Small floating minnow lures

[B-Gee]

I have had good luck bass fishing with a Rebel Jumpin’ Minnow. The one I have is 3 ½ “ and weighs 3/8 oz. It floats on the surface and is great for “walking the dog.”  Small minnow shaped lures seem to work very well in the small ponds where I fish in Florida. I’m looking for other small top water or just below the surface lures I can try and would appreciate any recommendations.

[Captain Phil]

Heddon Tiny Torpedo.  Rapala original silver minnow in silver or gold.  Pop-R.  Devil's Horse.  Wacky rigged worms and Senkos.  Use light line. 

[B-Gee]

I like the looks of the Rapala Original Floating Minnow but the description says it runs 3 to 5 feet deep and I want a surface or near surface lure.

[desmobob]

1 minute ago, Robert C. Gates said:

I like the looks of the Rapala Original Floating Minnow but the description says it runs 3 to 5 feet deep and I want a surface or near surface lure.

 

They might run that deep on a steady retrieve but I would guess they only get down a foot or less on a short pull, jerk-bait style (or maybe on a very slow retrieve?). 

 

The Rapala floating minnow is a classic bait for a reason.  I'd give one a try.  

[bulldog1935]

Yo Zuri wakebait - if you've never fished one of these in your dog-walking plug niche, you owe it to yourself.  

These are the 50 mm, 1/4-oz............................................the 70 mm is 9/16 oz

 

 

The prismatic "Real Gizzard Shad" is one of the best first-light lures I know - it reflects green, and transmits pink - much like the live bait in low-angle sunlight.  Everything eats it.  

 

Owner hooks sells Cultiva lures - the minnow 65 is a nice rapala-type floater/shallow-diver, and their Ziggy is a good dog-walking plug.  

[Captain Phil]

The Rapala Floating Minnow is most effective when fished on the surface with small twitches in calm water.  Hard to find a bait bass like any better. Even harder to find a way to fish it that doesn't work.  Use light line or you will overpower the lure.  They are made of balsa which gives them their action.  Use a loop knot. 

[Mobasser]

Smithwick Rogue

[desmobob]

2 hours ago, bulldog1935 said:

Yo Zuri wakebait - if you've never fished one of these in your dog-walking plug niche, you owe it to yourself.  

These are the 50 mm, 1/4-oz............................................the 70 mm is 9/16 oz

 

 

The prismatic "Real Gizzard Shad" is one of the best first-light lures I know - it reflects green, and transmits pink - much like the live bait in low-angle sunlight.  Everything eats it.   

I have some of the Yo-Zuri and KVD/Strike King wake baits.  Good to have in the arsenal!  Mine are in conventional opaque colors, though.  My experiences with some Megabass hard baits has me ordering more baits in the ghost and ghost/metallic/reflective color schemes.

[roadwarrior]

5 hours ago, desmobob said:

The Rapala floating minnow is a classic bait for a reason.  

[desmobob]

14 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

 

Oh, come on!  They're not THAT cute!    ?

 

I guess I am more attracted to the thin profile vs. the wake bait/crank bait shape.  ?

[keagbassr]

Floating: skitter prop,  zara puppy.

Sub surface: soft plasic jerkbaits i.e. sluggo,fin s fish, zoom fluke.