Go to bait for Creek smallmouth

[BassinCNY]

On 4/5/2019 at 12:34 PM, redmeansdistortion said:

I catch tons of smallmouth while steelhead fishing.  While this is a steelhead drift rig, I'm going to assume it's deadly for smallies too since I hook into them often.  I use a 3/16 oz to 3/8oz oz slinky weight (depending on current speed) on the main line and a #8 snelled octopus hook on the leader with a 3" pink trout worm.  I throw it out there and let the current carry it down stream until I get a hit.

I will give this a try. Thanks for the tip.

[Manly Studson]

On 3/31/2019 at 11:41 AM, roadwarrior said:

Rage Tail Menace

 

I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Manly Studson said:

I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?

I haven’t mastered it quite like @roadwarrior but I have used them weightless, Texas rig , and shakey head. They all work very well, in addition to being a good trailer for jigs and bladed jigs . I haven’t Carolina rigged one yet but I bet it would work 

[Otter17]

On 4/5/2019 at 11:34 AM, redmeansdistortion said:

I catch tons of smallmouth while steelhead fishing.  While this is a steelhead drift rig, I'm going to assume it's deadly for smallies too since I hook into them often.  I use a 3/16 oz to 3/8oz oz slinky weight (depending on current speed) on the main line and a #8 snelled octopus hook on the leader with a 3" pink trout worm.  I throw it out there and let the current carry it down stream until I get a hit.

I really like this setup. Thankyou for posting this.?

[roadwarrior]

9 hours ago, Manly Studson said:

I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?

Texas Rig with a 3/0 EWG hook and 1/4 or 3/8 oz bullet weight.

[SCWatrboyo1]

I throw these jig heads in small creeks especially the smaller ones with either a slider or zman finesse

[FishinBuck07]

Mine would be a 3" stickworm with a 1/16 oz bullet weight texas rigged.  My favorite way to catch them in the creek would be my fly rod though, not always the most productive though since I am still learning.

[Highview Hank]

 inline spinner, curly grub, tube.   They have been hammering the orange flame,  rock bass hot on 3 inch speed shad

[J Francho]

Try a Norman Fat Boy.  You will be surprised at how well it works, and not just for smallies.

 

https://www.lurenet.com/norman-fat-boy

[Dogface]

On small creeks I use a hellgrammite imitation or something similar to a hellgrammite, in-line spinners and small twister tails. 

 

On bigger running water I use those mentioned above and the Rebel Crawfish, the Beetle Spin and the Tiny Torpedo with blades.

 

Dry flies work great especially if there is a small hatch. A big hatch might put too many flies on the water and the fish will never find your fake.

 

And then there is live bait!!! Specifically minnows. 

 

BTW I see someone mentioned Z-Man baits. I just purchased some Z-Man craws and light jig heads. I hope to try them in some of the smaller creeks I fish. Hopefully rocks won't be too much of a problem but they seem perfect size for small water.

[Dogface]

On 4/10/2019 at 7:23 AM, FishinBuck07 said:

Mine would be a 3" stickworm with a 1/16 oz bullet weight texas rigged.  My favorite way to catch them in the creek would be my fly rod though, not always the most productive though since I am still learning.

A flyrod with a small popper is deadly. I should have included that in my suggestions above. 

[CountryboyinDC]

1 hour ago, Dogface said:

On small creeks I use a hellgrammite imitation or something similar to a hellgrammite, in-line spinners and small twister tails. 

 

On bigger running water I use those mentioned above and the Rebel Crawfish, the Beetle Spin and the Tiny Torpedo with blades.

 

Dry flies work great especially if there is a small hatch. A big hatch might put too many flies on the water and the fish will never find your fake.

 

And then there is live bait!!! Specifically minnows. 

 

BTW I see someone mentioned Z-Man baits. I just purchased some Z-Man craws and light jig heads. I hope to try them in some of the smaller creeks I fish. Hopefully rocks won't be too much of a problem but they seem perfect size for small water.

I like all of these, particularly the first 2 lines.  I was a huge Case hellgrammite fan (still am), but I've run into another that is made of a plastic like the Z-man baits.  They last for 10+ fish usually, although they are harder to rig in certain cases (think jighead with wire baitkeeper).  They are NikKo Zaza, and I buy them from the outfitter that shuttles my kayak, but I see they're on Amazon now.  These and the Z-man baits last an amazing amount of time, and I'm turning to them more and more for smallmouth in skinny water.

[Dogface]

I just bought some Nikkos. I haven't used them yet.

[CountryboyinDC]

8 hours ago, Dogface said:

I just bought some Nikkos. I haven't used them yet.

I think you'll like them.  When the summer gets in full swing, I'll probably be using these all the time, either on a light jighead or on a size 4 EWG hook Texposed with a small worm weight.  The great thing is when you start catching them every few casts you may only have to adjust them on the hook every few fish.  I've never needed a new bait on a single trip (unless I lost the whole jighead).

[FishinBuck07]

23 hours ago, Dogface said:

A flyrod with a small popper is deadly. I should have included that in my suggestions above. 

Like I said I am still learning, when you are fishing the popper are you letting it just drift the current or are you popping it constantly?  I know stupid question

[Dogface]

1 hour ago, FishinBuck07 said:

Like I said I am still learning, when you are fishing the popper are you letting it just drift the current or are you popping it constantly?  I know stupid question

Not a stupid question. I'll try different retrieves depending on different circumstances but most times I'll cast to cover and make gentle moves or pops. I want to keep the popper in the vicinity of the cover. My thinking is that the fish is holding to cover and I want to present an easy meal. I usually work each piece of cover and I favor shallow cluttered areas to fish poppers. 

 

If you get a hit hesitate a second or two before sitting the hook. If you set too quick you'll pull the hook out of the fishes mouth.  

 

BTW it is addicting.....all those top water hits!!

[FishinBuck07]

9 minutes ago, Dogface said:

Not a stupid question. I'll try different retrieves depending on different circumstances but most times I'll cast to cover and make gentle moves or pops. I want to keep the popper in the vicinity of the cover. My thinking is that the fish is holding to cover and I want to present an easy meal. I usually work each piece of cover and I favor shallow cluttered areas to fish poppers. 

 

If you get a hit hesitate a second or two before sitting the hook. If you set too quick you'll pull the hook out of the fishes mouth.  

 

BTW it is addicting.....all those top water hits!!

Thank you very much!  I figure it is just like setting the hook on a frog with conventional gear, wait till you feel he weight of the fish?

 

All I know is I really enjoy fighting creek smallies on the fly rod!  Tied a new hellgrammite  fly over the winter that i am excited to see how they like.

[Dogface]

Good luck with the hellgrammite fly. It should be a killer. 

[Munkin]

LC Pointer 65sr.

 

Allen

[king fisher]

Inline spinner.- will catch anything. Works best cast up stream in runs and riffles. 

 

4" hula grub with 1/8-1/4 ounce jig head..- for when they don't want a spinner. Works great in eddies, and deep pools, but can be drifted in current.

 

Floating Rapala - great twitched on top for surface strikes, then finish retrieve by reeling straight in.

 

Small mouths in creeks are not usually picky.  Will hit anything if the presentation is right.  Pick a lure that will work depending on current speed and depth.  The lures I mentioned will cover top to bottom, riffles, runs, tail outs, pools, eddies and pockets behind rocks, logs, and weeds. Many other lures will work just as well, these are the ones I bring when I fish creeks for both bass and trout.