Baits needed for smallmouth trip to Maine?

[huskybass]

I will be making a trip up to Maine in mid August to fish for Smallmouth with Davebass1. Our destination is pretty far up in Maine, and we anticipate water temps of 70 to the low 70's. The forage base is crayfish, juvenille perch and fallfish (chubs). Water clarity should be clear.

I want to bring everything that I need to catch smallmouth, but want to avoid bringing way more tackle than I need. So far my list of baits to bring is as follows:

Spider grubs in several colors;

Tubes in several colors;

Super Flukes and Super Fluke Jr.'s in pearl white;

A handful of poppers and a handful of Sammy baits;

Spinnerbaits;

crayfish and baitfish colored medium/deep crankbaits;

Anything missing from the list? Thanks in advance.

Grubs? 4" Senkos?

[wisturkeyhunter]

Fat Ika, 5 inch senkos, trick worms, 6 inch curly tails worms, grubs, salmo hornet crankbait, and jigs. I tend to fish weightless plastics alot for smallies. Jig spinners added to grubs can be deadly also. Northland mimic minnows work good to with and without the spinner.

[rocketball]

I would pack some 5" senkos, they are working very good for me just over the border in New Brunswick Canada. I expect that maine is like new brunswick when it comes to water clarity, some areas are clear but some are very dark and staind. A Heddon torpedo wouldnt hurt eather. What part of maine will you fishing?

[roadwarrior]

Anything missing from the list?

In still water (lakes not rivers) and depths less than twelve feet, the Fat Ika trumps all other lures. I suspect the smallmouth in upper Maine have never, or very rarely, seen this bait which is another advantage for you.

If you didn't see this post by Zel, take a peek:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1216999136

Good luck!

[Masshole Mike]

maybe some hair jigs and jerkbaits?

[SPEEDBEAD.]

maybe some hair jigs and jerkbaits?

I was definitely thinking jerkbait too.

[Casey]

Hot Steel Xrap works very well in Champlain for Smallies. As well as a blue and silver rattle trap.

[Dwight Hottle]

Listen to Mass Hole Mike. Good ideas.

[Brewerbass]

Hey Husky,

If the Davebass1 youre fishing with is from up here in Maine I fish some of his tournaments.  I fished sat at one of Daves events and it was awful.  Yesterday the club my wife and I are in were at a different lake which was much better.  The hot lure up here this year seems to be the good old lizzard in green or pumpkin.  The bass see plenty of ikas, senkos, spinnerbaits-they work ok.  Small jigs (eakins or bitsy bug), topwaters, tubes-usually all you need.  The water yesterday was 75, weve had lots of rain that has cooled the lakes down some.  The 3 best smallies we got yesterday came from 20-25' down.  Have fun.

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

8-)

[mostbass]

I was just in Maine a little over a week ago here is what was working:

GYCB double tail hula grub

Yum crawdads(buddy got a 6lber on one!)

4" tubes

Senkos in pumpkin seed

Fly rod:

Nymphs

wooley bugger

[WTRDOG]

Don't go,no smallies in Maine.......

Does the guy your going with have a jet boat.......I think we may have met,while fishing.

[roadwarrior]

Yep..Maine sucks!

Too many, too big.

I hope you have a

GREAT trip!

[Tokyo Tony]

Don't go without hard jerkbaits  8-)

[smallfry]

1/2 oz black and brown jigs w/ pumpkinseed chunk trailers...

[smallfry]

Oh, and for fly rod, if you tie your own flies make some clousers w/ brown marabou over orange supreme hair and split the supreme hair on each side of the hook (so they split a little kinda like pinchers)...