Best winter smallmouth lures?

[VAsmallies]

We're going thursday on the James River north of Lynchburg.  We have used and caught smallmouths on plastic worms this past summer, we've tried some small spinnerbaits and topwater lures and lizards and didn't have much luck with those in the summer.  

I went last saturday and saw one smallmouth, he chased a Storm swim shad a couple feet from the bank.  I tried worms and did not have any luck with those.  My buddy threw in a couple hard plastic baits and had nothing.  We went to a spot right above a dam.  I got caught on submerged logs quite a few times.  The river had a couple feet of visibility.

It was nice to get outside, but now I want to catch something.  What would give me the best chance at catching a smallmouth this time of year?

[MarVaBC]

Jig n Pig and/or Tubes fished SLOW!

[zachvii]

I agree with Marv,  use jigs and trailers.  If you fish plastic, throw it out and dont move it or just barely drag it on the bottom.  If you were in 30-40 degree water you would not want to move either! ;o)

[VAsmallies]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm going to go to wally world tonight or tomorrow to get some tubes and a couple more jigs.  Again, thanks.  If we catch anything I'll post up some pictures.

[roadwarrior]

The #1 artificial bait for smallmouth bass is a single-tail grub, although it might be argued that a 3 1/2" tube is just as effective. Other suggestions would include a GYCB Single-Tail Hula Grub and the Fat Ika.

8-)

[Crestliner2008]

Ditto with what RW said, however, it would be better if we knew what the water temperature was and the max. depths in the river you are fishing?

[roadwarrior]

Yep!

If the conditions are right, topwater Spooks and Sammy's are good. My favorite lure class, jerkbaits, can be AWESOME! Lots of guys have success with spinnerbaits; the Ledgebuster 3/4 oz Single Colorado Blade Spinnerbait is my "secret weapon". Silver Buddy or Cordell Gay Blade are other suggestions.

8-)

[Crestliner2008]

rw, I've actually heard of folks catching bass with a BUZZBAIT after ice out!? Now that's a twist!

[VAsmallies]

Ditto with what RW said, however, it would be better if we knew what the water temperature was and the max. depths in the river you are fishing?

Temperature is right at 35-40 or a little below now since we are having at little cold snap.  Water is murky.

Here is the USGS info....remove the  period after the h to see it in http. h.ttp://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv/?site_no=02024752&PARAmeter_cd=00065,00060,62620,00062

I'm not too sure on depth, we are fishing above a dam, below the dam we can just about wade all the way across. I'd guess 10-15 feet deep at the deepest point.  I do know right where we were last saturday there was a drop off about 3 feet from the shore.  I think we're gonna try there again, with the proper equipment this time.  It is rocky bottomed too...

[jhworley]

Fishing the dam'd section?  From Red n' Dots?  Big Island???  

Since current is pretty minimal in both of those stretches, compared to that of Snowden up,  you'll prob have some good luck fishing some of those deeper rocky "holes".  I haven't fished the U.James before the month of March, but last year I had good luck using Green Pumkin Tubes, the first week in March.  We caught 3 over 17 and 2 of those were over 18"

Good luck

[VAsmallies]

Yeah directly across from the power station, the turn off is near Hercules road.  Last time we took the foot bridge across.  During the summer we waded out under the car bridge on the other side of the dam.  I picked up some jigs and tubes today so we'll see how it goes thursday.

Here is a picture:

[jhworley]

Nice photos...  Have you tried canoeing through that

(joking)

Let us know how you do!!!

[VAsmallies]

No luck, not going again until late march.

[Mobydick]

It's odd nobody said spinnerbaits, haha. I ran out of options so I started throwing a 1/2 ounce spinnerbait with 2 colorado blades to slow it down, I also spread the wires apart to make it even slower. And to my suprise, I caught a 10 inch smallie. :-?

[Crestliner2008]

No luck, not going again until late march.

Just my opinion, but that might be a big mistake. At least give a few hard jerkbaits a whirl.

[HesterIsGod]

GRUBS! I usually go with a standard 3 incher in winter. Use Kalins! if you dont own any Kalins grubs go buy some! I am absolutely certain they are the all around best grubs out their. They are the softest and have a very thin feathery tail that is very lifelike. Swim it slow and eratticaly and every so often randomly kill it. This perfectly emulates a dying shad in winter. For back up baits i would go with jerkbaits and small tubes.

[roadwarrior]

Earlier in this thread, I suggested that grubs are #1. I posted a couple of pics in the "Outings" section from last weekend. My smallmouth were all caught on a GYCB Single-Tail Grub, 3" Blue Pearl w/ Large Silver Flakes (031).

8-)

[BaitBall]

HesterisGod.

I agree. KALIN is the only grub I pack although I am trying the 4 inch Yama grub this year. They have a longer and thicker 4" body and when I found it in a Cabelas store, it was offered in my favorite color.  I was hoping to swim heavier jig heads this year and the KALIN comes up short with heavy weight (in my opnion).  KALIN grubs are the best for me up to about 8 feet water and with 1/8 - 1/4oz.

The KALIN grub was my best performer last season for about 2 weeks straight when I was trying to figure out Lake Mahopac for my first season.  That was in June.