BooyahMan Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 In about a month's time I will be taking a few days off to fish for Smallies. I've had VERY limited experience with them and want to maximize my chances at a few fish in the short amount of time I'll have. Last year I had a little bit of luck with fish up to 2.5lbs using small in-line spinners, but are there other search baits that you guys would recommend? I noticed that they would almost always go for the spinner in the first 10 casts at each spot, but after that they would get less and less interested so I would definitely like to have other options. For the moment I think quantity of fish is more important than quality for me. Thanks! Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted July 16, 2015 Super User Posted July 16, 2015 Perhap you could spend a day or two with a local Guide. Reading about what to do is one thing - having someone with skill & experience show you How & Where is another. Good Luck A-Jay 1 Quote
Super User everythingthatswims Posted July 16, 2015 Super User Posted July 16, 2015 The 'ol x-rap is a mighty fine search bait for smallies. You can cover water quickly and it really gets them worked up 3 Quote
Chris S Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 On 7/15/2015 at 3:52 PM, BooyahMan said: In about a month's time I will be taking a few days off to fish for Smallies. I've had VERY limited experience with them and want to maximize my chances at a few fish in the short amount of time I'll have. Last year I had a little bit of luck with fish up to 2.5lbs using small in-line spinners, but are there other search baits that you guys would recommend? I noticed that they would almost always go for the spinner in the first 10 casts at each spot, but after that they would get less and less interested so I would definitely like to have other options. For the moment I think quantity of fish is more important than quality for me. Thanks! I have had 50+ fish days on this crazy thing, when I moved here to Kansas I thought it was the dumbest thing I had ever tried until the first cast I made and BANG! Green or PBNJ color are my favs... 1 Quote
CeeJay Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 small spinnerbait like the pond magic Yep, I use small spinnerbaits as well as inline spinners as my search baits on the river. The SK Mini-King spinnerbait is my favorite. 1 Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted July 16, 2015 Super User Posted July 16, 2015 If your looking for a search bait I would recommend trying a crank bait. Look for a PM. 2 Quote
BooyahMan Posted July 16, 2015 Author Posted July 16, 2015 Thanks guys for the tips! Looks like in addition to the in-line spinners I have I'll also be tossing cranks and spinnerbaits. Sounds like I should downsize to junior or miniature versions if possible to accommodate for their smaller mouths? Quote
Crank Bait Nut Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 Don't Under Estimate There Small Mouths , I've Caught Many A Smallies Off Of DT 6's. The Color I Use Is Chart Sides with Root Beer Back. Mike 3 Quote
Super User HoosierHawgs Posted July 17, 2015 Super User Posted July 17, 2015 Thanks guys for the tips! Looks like in addition to the in-line spinners I have I'll also be tossing cranks and spinnerbaits. Sounds like I should downsize to junior or miniature versions if possible to accommodate for their smaller mouths?I think waters smallmouth are caught in are populated with smaller forage rather than they can't eat large forage. They are also are generally thought to be spookier, lot of the reason most guys target them with spinning gear a lot. 2 Quote
Super User OkobojiEagle Posted July 17, 2015 Super User Posted July 17, 2015 jighead/grub; bare hook/fluke; and, of course, walking topwater or popper... oe 2 Quote
Neil McCauley Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 For searching via casting this is my go-to. Casts a mile, even with 12# fluorcarbon. I prefer it over spinnerbaits and spinners because the faster the retrieve the deeper it goes, not the other way around. I can cover water 15-20ft down much more quickly.Or if I am totally clueless about where the fish are I will troll with a smaller 3" shad raps in perch pattern set at different depths. I've found some surprises doing this, like suspended smallies, LMB, even pumpkinseed over 150+ fow.I agree about the size...don't be afraid of bigger lures. A few times I've caught smallies on the StrikeKing 10XD. They cast further and draw more attention. 2 Quote
no39 Posted July 20, 2015 Posted July 20, 2015 For searching via casting this is my go-to. Casts a mile, even with 12# fluorcarbon. I prefer it over spinnerbaits and spinners because the faster the retrieve the deeper it goes, not the other way around. I can cover water 15-20ft down much more quickly. Or if I am totally clueless about where the fish are I will troll with a smaller 3" shad raps in perch pattern set at different depths. I've found some surprises doing this, like suspended smallies, LMB, even pumpkinseed over 150+ fow. I agree about the size...don't be afraid of bigger lures. A few times I've caught smallies on the StrikeKing 10XD. They cast further and draw more attention. I've been meaning to try something different but I lack the confidence in deep cranking. I might give it a try next time I'm out, thanks. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 21, 2015 Global Moderator Posted July 21, 2015 The KVD 1.0 on a spinning rod and 8lb test cast a mile and covers lots of water to find active summer smallies for me. 2 Quote
Balshy Fishing Posted July 22, 2015 Posted July 22, 2015 Blue, what color do you recommend for the KVD 1? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 22, 2015 Global Moderator Posted July 22, 2015 Blue, what color do you recommend for the KVD 1? I don't get too crazy, sexy shad, chrome sexy, and orange belly craw cover pretty much all my needs. Quote
Turkey sandwich Posted July 23, 2015 Posted July 23, 2015 A few things to consider... Are you fishing a river or lake? A lake may require you get down 20+ feet. In a river, you can find active smallmouth feeding within 1-5 feet of water so long as there are current breaks and eddies for them to use to rest/as ambush points (sometimes these are things like subsurface rocks/trees/vegetation you'll never see from the surface. You can fish a lot of lures with little/no weight and cover essentially everything from top to bottom. What's the water clarity like? Clear water, means lifelike colors and splash. Thump or rattles may be handy to entice more active fish, but focusing on flash and "matching the hatch" color-wise and with presentation is helpful. My favorites - Willow bladed spinnerbaits, Poppers/walking baits, Crankbaits and jerk baits matching natural forage. (Seriously, smash a crankbait off of rocks or use the bill to rip up sand/silt/mud from the bottom and you'll get reaction strikes as soon as you find active fish) Stains water means often you'll be best off attracting active fish with thump and rattles (sound will attract active fish from longer range as the water gets more stained). Here I like Colorado blades, rattling Crankbaits, rattling lipless crankbaits, and sometimes swimming a tube with glass rattles inside. I like bright colors like chartreuse, fire tiger, etc or black/dark purples to provide a visible silhouette once the water gets more and more stained. What depths are you targeting? While poppers and walking baits can often bring fish up from deep, smallmouth will often feed down. Think about forage like baitfish, but more so crawfish, helgramites, and stone cats (all primary forage for smallmouths). They all live/cling/hide in and around the bottom. I like to approach depth starting high in the water column and then work down until I can find a pattern. You can do this with topwaters, jerk baits, Crankbaits, spinnerbaits, grubs, and then tube jig and craw immitations on/around the bottom. Sorry if the post is long, but this is basically how I approach locating active fish/covering water for smallmouths. Versus largemouths: spend more time on rock versus weeds, and key more towards feeding down than up. I hope this helps! 3 Quote
Balshy Fishing Posted July 26, 2015 Posted July 26, 2015 I don't get too crazy, sexy shad, chrome sexy, and orange belly craw cover pretty much all my needs. What line are you using your super spook on? Also, what trebles did you buy to replace the back ones? Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted July 27, 2015 Global Moderator Posted July 27, 2015 What line are you using your super spook on? Also, what trebles did you buy to replace the back ones? 10lb Big Game, #4 Owner ST36 on the front and back. 1 Quote
Hogsticker Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 If actively feeding on top try a small popper. If actively feeding on bottom use a grub as a search bait. I once upon a time went on a guided trip on the John Day. We swam grubs the entire time and caught so many smallies my forearm was sore the next day. 2 Quote
Turkey sandwich Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 Grubs with 1/32 to 1/4 oz jigs just catch smallies. Once you find them, there's no simpler way to catch them. 2 Quote
RangerDanger Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 The KVD 1.0 on a spinning rod and 8lb test cast a mile and covers lots of water to find active summer smallies for me. or a Spybait! First time I threw it we were struggling to get a bite, then boom I went on an absolute tear with that bait. I have one of the Ned Rig kings as a witness. I have not been on a smallmouth lake since July 3rd and it was still working, even in the stained water. I need to get back out to a smallmouth lake and see how it performs in these water temps. Quote
BooyahMan Posted July 29, 2015 Author Posted July 29, 2015 Thanks for the tips guys! I'm super stoked about this trip; I hopefully will have something to report back after all your help! Quote
Super User lmbfisherman Posted July 30, 2015 Super User Posted July 30, 2015 Not sure if I'm too late or not. KVD Squarebill 1.0 or 1.5 Sexy Shad Spinnerbait 3/8 oz Popper or Spook Jr. 1 Quote
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted August 1, 2015 Global Moderator Posted August 1, 2015 or a Spybait! First time I threw it we were struggling to get a bite, then boom I went on an absolute tear with that bait. I have one of the Ned Rig kings as a witness. I have not been on a smallmouth lake since July 3rd and it was still working, even in the stained water. I need to get back out to a smallmouth lake and see how it performs in these water temps. I still haven't done much with my spybait but I probably haven't given it a very fair shot either. Quote
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