What Baits to Use

[kybasspro]

I have a creek near me with plenty off smallmouth, I was wondering what baits would be good to fish in early spring?

[Steveo-1969]

Dang. I saw the title of this thread and name of user and thought I was going to get tips from a pro. 

Lots of good threads in here about different baits for smallies.  Welcome to BR!!

[Burtonxj]

Can't go wrong with a soft plastic craw. I like the zoom ultravibe speed craws in green pumpkin.

[kybasspro]

2 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

Dang. I saw the title of this thread and name of user and thought I was going to get tips from a pro. 

Lots of good threads in here about different baits for smallies.  Welcome to BR!!

Thanks

 

[corn-on-the-rob]

Springtime I like jerkbaits if applicable, tube/craw/grub works all year round. Some craw colored shallow cranks can be great as well. Just keep it simple, work the column, and let them tell you what they want.

[BisigBass91]

Definitely go with a jerkbait. It will get the active fish. But also bring along a few craw imitations as well. I have experience in fishing small creeks and they can be a blast. Smallmouth prefer brighter colors as well. I like "clown" the best. Make sure to fish the deeper holes more thoroughly.

[kybasspro]

@BisigBass91 so like a craw crank bait will work? like a lil rebel craw crank?

 

[BisigBass91]

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Rapala_X-Rap/descpage-RXR.html

http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Berkley_Powerbait_Chigger_Craw/descpage-BPCN.html

These are my 2 go to baits for river/creek smallmouth. I think the jerkbait will get more bites, but the craw seems to get a bigger bite more often than not. 

[everythingthatswims]

They may not even be there in early spring. The small river I fish is completely devoid of smallmouth from the end of October through the end of May. They go downriver to a bigger river to winter over, and don't come back til the spawn. 

My first smallies of the year usually come on a drifted 4" t-rig senko in the last week of April or first week of May.

[Crestliner2008]

Welcome to the stie! I have probably caught more smallies on a simple 1/8 oz. ball head jig, dressed with a 3" curly tail, than any other bait in any of my tackle boxes. This is especially true of spring fishing. That, or a hard jerkbait, like the X-Rap.

[bowhunter63]

Baby Rage Craw or a 3.5 inch swim bait.