LMBass take SMBass baits?

[GAMEOVER]

I read somewhere where someone said that LM Bass will take baits you use to catch SM Bass. I find that to be the opposite for me where SM Bass will take LM Bass baits I use but not vice versa. For example Spooks and Pop-Rs have caught a decent number of smallies for me compared to LM's. Also when it comes to color selection I find smallies to take a wider color spectrum of lures compared to Largemouths. Can anyone clear this up? Im really pretty curious as it would help if I want to buy one lure from a company just to have and not plan on buying anymore from that particular company, ofcourse id want the more versatile color.

[FIN-S-R]

Here in southern Ok i find smallies usually will hit the same thing as largemouth for the most part. It really depends on the species distribution in your area though. Id think up there in detroit yo guys would encounter a much larger percent of smallie bites than us here in the south. The only difference I find sometimes btw the species is on size of lure (smallies usually seem to like smaller) and either smallies want very subtle or very reaction type baits whereas Largemouth seem to hang some where in the middle. the same I find is true of color in that smallies either want ultra realistic, or ultra shock, whereas largemouth are sort of median on the color spectrum preference.

[roadwarrior]

It's not the bait or lure, it's the location. You will often catch largemouth (and spots) fishing for smallmouth, but you will rarely catch brown fish when you are fishing for green bass. Smallmouth orientate to structure, not cover. They will always be in current if that is an option. On the Tennessee River I have NEVER caught a smallmouth in slack water.

The baits are almost exactly the same, although I do prefer 3 1/2" tubes when I target smallmouth. I NEVER downsize hardbaits.

[Marty]

My personal experience says LM, SM, plus pike and pickerel will readily hit anything you throw, in any color, at one time or another. With so much overlap, I wouldn't even know whether a given lure, with some exceptions, is classified as a SM or LM lure.

[CJ]

I agree,location is everything.Alot of times you will be able to tweek a lure and presentation to get better results for either species.

During certain seasons(well late summer and fall)smallmouth are often caught in the same gerneral areas as largemouth,on the lake I fish.I was talking to an elder angler who landed a 7 lb. 3oz. smallie on a spinnerbait right after catching two 4lb. LM.However he has gone onto find that both species are killing a spinnerbait but catching more smallmouth everyday.

I really don't think there is anything that a smallmouth will bite that a largemouth won't.There are only preferences and somethings work better on certain days.

[Guest avid]

My personal experience says LM, SM, plus pike and pickerel will readily hit anything you throw, in any color, at one time or another. With so much overlap, I wouldn't even know whether a given lure, with some exceptions, is classified as a SM or LM lure.

this is pretty much my experience also.  there are a couple of variations however that I have noticed.  Pike like big bladed and big  prop baits more than the typical bass.  Both pike and pickerel are not especially fond of worms.  Largemouth will generally hit larger baits than smallmouth.

That leaves alot of baits that any of the above speicies will hammer.

[Siebert Outdoors]

It's not the bait or lure, it's the location. You will often catch largemouth (and spots) fishing for smallmouth, but you will rarely catch brown fish when you are fishing for green bass. Smallmouth orientate to structure, not cover. They will always be in current if that is an option.

I agree with this guy! When fishing up in MI, it was exactly like this, I only remember catching 1 LM when we were focusing on sm, Never caught a SM when we went shallow to catch LM

I dont down size many lures when I fish SM, I use mainly a 4" Green pumpkin tube. A 1 oz ledge buster is a hawg catcher.

[GAMEOVER]

Well we have the two most desired Large and Smallmouth Bass species (cant think of the scientific name) here in Michigan as do quite a few (actually most) other states. I find the smallies in Michigan will hit all my DT crankbaits where as the Largemouth will hit about 75% of them.

Another problem I have, and im sure others do in Michigan, is crankbaits getting destroyed by Pike. I almost just lost a crankbait I had just replaced and put Sure Set hooks on because the Pike will just hammer them if they're in the area.

On a side note: You guys dont use as many lures for smallmouths? Tubes? WTH, some of you who said that I know you have some nice stuff (Lucky Craft, etc) and I know Smallies will hit XR-10s which is a pretty good size jerkbait as they have for me. Im suprised to hear that from you guys, or maybe im understanding you wrong.  

[Marty]

Another problem I have, and im sure others do in Michigan, is crankbaits getting destroyed by Pike. I almost just lost a crankbait I had just replaced and put Sure Set hooks on because the Pike will just hammer them if they're in the area.

I catch numerous pike, sometimes more than I want to. They cut the line and cost me my crankbait at times, but when I land the fish, the crankbait is intact. What do you mean when you say they're "destroying" your cranks?

[GAMEOVER]

Rippin off hooks, ruining paint jobs, etc..

[Marty]

Rippin off hooks, ruining paint jobs, etc..

I don't know that I've had hooks actually ripped out, but they sometimes get bent. And the paint jobs are affected by teeth marks, but I never experienced a paint job dotted with teeth marks to lose its effectiveness.

[Garnet]

Here in southern Ont. the distrubuation largies vs. smallies are about even and there are few pure smallies spots and few pure largies spots so most of my time is spend looking for baits that catch both smallies and largies.Theres are lakes that i've had great success with just 1 or 2 baits and never sure witch I'm fishing for.

Lets take tube on a long sloping pt. I might know the location of some gravel boulder areas so I'm drag a tube on the bottom with a odd agressive hop then move to the eastsde of the pt. were theres some weed clumps with the same tube but a lighter head and throw right up to the clumps  and keep that bait right there doing everthing that I can to trigger a largie or keep the same head and ripe jig then work ledge with a combination of largie and smallie presentaions but the same tube.

My other option would be to work the whole deal for largies then go back over with the smallies stuff thats just to much time for a tourney guy.

If I worked the same sloping pt. with a spinnerbait I would have 1 tuned for smallis and 1 tuned for largies but most likely the same skirt and blade combination.

Now theres lake I fish that all the experimenting has not worked............YET

Garnet