Finesse Swimbaits for River/Creek smallmouth

[JWall14]

Anyone use these techniques? I would think they would do well? I am tempted to try some now that we are in the fall. Any recommendations?

[smalljaw67]

A finesse swimbait is one of my river smallmouth staples. I like the River Rock Custom Baits RR Striker, 3.75", that bait is similar to a Keitech Easy Shiner.  My second favorite is the Keitech Swing Impact Fat 3.8, it is a similar size but the action is a little different. The River Rock bait is better in cold water and when the fish aren't in full chase mode as the bait has a wider tail kick with a good amount of body roll. The Keitech has less of a tail swing but it is much faster with less body roll, that is perfect for fishing fast and getting reaction strikes. 

[Barry S.]

I use swimbaits all the time for river smallmouth here in SC. My favorite is a Strike King 3.5" Shadalicious in Green Gizzard rigged on a Gamakatsu 3/0 1/8oz weighted swimbait hook.

 

In the picture, you can see the swimbait I referred to hanging out a 18" smallmouth's mouth, along with a real 4" shad hanging out of its mouth and, if you look closely, you'll see the head of ANOTHER 4" shad back in its mouth/throat. So yeah, swimbaits work. Lol!

[TnRiver46]

Finesse swimbait, isn’t that an oxymoron? I definitely use a lot of small paddle tail shads, usually a hand poured 2.5 inch pearl one or the old sassy shad type paddle tails . Creme braid has been working good as of late 

[Steveo-1969]

A finesse jig and a small paddletail (on a jighead) are the two baits I fish the most for river smallmouth. Keitech Swing Impact FAT (3.3"), Keitech Swing Impact (3.5" and 4"), Strike King Rage Swimmer (3.25"), BPS Speed Shad (3"). 

[fishwizzard]

 

4” Easy Shiner on a sled/draggin head.  So far this year it’s maybe my

second most productive presentation overall and the most productive by far for smallies.  

[bowhunter63]

Been doing good in the river with Rage swimmer t rigged. It seems to get hung a lot less then with a jig head or wobble head.

[Jleebesaw]

I use swim baits similar to the one in fishwizzards pic all the time. They work well for smallies and LM. They work for walleye, pike, and muskie too.

[NYWayfarer]

On 8/28/2019 at 9:33 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Finesse swimbait, isn’t that an oxymoron?

That’s what I was thinking. 

 

I guess the the closest I came to a finesse swimbait is a Berkley Havoc beat Shad on a small jighead. It works but I catch more Smallmouth slow retrieving a Ned Rigged TRD 

[8pt172]

Finesse Swimbait to me is the (Black) Marabou jig.  Hard to beat when the water is cold and the fish sluggish or super heavy pressured.