Lure Size for Spring Smallies

[RAM3139]

In general, when going after pre-spawn smallmouth in early spring when the water is in the low to mid 40's, do you guys normally down-size from your usual offerings? (e.g. size 8 x-rap vs size 10, or 3.5" tube vs 4").  I always slow down my presentation, but I'm wondering if going smaller would help as well?

[fishin_fool]

  I usually use the larger early they are feeding on last years bait which are full grown

[roadwarrior]

Small lures are for small fish.

That's not always true, but big lures attract bigger fish more consistantly. I prefer Lucky Craft 128, full size Zara Spooks and Ledgebuster 3/4 oz Single Willow Blade Spinnerbaits for aggressive bites. Still, standard smallmouth lures work well: 3 1/2" Mizmo tube (Kent's Classic), grubs, single tail Hula Grubs and my favorite Fat Ika.

I never downsize, even when that might be the better option.

[john087]

I agree. I always throw baits that are ind of large but smaller ones will also catch big fish. The other night my buddy and I caught 8 bass that weighed right around 30 pounds in only 40 degree water, biggest 5 went 20+. It was a fun night but a 40 inch pike knocked my 300 dollar rod off the deck and I watched it sink to the bottom but someone gave it to me and it was a P.O.S. lol  

[A-Jay]

On 4/4/2007 at 2:59 PM, RAM3139 said:

In general, when going after pre-spawn smallmouth in early spring when the water is in the low to mid 40's, do you guys normally down-size from your usual offerings? (e.g. size 8 x-rap vs size 10, or 3.5" tube vs 4").  I always slow down my presentation, but I'm wondering if going smaller would help as well?

When it came to early, early season SMB with the water temps mentioned,

for Years I was in the full sized and even slightly Over sized bait camp.

And I did OK.

Still throw 5 inch jerbaits a lot.

But since the 110 +1 Jr was introduced a couple of seasons ago,

I have changed my tune.

The bait is a hammer on big smb for me.

I still throw the old tried & true deals,

but I mix that fish catching machine in quite frequently.

And more often than not, I'm rewarded.

Don't buy the perch pattern.

A-Jay

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/233534-megabass-vision-oneten1-jr-~/?do=findComment&comment=3019438

 

[Swamp Girl]

@A-Jay is a smallmouth ninja. I would do everything he suggests. 

[Reel]

I fish a few of the New York streams and my best lures for very early season (catch and release) are small jerkbaits (75 and 95)  and Ned Rigs with a bit of pink or purple.

[JacobB006]

Depends on the flows and conditions for me. In lower flows and clear water, I'll throw smaller lures. Higher flows and more turbidity, I'll throw bigger lures. On the rivers I fish, prespawn water temps range anywhere in the 50's. With that said, throw a variety of sizes and profiles until you find what they want. As you stated, low-mid 40's, I personally would work slower, but I we're fishing different locations. Every river system is unique with its bass behavior and forage size and type. 

[Dwight Hottle]

Go big or go home

[PaulVE64]

I'm probably throwing big.

Its spring and they're hungry plus they're smallies so they're nuts anyway.

[PaulVE64]

And yet these 2 jigs are ridiculous 

[Obi_Wan]

One thing I've picked up fly fishing is when the fish aren't biting, go down in size vs going up.  Like AJ, I'm a fan of the 110 size jerkbait.