What Is Best Lures When Smallmouth Are Hitting Baitfish On Top But Wont Touch Anything In Your Box ??

[tgat77]

Can someone please help me on this situation I have alot of times fishing for smallies when they are dialed in on the shad and small minnows they wont touch any lure I throw at them and I have tried everything in my taclke box which is any and just bout everything a bass will eat any help would be greatly appreciated

[Mumbly]

For smallies busting the surface my go to bait would be a spook. Either a super spook jr or sometimes a puppy.

 

Having said that, there were quite a few times last year that a pop-r was deadly as well.

[Bluebasser86]

Zara Puppy is a killer when they're chasing small baitfish on the surface. For subsurface fish you could try something like a Keitech Swing Impact Fat 2.8 on a jighead. 

[WIGuide]

I've had this happen a few times too. I finally picked up a few on a weightless soft plastic jerk bait. 

[FryDog62]

I've had this happen a few times too. I finally picked up a few on a weightless soft plastic jerk bait.

X2 - especially in colder spring water with long pauses after jerks...

[J Francho]

What depth?

[tgat77]

For smallies busting the surface my go to bait would be a spook. Either a super spook jr or sometimes a puppy.

Having said that, there were quite a few times last year that a pop-r was deadly as well.

[ThatFishin'Guy]

I have had good luck with the small size Pop-R

[tgat77]

Thanks guys for all your help I have tried many times with flukes with no success but not a zara spook yet or the puppys...and franco mostly its when im in 30 or as deep as 80 ft in the channels and also sometimes in the flats...I fished dale hollow last weekend and they were hitting baitfish on the surface in 50 ft of water I thought small ratrle trap would be the ticket but had no success and also tried hair jigs counting it down

[J Francho]

Suspending jerk baits, weighted flukes, big Sammy or Gunfish, tubes. Those are my game.

[J Francho]

If they're I the bottom doing what ever it smallies do when they're not on the rampage (making us look dumb) I go with a drop shot or jigging spoon.

[tgat77]

Thanks franco I appreciate it btw whats your favorite drop shot bait for smallies in gin clear water in the heat of summer?

[EvanT123]

One late summer night a year or two ago. I witnessed the most outrageous feeding frenzy I have ever seem. It was at the mouth of a creek and literally ever second there was a fish busting the surface. They were everywhere. I threw the book at them but came up empty handed. Sorry I can't be more help but wanted to share the frustration.

[J Francho]

Cross tails, Shad shaped worms, Gulp leeches, robo worms.

[MickD]

I've not had this happen in such deep water.  Under the conditions you describe I would think that matching the hatch very carefully would be the ticket.  A couple things are obvious, the fish are plentiful and aggressively feeding, the prey is very plentiful which means it's probably a school of all one species.  What species would the school likely be?   Try to identify the species and match it as perfectly as you can for the same size, same color, neutral buoyancy, then vary the action to find out what triggers them.  I would think soft plastic minnows, flukes or similar.  Or neutral buoyancy hard jerks.  I'll bet if you can match the hatch the lure will be struck on the fall pretty regularly.

 

I expect on any given lake there would only be a couple prey species that would be there in the numbers you describe, most likely one of the shads?

[Fisher-O-men]

These, fly-lined on 5lb braid.

[tgat77]

Thanks mick the lakes I fish are deffinitely shad and alewife are main forage ive tried so hard at matching the hatch but I think your rite theres so much bait the lure would have to be identical to the bait they are gorging on....thanks franco robo worms are my favorite as well...one day I hope to find the rite match if I do I will deffinitely share with all of you

[tgat77]

These, fly-lined on 5lb braid.

thanks fisher o men I have seen these they are pricey but if they work I dont care just want to catchem!

[Dogmatic]

Flutter spoon?

[RoLo]

 

What's the Best Lure When Smallmouth Are Hitting On Top

But Won't Touch Anything In Your Box ??

 

 

Cast Net

[roadwarrior]

Rage Shad is another option.

 

 

 

[everythingthatswims]

Spro BBZ Baby Shad would be worth a try

[wuchr20]

I like weightless flukes.  White is the color I like best

[tgat77]

Flukes havent worked for me that is one of my fav lures to fish in spring but doesnt due me good when thats the feed they are on thanks for the insight...flutter spoon may have to try that one too

[Hogsticker]

Floating or slow rise jerkbait would be my choice. Something bright and flashy, maybe with a orange belly so it stands out from the bait fish. Try every cadence you can think of till you generate a strike. I've encountered this situation many times and this is what worked for me. Granted it wasn't over such deep water, but I don't think that would matter.