Best Baits for Drifting Creeks

[FrenchCrkBasser]

I just wanted to get a few opinions on the best baits to throw when drifting creeks for smallies.

I do a lot drifting in the canoe during the summer here in NW PA.  I normally hop out and thoroughly fish the "Prime Spots" with soft plastics.  During the drift, we're moving down stream with the current.  Its definitely too fast to successfully fish with plastics.  

Any Ideas on what type of bait I should be throwing?

Thanks

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't help but someone will eventually.

[Wildbillb]

I sometimes drag a grub on a light jig head behind the boat when drifting downstream.  If there is too many snags then I'll switch to a extremely shallow diving crankbait that wobbles well at low speeds.

[brushcutter]

Most of my creek fishing is in water less than 3 ft. I use a mann's -1 or a yozuri pins minnow when drifting. Hope it helps

[bassnleo]

French Creek huh? That's just about in my backyard.......

I have had success on 4" senkos, Zoom superflukes, 3-4 inch tubes weighted with a 1/16 or 1/8 head, Rapala stickbaits in shad patterns, grubs weighted with light head like already mentioned.

Where you floating from and to?

[FrenchCrkBasser]

We normally float from somewhere above Cambridge Springs down to Sagertown.  It takes a good couple hours.  

We normally have two rods rigged up and ready to go.  I have one rigged with a tube or some sort of crayfish imitation when we stop and fish the bigger holes.

I just have not found a bait that will consistently get bit when we are drifting along.  I think fishing a tube is too slow and you don't cover as much water as you could with something else.  

I've fished cranks, jerks, and spinners.  Just want to see what you guys get bit on most consistently.

[Big-O]

Flipping a small jig along the creek bank just ahead of the boat is a prime method for creek fishing. Alot of the feeding in a creek takes place along bank structure. And most creek fish can't resist the jig.

www.ragetail.com

[smallieking]

a small mr twister grub, tube, senko or fluke  should work wonders for you

[Copen1822]

In the small, shallow(3-5ft) creeks in WI I have found nothing that works like a Super Fluke in Baby Bass. Also catch a lot on 3.5" Speed Craws.

[logger]

I have had success throwing smaller floating original rapalas and other hard jerkbaits in black/silver or trout patterns. Works well even in skinny water on the Au Sable here in northern MI. If you like throwing tubes rig them weedless and throw them weightless (put a barrel swivel on to reduce line twist) and just cast up stream and let them float down and watch your line. For some reason they smack it. I don't know it its the action for the current or the slower fall... I never thought it would work when I first heard it but I am a definite believer now.

Hope this helps,  good luck. Post some pics and give us a report when you can.

[Chode2235]

I love throwing a small 2" jointed rapala.  Gold is the best color here, but experiment where you are.

You can fish it slow, or fast and cover a lot of water with it.  Works great for floating and fishing.

[X-Rap]

I would toss either a white BooYah Pond Magic spinnerbait or a Rebel PopR.  Thats what works here near Pittsburgh

[brgbassmaster]

the river i fish is 20-30 ft wide and 5 ft at its deepest point. i use alot of white spinnerbaits, pop r's,manns baby 1- rootbeer color, and 1/8th ounce buzzbaits in chartrueuse color. thats all i use whether drifting or wading. and the river i fish is a gem that nobody knows that there are huge smallies in. 19-20 inch is a regular all day thing.

[Bravesfan]

BUZZBAITS & SPINNERBAITS ARE GREAT FOR FISHING WITH THE CURRENT. TARGET EDDIES, LOGS, & ROCKS GET A FEW CAST IN & THEN GO ON TO THE NEXT ONE. RUN N GUN

[smallieking]

4 inch senko, microcraw or a tube      just wondering how u drift a spinnerbait?  

[Bravesfan]

I MEANT WHILE DRIFTING DOWNSTREAM CAST DIRECTLY TO THE BANK USING SPINNERBAITS & BUZZBAITS. I DO NOT MEAN DRIFTING THEM BEHIND THE BOAT.

[NinjaFishin]

I gotta reccomend using light colored super flukes.  Their action in moving waters is excellent and works well for medium to large size small mouth 8-)