Just a reminder for all you bassheads

[Dwight Hottle]

It's getting close to that first spring trip to chase pre spawn smallies. Just a reminder not to forget your favorite jerk baits. Over the years I have had several favorites that really produced time after time. Rapala husky jerks HJ14 & HJ 10 for 5-10 fow &  the deep diver versions for targeting 15-20 fow. They really work especially the glass perch color for northern waters that have perch in them. Smallies always target perch when they are available. They also target smelt & alewives that are easily mimicked by the shape of a jerk bait. Plus you have emeralds & shad & the always abundant gobies that cover the rock bottom in many northern lakes. Another favorite of my mine is the Lucky Craft pointer 100 & the same series in a deep diver version & the XD series. For a bigger profile I like the Lucky Craft slender pointer in the 127 size (3/4 oz) & the pointer 128 size (1oz). I have saved the best for last, my absolute favorite is the Smithwick Suspending Rattlin Rogue in the 4.5 " & 6" size plus the same bait in the DD version. Both the Rapala & the Smithwick have caught smallies over 7lbs & the pointers have accounted for plenty of 6-8 through 6-15 size fish. I love experimenting with other brands & have many others like Duo Realis, Ima, Evergreen, Meggbass & Berkley & they do catch fish as well but the first three mentioned are all you really need to be successful. Below is a Smithwick fish.

 

 

[Bird]

Thanks for the tips.

Local guy caught a 6.3 Smallmouth from our local river last week, water temp 42*.

 

That Smithwick fish is an absolute tank.

[TnRiver46]

Awesome Dwight! The smithwick gets better every year since the whole world started throwing nothing but vision 110

[roadwarrior]

I haven't thrown a Rogue in more than a decade.

Maybe I ought to!

 

The Perfect Ten 

 https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Smithwick_Perfect_10_Rogue_Jerkbait/descpage-SP10R.html?from=gpmax&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S7rATVMzZSRMmLSXq1-4TsAocqH6spM0xa85gxjmqQTNORo7I4CZnRoCPWgQAvD_BwE

[MN Fisher]

I think I'm going to give my Rogues a shot this year.

[gim]

4 hours ago, Dwight Hottle said:

It's getting close to that first spring trip to chase pre spawn smallies.

I'm not that close.  May is still 3 months away.

 

But thanks for the jerk bait tips.

[A-Jay]

Old Rogues never die, they just keep on catching.

This picture will self destruct in 10 seconds . . . . . 

A-Jay

[MN Fisher]

6 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

This picture will self destruct in 10 seconds . . . . . 

 

Good evening, Mr Phelps.

[Dwight Hottle]

@A-Jay Yea I forgot to mention you all need to put a red hook on the front hanger to maximize the baits potential. 😀 

[TOXIC]

As I have always said, there’s usually 1 bait that excels on our trip to lake St Clair every year.  One year it was a Staycee jerkbait in just 1 special color.  We caught fish all day, every day for a week on that bait and luckily didn’t lose the only 2 we had to toothy critters.  As for the Smithwicks, I used them trolling in the guide service for stripers.  Went with a group to lake Champlain years and years ago.  One of my first introductions to smallmouth.  This was a very competitive group and the non boaters rotated through the different boaters.  I went out with one of the better anglers and when we stopped, I grabbed my rod that had one of my trusty Rogues on it.  He laughed and said they never throw jerkbaits for smallmouth.  4 casts and 4 smallmouth later, he made me swear not to tell anyone else. 😂

[roadwarrior]

Don't tell him about walleye...or turning a sissy fish into a monster!

[Creek Pirate]

Lost a decent smallmouth today on a Lucky craft pointer 65.She was 500 yards below a spawning ground.

 

 

[MassBass]

I think yellow perch color is just a good clear water pattern for when you need a natural color. I think rainbow trout color is also a great clear water pattern. The small mouth, always being an opportunist, doesn't necessarily have to be 'on' yellow perch or rainbow trout to go for those patterns. Just looking natural and realistic in the moment can be enough to trigger the bass. 

 

I found x-raps are better for casting, do you have any easy cast recommendations especially for downsized minnows?

[PaulVE64]

On 2/19/2024 at 6:30 PM, A-Jay said:

Old Rogues never die, they just keep on catching.

This picture will self destruct in 10 seconds . . . . . 

A-Jay

What do you do to keep your pike off these?

I lose so many, so quick

2 hours ago, MassBass said:

I think yellow perch color is just a good clear water pattern for when you need a natural color. I think rainbow trout color is also a great clear water pattern. The small mouth, always being an opportunist, doesn't necessarily have to be 'on' yellow perch or rainbow trout to go for those patterns. Just looking natural and realistic in the moment can be enough to trigger the bass. 

 

I found x-raps are better for casting, do you have any easy cast recommendations especially for downsized minnows?

Xraps are bullets. I can spool out a 6' rod with a Nasci 3000 and 10# hi vis 832 

Edit - to be honest there is a backing on the spool 

[PaulVE64]

 

.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, PaulVE64 said:

What do you do to keep your pike off these?

I lose so many, so quick

Early season I seem to run into more pike in shallower water than these Swithwick's run,

so I've not lost one to a pike - yet.

However, Other baits are not so fortunate.

Sort of why I am carry a somewhat redundant inventory.

A-Jay

[Dogface]

I would guess I have 20 to 40 jerk baits. Some here in SE PA and some in NE PA at the mountain house. I have only one Rogue in Clown color. There is not much paint left on the lure from tanglingly with toothy fish but it catches fish. I'm hesitant to throw it lately for fear it might get bit off.  

 

I keep it with a few lures that always catch fish. It is one of those individual lures that has characteristics or properties that attract fish. 

  

 

[TnRiver46]

Hey man they make new clown rogues everyday. Chuck it. Life is short 

 

 

[Dwight Hottle]

13 hours ago, MassBass said:

 

I found x-raps are better for casting, do you have any easy cast recommendations especially for downsized minnows?

If your having casting distance problems adjust your tackle to compensate or use heavier baits. If your fishing from a boat or yak try strolling to get more line out. Smaller baits don’t necessarily outfish bigger baits. I always fish big until someone or the fish prove me wrong. 

[Munkin]

Going to try out the deep diving jerkbait technique A-Jay posted a video about. I catch tons of fish on a jerkbait in 8 FOW or less.

 

Allen

[Dwight Hottle]

This years best smithwick rogue fish.  
 

 

[roadwarrior]

 

 

                                                     

[MN Fisher]

Dwight - we can only wish we had bass that big up here...nice catch.

[PaulVE64]

Most of time I notice smallies have relatively huge tails but then I see Dwight's catches and I notice their tails are small