, 2014 Fat Ika or small bright crankbaits (Big O, Yo Zuri, Strike King 1) Quote
dam0007 Posted July 27, 2014 Posted July 27, 2014 Punisher hair jig 1/8 or 3/16- 3.8" Fat keitech on a 1/2oz football head- Tube(don't throw them as much as I should can't recommend one)- Senko Quote
frogflogger Posted July 27, 2014 Posted July 27, 2014 buzzbait or prop bait on top - z-man finesse worm on 1/16 - 1/8 jighead for bottom fishing. Quote
WI_Angler1989 Posted January 1, 2016 Posted January 1, 2016 I'm a late arrival, but I fish shallow rivers too and stick to a handful of proven winners. My absolute go-to is a 1/8 or 1/4 oz confidence baits draggin head with tubes and sometimes craws. I also use "birds" from the same company. Others I use a lot are Mepps Aglia #3 in gold brown or white silver, 4" Husky jerks in various colors, 4" kalins grubs on 1/8 jig heads. I've had success with wacky rigged 4" stick baits (Yamamoto and yum) but haven't used them a lot. Getting vetter with that setup is goal of mine for next season. I know I'm way late with this but it's never too early to get excited for spring! 2 Quote
Super User slonezp Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 Locally, senkos, flukes, and hellgrammites. 1 Quote
Super User bowhunter63 Posted January 2, 2016 Super User Posted January 2, 2016 Rage Craws,Wacky rig worm or Power Team Lure tubes.Swim jig with swimbait trailer. Quote
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