tcain38 Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 In the early spring what do you think the best bait is for smallmouth in water temps from 46 to 55 degree water. Thanks Quote
TimJ Posted February 14, 2011 Posted February 14, 2011 shallower water, a suspending jerkbait. if deeper, a hopkins spoon or some type of blade like a silver buddy. ...and the tube is always good. Tim J Quote
Super User Crestliner2008 Posted February 14, 2011 Super User Posted February 14, 2011 Suspending Jerks, absolutely. I also switch off to tubes and blades, depending on the structure I'm targeting. But if you're just beating the banks, you can't beat a hard jerk. Just make sure you employ long pauses between subtle twitches. 1 Quote
MFBAB Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 I wouldn't ever rule out live bait if you're into that sort of thing.... Quote
Nick Posted February 15, 2011 Posted February 15, 2011 finesse jig w/small trailer when they don't look up for meal. Quote
Super User MALTESE FALCON Posted February 15, 2011 Super User Posted February 15, 2011 You can't beat a jerkbait, but don't rule out a spinnerbait. I catch ALOT of smallies with a spinnerbait in early Spring. Falcon Quote
tcain38 Posted February 16, 2011 Author Posted February 16, 2011 You can't beat a jerkbait, but don't rule out a spinnerbait. I catch ALOT of smallies with a spinnerbait in early Spring. Falcon What kinda spinnerbait. Color?Weight? Fishing it on main lake points? What do you target with it. Quote
Crankenstein_MI Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 I love yo-yoing a red eye shad. Fish it eratic. My second is a pointer 100. Quote
Thad Posted February 22, 2011 Posted February 22, 2011 I've had good success with a 5" Wild Eye Shad or River2Sea Live Eye Bottom Walker swimbait fished along bluffs. Quote
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 22, 2011 Super User Posted February 22, 2011 #1 Live bait #2 Fat Ika #3 Jerkbaits #4 Rage Tail Baby Craw, naked and as a trailer on hair jigs #5 Bandit, Wiggle Wart #6 Swarming Hornet/ LFT Live Magic Shad #7 Grubs, Hula Grubs & tubes #8 Topwater #9 Ledgebuster Single Willow Blade Spinnerbait #10 DD22 8-) Quote
stratosjoe Posted March 1, 2011 Posted March 1, 2011 Old school (grub) smoke with just the tip of the tail dyed chartreuce for clear water--watermelon seed or rootbeer fleck if stained . use a bigger tail aka Kalin if water really stained I use as little weight as possible always spinning med-med light 6-8 lb fluoro wow am I ready Quote
Super User A-Jay Posted March 1, 2011 Super User Posted March 1, 2011 Two words ~ Hair Jig Ask Dwight, oh wait never mind . . . . A-Jay Quote
hookingem Posted March 2, 2011 Posted March 2, 2011 Fat Ika! A finesse jig also seems to do quite a number on the brown guys in cold water. Quote
hookingem Posted March 7, 2011 Posted March 7, 2011 Fat Ika does really well here around the Richmond area on the James in cold water. Quote
WanderLust Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Fat Ika does really well here around the Richmond area on the James in cold water. It works in all conditions I fish. That's why I buy stock in them. Quote
hookingem Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 Fat Ika does really well here around the Richmond area on the James in cold water. It works in all conditions I fish. That's why I buy stock in them. I noticed in your bait monkey thread! Quote
WanderLust Posted March 8, 2011 Posted March 8, 2011 LOL yeah... Its a great bait; weedless, fairly durable and downright deadly. It's similar to a tube which I also like. I've been messing with different rigging options so the smaller tubes and grubs will be part of the cold water assault on the smallies. Quote
Mean Dean Posted April 6, 2011 Posted April 6, 2011 Just went this weekend at new river in wv sun was out so they wouldnt bite sun went down water temp was 50.0 deg caught 2 pounder on a 1/2 oz. tequila sunrise bleeding shad rat-l-trap tried pumkinseed 3in grub a no fale bait didnt get a bite so i threw on ol trusty tried 3in gizit watermelon no bite key is fishing slow cloudy or after the sun goes down and if on river fish them eddies them smallies wont be in the rapids that much also were i was fishing 1/4 mile up from were i was fishing 5 guys were in a 14ft jon boat flipped 3 died 2 swam to shore why 5 pp were in that small off a boat i dont know we actually fount their oars and a new boot that floated down river didnt know it had happened till after we left but like i said slow is the key also a cotten cordell big o crawl color works real well for me so try it!! Quote
Super User Dwight Hottle Posted April 6, 2011 Super User Posted April 6, 2011 A-Jay wrote Two words ~ Hair JigAsk Dwight, oh wait never mind . . . . A-Jay Shhh! It was supposed to be a secret. Quote
NateFollmer Posted April 6, 2011 Posted April 6, 2011 BLACK hair jig... DONE! No need to get anything else. Hair on a hook catches smallies! Quote
Smalleychaser Posted April 6, 2011 Posted April 6, 2011 Swimbait on pea gravel flats swam slow enough to tck the bottom evry now and then. Quote
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