Versatile smallmouth lures

[J Francho]

We used to troll the 20s along with the Rebel Deep crawfish on Ontario in 90s through the early 2000s.  Perch pattern was always productive for both smallies and pike.

[TnRiver46]

4 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

Although I have caught more big smallmouth on jerkbaits than all other categories this crankbait caught my PB smallie & it's fair share of 6 pounders. Bottom bait a rapala tail dancer TD20 dives to 20' in perch color. 

 

What the world is that white thing and what crankbait caught the PB? The tail dancer? 

[VolFan]

That is a white Huddleston 68 Special. 6" bait with the tail of the 8" bait. 

[Ogandrews]

For those of you that like the tail dancer they also make a shad dancer. Very similar action with a fatter body so I will generally use that one if I’m going for a crayfish color. If you have Shad fisheries or just want a fatter profile it’s a great bait.

[TnRiver46]

On 5/20/2020 at 6:31 AM, VolFan said:

That is a white Huddleston 68 Special. 6" bait with the tail of the 8" bait. 

Thank you and go Vols! 

[jcrewguy]

On 5/14/2020 at 10:50 PM, FryDog62 said:

4/0, 3/32 oz Owner Twistlock Light hook, with 5 inch Caffeine Shad.  Cast, let it do its dying minnow swim for 3 seconds, give it a twitch-twitch, let it do its thing for 3 seconds, rinse/repeat.  Done... best smallmouth lure ever..

Strike King paddle tail caffeine shad or non-paddle tail? also, any fav color that you use?

[Boomstick]

I would say a soft plastic. If your senko or power worms aren't catching them, through on a craw or a rage bug

[FryDog62]

6 hours ago, jcrewguy said:

Strike King paddle tail caffeine shad or non-paddle tail? also, any fav color that you use?

Non paddle tail.  The regular Caffeine Shad has a bubble in the tail.  Between that and the belly-weighted 3/32 Twistlock Light 3/32 oz, allows it to “swim” on its own more horizontally than the traditional nose-weighted fluke/hooks that just dive vertically to the bottom.  
 

Just cast it out, let it die/swim for 3-4 seconds on semi-slack line (no tension)... give it a couple little jerks and again let it die/swim... rinse/repeat.  
 

Any color works... if I had to pick one for both large/small mouth I would pick Glacier.  Otherwise for LMB I like Pearl, Bubblegum, Baby Bass and Pearl Blue.  Siren is very good for SMB.  
 

Good luck! 

[jcrewguy]

15 hours ago, FryDog62 said:

Non paddle tail.  The regular Caffeine Shad has a bubble in the tail.  Between that and the belly-weighted 3/32 Twistlock Light 3/32 oz, allows it to “swim” on its own more horizontally than the traditional nose-weighted fluke/hooks that just dive vertically to the bottom.  
 

Just cast it out, let it die/swim for 3-4 seconds on semi-slack line (no tension)... give it a couple little jerks and again let it die/swim... rinse/repeat.  
 

Any color works... if I had to pick one for both large/small mouth I would pick Glacier.  Otherwise for LMB I like Pearl, Bubblegum, Baby Bass and Pearl Blue.  Siren is very good for SMB.  
 

Good luck! 

Awesome! Definitely going to try this combo. I've slowly started gaining confidence in regular (hard plastic) jerkbaits so this will be a fun little switch up. I used to primarily be a LMB guy but the last couple of years have transitioned more into SMB fishing. My son gets super excited every time a smallie comes crashing out of the water to spit out a hook. Thanks again for the info!