Top Lures for Pre/Post-Spawn River Smallmouth

[JacobB006]

As the water temp's. have been rising I've been hitting the river and getting some wading in before and after my classes here on the Upper Potomac. I In 4 days I picked up a 20", a 20.25", a 21.25", and a handful of 18's and 19's on a variety of lures. My top 5 lures right now would be a jig, followed by a paddle tail, weightless fluke, ned rig, and a jerkbait. Curious to see what everyone else likes for this magical time of year.

[Blue Raider Bob]

Those are huge fish! Congrats!

I try to use a variety but I keep going back to the same O Ned because it just works. I use it all year round. I will be tossing some topwater soon because it's just fun.

 

What did your 21.25 weigh? I've never caught one that long down here.

caught a 20.25 Saturday and it was 3-6. River fish are just longer and meaner!?

[drakesndrum]

Spinnerbait and chatterbait plus everything mentioned above.  Caught 'em good last week on a War Eagle Screamin' Eagle, but no giants.  I think our fish are spawning, its been tough for a couple weeks.  We need rain terribly as well.

[TnRiver46]

18 hours ago, JacobB006 said:

Curious to see what everyone else likes for this magical time of year.

This is always the worst time of year for me so I don’t classify it as magical! Haha. Sounds like you’ve had great success, I’d keep doing whatever you are doing 

[PaulVE64]

Jig

Fluke

Rattletrap

[JacobB006]

15 hours ago, Blue Raider Bob said:

Those are huge fish! Congrats!

I try to use a variety but I keep going back to the same O Ned because it just works. I use it all year round. I will be tossing some topwater soon because it's just fun.

 

What did your 21.25 weigh? I've never caught one that long down here.

caught a 20.25 Saturday and it was 3-6. River fish are just longer and meaner!?

Thank you. Congrats on your 20.23". Those big fish sure are special. It's kind of crazy because before last week I had never caught a fish 20"+. Even out of the 800 some I caught last year the biggest was 19.75". But then last week I guess I just got lucky and was able to stick 3 in 3 days. 

I actually didn't get the weigh and of them. If I had to guess it was around 4.5 pounds. She had a decent belly on her and wasn't spawned out yet. The first 20" I got had the typical spawning sores and was pretty thin. That plus the layer of mud on its belly made me think she was either spawning or had just finished. The 21.25" is attached here. These solo pics never do the big fish justice

19 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

Jig

Fluke

Rattletrap

You can never go wrong with a fluke or a jig this time of year.

Do you mind if I ask what flukes you throw? I just started using the River Rock Custom jointed flukes and they have been pretty good to me so far.

4 hours ago, drakesndrum said:

Spinnerbait and chatterbait plus everything mentioned above.  Caught 'em good last week on a War Eagle Screamin' Eagle, but no giants.  I think our fish are spawning, its been tough for a couple weeks.  We need rain terribly as well.

I think you're right about them spawning already. My first 20" had some spawning sores on it, was pretty skinny for this time of year, and had some mud on its belly when I pulled it out. 

You're right about the rain too. The low water has been good for ease of wading, but we could definitely use a good rain here ASAP

[Steveo-1969]

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should!

 

I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

[Dwight Hottle]

On 4/18/2023 at 11:56 AM, Steveo-1969 said:

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should!

 

I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

That fish doesn't look like a lack of skill to me. 

[Jeff Zurawski]

On 4/17/2023 at 12:27 PM, JacobB006 said:

As the water temp's. have been rising I've been hitting the river and getting some wading in before and after my classes here on the Upper Potomac. I In 4 days I picked up a 20", a 20.25", a 21.25", and a handful of 18's and 19's on a variety of lures. My top 5 lures right now would be a jig, followed by a paddle tail, weightless fluke, ned rig, and a jerkbait. Curious to see what everyone else likes for this magical time of year.

That's an awesome 4 days right there! 

Heck, I'm happy to get three 20" and overs in a whole season. 

I like throwing the same stuff as you minus the weightless fluke and adding an occasional crankbait.  Plus the past couple years when water is still in the 40s to low 50s I been doing good with a regular (not superfluke) 4" fluke-style minnowbait rigged on a light jighead and drifted close to bottom. 

[Jeff Zurawski]

2 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should!

 

I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

 

Beast Smallie !

 

Ima go ahead and call bs on the "lack of skill" part.  ?

[TOXIC]

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned a 3 inch single tail grub.  ?

[TnRiver46]

6 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned a 3 inch single tail grub.  ?

Love those. My buddy throws the 5” and absolutely slays the summertime river smallies 

[Blue Raider Bob]

22 hours ago, Steveo-1969 said:

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should!

 

I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only angler allergic to treble hooks. It's alot easier to unbutton a thrashing smallie from a Ned than it is from a treble when one of the trebles is sticking in your finger, not to mention the trebles caught up in the net.

That is an awesome river Smallie! Look at the belly on that big girl. Looks like she ate all the competition! 

[SWVA]

Sounds like you should be giving advice instead of asking, nice fish!

 

Jigs, fat impacts, spinnerbaits and ned here in my water.  Jigs 80% of catches lately it seems.  

[JacobB006]

On 4/18/2023 at 11:56 AM, Steveo-1969 said:

I’m from Falling Waters and bank or wade fish the Upper Potomac. We probably fish some of the same spots. I mainly use skirted finesse jigs, paddletails and some version of the Ned rig. I’m allergic to treble hooks so no jerkbaits for me. I’ve never used a fluke style bait though lots of people tell me I should!

 

I caught my PB smallmouth in May 2020. It was 21.25”. All my biggest fish over the years have come in the spring. In summer and fall a good one for me is 14” and a really good one is 17”. Probably because of where I’m fishing though it could be my lack of skill as well.

Thats a tanker right there. Congrats. 

I get what you're saying about the treble hooks though. I try not to throw them if I really don't have to. It probably sounds silly but every time I hook a fish on a lure with trebles I dread unhooking it. They seem to catch everything, including my hands and legs and face. 

Thats a good lineup of baits you've got there too. Jigs are underrated for smallmouth.

I'd say theres not lack of skill there. Those big girls are smart. My own experiences reflect what you're seeing in the summer months too. I catch a lot of shorter fish that time of year. I mean the big ones are definitely still around, but based on my results, I apparently don't know where they are in the summer good enough to consistently catch them.

21 hours ago, Jeff Zurawski said:

That's an awesome 4 days right there! 

Heck, I'm happy to get three 20" and overs in a whole season. 

I like throwing the same stuff as you minus the weightless fluke and adding an occasional crankbait.  Plus the past couple years when water is still in the 40s to low 50s I been doing good with a regular (not superfluke) 4" fluke-style minnowbait rigged on a light jighead and drifted close to bottom. 

I like those smaller profile flukes as well. The Super fluke still hammers them, but personally I have more confidence in throwing a smaller profile fluke. Though, maybe thats why I still catch smaller fish.

24 minutes ago, SWVA said:

Sounds like you should be giving advice instead of asking, nice fish!

 

Jigs, fat impacts, spinnerbaits and ned here in my water.  Jigs 80% of catches lately it seems.  

Agreed. Jigs have been the hot ticket lately. I picked up another 20" last night on one. The smallies can't resist a good jig

[Blue Raider Bob]

7 minutes ago, JacobB006 said:

Thats a tanker right there. Congrats. 

I get what you're saying about the treble hooks though. I try not to throw them if I really don't have to. It probably sounds silly but every time I hook a fish on a lure with trebles I dread unhooking it. They seem to catch everything, including my hands and legs and face. 

Thats a good lineup of baits you've got there too. Jigs are underrated for smallmouth.

I'd say theres not lack of skill there. Those big girls are smart. My own experiences reflect what you're seeing in the summer months too. I catch a lot of shorter fish that time of year. I mean the big ones are definitely still around, but based on my results, I apparently don't know where they are in the summer good enough to consistently catch them.

I like those smaller profile flukes as well. The Super fluke still hammers them, but personally I have more confidence in throwing a smaller profile fluke. Though, maybe thats why I still catch smaller fish.

Agreed. Jigs have been the hot ticket lately. I picked up another 20" last night on one. The smallies can't resist a good jig

Dude a 20" River Smallie is a HOSS! I can hear that drag screamin!

I looked back at my records and I've caught two 22" Smallies. They were river fish so they were long, lean, and strong as corn licker'! Can't wait to get out Sunday and try some topwater.

[bowhunter63]

Big Smallies. Curly tail grub ,Swim jig or Spinnerbait right now 

[Bdnoble84]

Spinnerbait, jerkbait. I struggle otherwise which i think is more of an issue of finding them this time of year than baits thrown

[MassBass]

One of my bigger river smallies came in spring on a white grub. Kind of a big grub made for saltwater. Didn't measure length but fish weighed just shy of 4 lbs. I would like to suggest a spinnerbait, but maybe something more subtle like a grub would be better for just targeting big bites. 

[JacobB006]

6 hours ago, MassBass said:

One of my bigger river smallies came in spring on a white grub. Kind of a big grub made for saltwater. Didn't measure length but fish weighed just shy of 4 lbs. I would like to suggest a spinnerbait, but maybe something more subtle like a grub would be better for just targeting big bites. 

I like the idea of a smaller bait for bigger bites. I've alway heard that big baits=big fish but recently all my bigger baits have caught the smaller fish and all the big fish have come off of my smaller baits

[PaulVE64]

I have no favorite fluke brand. Anything pearl white and 3 to 5" long.

I like that elaztech plastic for flukes/swimbaits  because I can have trouble with pike and elaztech holds up to the knawing.

[Standard]

It all depends on the waters.  Went out for the first time this year in a flowage and caught a 5.45 lbs 20"+ on a relatively small flicker shad, on a steady retrieve.  Not too long after, got another 5 pounder with a 1/2oz (or maybe 3/4oz, don't really keep track) chatterbait and a slow retrieve on the fall, after I felt it take a swing.  I got three 16-17" smallies on three casts with a squarebill worked slow after that.  

[pdxfisher]

I have caught my best smallmouth of my life this year (21.25", 5lb 14oz) and others over 3lb on a jackhammer stealthblade. I never caught a fish on it before this spring but it is one of my favorites now

 

A second new to me lure that has produced this spring is a wobblehead jig with a creature trailer. 

 

Other approaches that have been working this spring are rattletrap, Ned rig and a drop shot. 

[Obi_Wan]

On 4/18/2023 at 1:43 PM, TOXIC said:

I can’t believe nobody has mentioned a 3 inch single tail grub.  ?

How are you fishing it?  Jigging or swimming it?  I haven’t thrown one much, but I keep thinking I should be.

[TOXIC]

11 hours ago, Obi_Wan said:

How are you fishing it?  Jigging or swimming it?  I haven’t thrown one much, but I keep thinking I should be.

While I don’t wade fish anymore, I used to rig a 3 inch Kalins Smoke with Black Flake, I think it was technically named a smoke salt and pepper, on a 1/16th jighead, hook exposed.  I would cast it across the current and let it sweep down river.  If you cast up current, you’re almost guaranteed a snag.  I had 100 fish days with this rig.