Beetlespins for smallies ????

[ksdog]

This will be my first spring fishing for smallies in our area lakes. I started fishing these lakes around June thru Oct. So...this spring bite is new to me. I'm looking for a good search type lure that is cheap and catches fish. Because of the rocky bottom there will be a fair amount of hangups. Does anyone use the beetlespin ? If so what size, color, etc. I'm a wade fisherman. Thanks.

[Garnet]

The inline spinner Blue Fox, Mepps #3's.

Garnet

[paparock]

Bettlespins work on the shallow rivers for wade fishermen here in northern Arkansas for smallmouth in pumpkin and in chartreuse colors but it's not the best lure by far, because the pan fish hit it more often than the smallies.  Here the crawfish imitating lures are a better and more consistent catcher of smallmouth. Both the lakes and rivers here are extremely rocky and the crawfish tend to be smaller but where you are I would suggest turn over some rocks and find some of the native crawfish. Then try to come close to that color with your lure even if you have to do some custom color alterations yourself to a lure.  Hula grubs also work and again try to come close to natural colors if the water where you are is very clear as it is here. If not then you may want to go with colors to contrast depending on the color of the water. There are a buch of good articles here on hula grubs on this site.

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing/features.html#lures

[wvubassfan]

The search baits that I would throw would be the biggest rooster tail that you can find, a rattle trap, and various jerkbaits. These are all good search baits. Just remember smallmouth will genreally hit anything that a largmouth will. When I first started concentrating on smallmouths I thought small. Smallmouths = small baits. I could not have been more wrong. Throw the bigger baits for bigger smallies.

[rocknfish9001]

Beetle spins are real killers for smallies. But before you just open the pack and throw one around, cahnge the blade. Put a much larger willow leaf blade on, the kind that you find on most of your normal bass spinnerbaits.

[wareagle]

I also search with Rebel Craws when I wade.  

WAR

[lazeebum]

new to computers at an old age but like this site, inexpensive baits i like for smallies are plastic grubs and hair jigs in the tenn. river in north al.

[Zel]

I still like to go out in early spring (mid Apr thru mid May here in NE PA) and walk the bank for those red-eyed Smallies.  I also have the problem dealing with lots of rocks.  I carry a small 6 compartment storage box.  In it goes 2 - 3 ½ silver Original Floater Rapalas to cover the top 3 feet, 3 1/8 ounce Panther Martin in-line spinners in Regular (black & yellow with gold blades) to cover the mid range, 3 grubs in smoke, watermelon and pumpkinseed, and Charlie Brewers 4 Slider Worms in black (all used with 1/8 ounce jigheads) to cover the bottom (cheap and effective because you lose a lot in the rocks).  One thing I always do in spring is put Berkley Liquid Powerbait Attractant for Bass on all my lures.  I'm almost never disappointed in my spring Smallie outings.      

[roadwarrior]

lazeebum,

Welcome aboard!

Florence, Al might be the Big Smallmouth Capital of the World. I guess you can't claim the crown until someone down there catches the new World Record, but you certainly have a chance. Do you ever fish with Steve Hacker?

[Garnet]

In my walleye fishing I need different head sizes and blades so I just buy the componets.

Garnet

[lazeebum]

Roadwarrior.

Thanks for the welcome. Like the picture of them big smallies. My biggest so far is about  five pounds. No I haven't fished with Steve Hacker, but I hear he is a good guide. Oh and Florence is a great place to fish.

[Gorgebassman]

I am partial to curly tail grubs for small mouth but alot of guys who fish the river near my house swear by beetle spins for small mouth as well as goggle eye bass there favorites are in the brown to pumpkin colors.

[mark44]

Beetle spins will work. You could toss a beer tab with hooks on it and catch a smallie. Those fish will eat almost anything.

Mark

[roadwarrior]

Mark44,

I suppose there are days like that, but I have never had one!

:

[mark44]

I was alluding to that fish's aggressive nature. I have a buddy that always makes that statement about the beer tab and I think it's kind of funny and nearly true.