Starter Baits/Lures for Streams

[NYWayfarer]

Hard to beat lures for Smallmouth:

 

Ned Rigged Z-Man Finesse TRD on a mushroom head jig 1/8 oz or smaller

 

Nikko Hellgrammite on a ball head jig 1/8 oz or smaller

 

Rage Tail baby craw Texas Rigged on a 1/0 worm hook and a 1/8 - 1/4 oz bullet weight preferably tungsten.

[Mbirdsley]

Jointed j-7 rapala’s will crush big smallies untill the water temps start to get really warm.  I have had a lot of success just on a straight cast and reel in retrieve .  You want it going fast enough to get that jointed rapala wiggle. Also throw them in slack water and let them sit there untill the ripples have stopped. Than just gently move your rod tip to get it to bob up in down in the water to make more ripples.  Usually a bass is sitting right underneath of it after it touches down abd you let sit. At that point they are just waiting for the slightest movement to hammer it.  Make it bob 2-3 times than retrieve it back.

 

In line spinners are another good early spring through early summer lure.

 

once the water warms snd it summer time it’s all about the tube bait. All you need in the summer is 4 inch green pumpkin tube with a tube jig in 1/16-1/8 range or adjust to conditions.  I’ve caught a lot of smallies with a just dead slow retrieve.  You want that tube just ticking the bottom as you bring it back couple jerks here and there for variety.

 

finally the ned rig works in faster water.  The way I use it is kinda like bottom bouncing for steel head.  Throw it up stream with enough weight for it to to come back to you while reeling in the slack line.  Ideally you want it like the tube skipping along the bottom with current.  The weedless neds work good.  
 

Best thing is you don’t need fancy line for any of what I’ve discussed unless, it’s super super  clear .  I’ve caught giant river smallies just on mono. 

 

[HookInMouth]

On 3/4/2021 at 2:46 PM, roadwarrior said:

This is my #1 and will be yours, too!

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_Rage_Twin_Tail_Menace_Grub_8pk/descpage-SKRTTMG.html

 

Start with Smokey Shad. 

You will need a pack of 3/0 Gamakatsu EWG hooks and 1/4oz bullet weights.

Nailed it. I could live with just this and a few Berkley Choppo 90 to be honest. 

[Cdn Angler]

Personally I start any small river or stream fishing with any shallow running crankbait. Nothing fancy needed, a Cotton Cordell Big O, Rapala J-9, small lunkerhunt crank etc. Anything that runs shallow, if fishing shallow, as usually the case from the bank. 

 

Can cover a ton of water and they get bit. Easy to fish for a beginner: chuck and wind, maybe stop now and again. Do well in mild to moderate current. 

 

If loads of sticks or other people's old line, can be problematic due to snags. 

[JWall14]

I’ve caught thousands of river and creek smallmouth on a variety of baits. My favorites are Ned rigs, small swimbaits, flukes, senkos, dark sleepers, and a variety of top water. If you have any specific questions please ask. I highly recommend wading, just make sure to be safe. If you don’t know the water I would wait until it’s gets low and clear to wade for the first time.

[Black Hawk Basser]

Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

Bomber Square A (1 5/8")

Rapala X Rap 6

B Fish'n Pulse-R and Moxi

3" tube on a insert jig head or Ned head

Z Man TRD