Is a D shad too big?

[Otter17]

I regularly fish a steam for smallmouth. Nice sizes are 2-3lbs with bigger possible.

Ive been wanting to use the Yamamoto D shad, the only thing is, they only have it in 5", but i love the Goby color in it. 
 

Is 5" to big for these size smallmouth im after in a stream?

 

Thankyou

[Scott F]

I think you’ll get fewer bites on it, but those you do get should be bigger on average. If you don’t have a lot of confidence in the bait, or any bait for that matter, you probably won’t stick with it when things get tough. Hard to be successful sometimes if you don’t believe in the bait.

[Otter17]

Thankyou Scott, totally true!

[Scott F]

They don’t come in the same colors as the Yamamoto’s, but Case Plastics make the Sinkin’ Salty Minnow that has very much the same shape as the D Shad, but is 3 3/4”. It sinks like a Senko but with the Fluke/D Shad shape. They are a bit cheaper too at 10 for $4.50

[Otter17]

Very Nice! Im going to check those out now man. ??

[Bluebasser86]

I've caught smallies on 7" glide baits that were under a pound. They'll try to eat anything if the mood strikes them.

[Bdnoble84]

I really dont think a 5” fluke stule bait would be too big. As @Scott F said, you probably wont get as many bites but if they are agressive, they will definitely hit it. When you think about it, senkos most people throw are 5” and those get bit by smallies. Ive also caught them on 5” kahlins grubs used as a swim jig trailer, much bigger profile and that didnt deter them. Biggest thing to me is the hookup ratio with bigger plastics goes down for me. They just dont get it in there mouths as easily.

[Otter17]

Thanks everyone for your help! ??

[Captain America]

I dont think so. I have caught some DINK smallies on 5 inch baits. Depending on the day it might help you out. Later in the year when baitfish are bigger it might be good. I have seen days where a 5 inch grub very noticeably outfishes a 4 inch, and vice versa. 

[MickD]

Try cutting it off to the length you want.  While smallies do hit big baits at times, they also shun big baits at times, and I think the smaller 3.5 and 4 inch swimbaits are more reliable at getting fish to bite.  IMO

[lavbasser]

Keitech Shad impact comes in a 4 inch goby color.   Color won’t be exact and they don’t cast as well as the D Shads but they are very good.

[zeth]

Definitely not too big. One of the hottest techniques up here on the Columbia River. They will eat them. Couple tips. Smallmouth will try to smack it a lot rather than bite it. Then they'll come back around and grab it or another will get it from the pack after that first one smacks it. When that happens kill the retrieve for a second or two and hopefully they come back around and get it. 

Next tip use a smaller hook. Best hook for these is the Gamakatsu G-Finesse Hybrid worm hook. 

Next tip if they are slapping at it take treble hook and put it on the G-Finesse like a stinger. burry one of the points in the body. Definitely downsize the G-Finesse if you do this. his will get those slappers.

Next tip. They often eat it head first as well. Take an owner screwlock (screw all the way into the bait so none is sticking out) and a #1 or 1/0 or whatever size you want wacky rig hook and nose hook it. 

Last tip. It's a fluke. They all work. I am a D-shad fan and a Keitech Shad Impact fan but those are expensive to just take down to the stream. Zoom works great and they are cheaper and have the best colors with the exception of Keitech.

[Otter17]

Thankyou for the great info Seth! Now that ive looked at the colors, the Fluke in Houdini might closer resemble the D shad goby.

[Otter17]

One of the choices I picked up for now, is the Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm. It comes in the same color goby as the D shad, but comes in a 4" size. Not sure if the action is going to be quite the same, but ill give them a try.

[Munkin]

It is not too big but if they are use to smaller prey being its a creek it may not work as well. 

 

Allen

[Ivey]

I was fishing Dale Hollow once and saw a big Smallmouth on top struggling, went over and netted it. The fish had a bream so big in it's mouth it wouldn't go down or come out. After a few minutes snipping the fins off the bream I finally got it out of his mouth. That Bream was bigger and longer than my hand. Point is, Smallmouth will eat big baits.

[cyclops2]

If it go in ?  Done. The predator rule for none skinny fish is 1/ 2 the eaters length. Any time.

[Otter17]

On 5/15/2020 at 1:20 PM, Ivey said:

I was fishing Dale Hollow once and saw a big Smallmouth on top struggling, went over and netted it. The fish had a bream so big in it's mouth it wouldn't go down or come out. After a few minutes snipping the fins off the bream I finally got it out of his mouth. That Bream was bigger and longer than my hand. Point is, Smallmouth will eat big baits.

? Holy Cow, that’s a Huge bait for a smallmouth!

[Boomstick]

I don't think that's too big at all. I target smallies on jigs and T-Rigged rage tails. Smaller baits at times may get more bites, but you may land more quality fish with the larger bait -- and at times the smaller baits may not be worth their time.

[cyclops2]

I am into supplying Perch for a 87 year old friend. So nice to see him smiling as I drop 4 or 5 good sized ones into his refrigerator bag. The electric knife will be buzzing. 

He has said no smaller than legal or more than 16 inches for the bass. But I killed a big S M with the lure way in the throat.  Nice cooked up.

[RoLo]

 

It's big, but not too big.

Bronzebacks are highly aggressive

 

Roger