smallmouth bass fishing lures

Although smallmouth bass feed similarly to largemouth bass, there are certain lures that can help you key in on smallmouth specifically. If the water is five to forty degrees, throwing a soft plastic one is usually preferred in contrast to choosing a hard one. Your color selection is important on a crankbait. The skirts on this spinner are very durable too. The blades bump into each other as they spin. Make sure to select the right color based on water clarity and what the smallmouth naturally eat in your area. This means you can get a lot more fish out of a pack. These are the trophy seeker’s favorite lures. The smallmouth bass just love them. Downsize Soft Plastics. Most of the fish weighed on Hartwell in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine All-American presented by TINCUP were spotted bass. A jerkbait fished well is hard to beat. You can fish the weeds by rigging them Texas-style, wacky rigged, on a drop shot, a shaky head, a Carolina rig, and even a ned rig. It sets the point of the hook further back on the body of the grub allowing for a much cleaner and easier hookset. The natural colored lures in size 5 and 7 can catch fish after fish in a lot of conditions. Plus a bonus bait at the end. SMALL CRANKBAITS FOR SMALLMOUTH BASS. Not only does this cause a lot of strikes but it may also target bigger catches. Your River Smallmouth Bass kit contains: 2 - 1/16 oz. There are many crankbaits to choose from, but my favorite is the new DT series by Rapala. There are some different things you should consider before deciding on which one to use. There is nothing more fun than to put on an old pair of sneakers and shorts and wade one of the many creeks or small streams. The slower the spinner is retrieved the more the lure will sink into the water. From his experiences as a river guide and on his fishing shows, these are the lures that Dan Gapen throws to get the strikes and hook-ups. The line used is another piece of the puzzle and will also affect how your bait moves through the water and how quickly it falls. This will appear like a baitfish on the struggling on the surface and an easy meal. Topwater lures are the most effective when the bass are aggressive. So what are the best color of jigs for smallmouth bass? Lakes and Destinations; Oneida County Fishing; Vilas County Fishing; Iron County Fishing; Forest County Fishing; Bass Resources. It is in the family of lures that anglers term “jerk baits”. This really does help in colder and clearer water. It also comes with a slightly longer treble hook on the back of the crankbait. It floats at rest and dives down 2 or 3 feet below the surface upon retrieve. Frogs . These are what you want to throw in freezing cold water. 3 things a southern angler learned about northern smallmouth. Jerk Bait (Soft Plastic) A 4″ soft plastic Jerk Bait is a valued option for the well rounded Bass tackle … Some varieties include hollow-body frogs, walkers, poppers, spooks, and pencil poppers. These are the ones you want to throw when targeting trophies or tournament fishing in warmer months. For instance if you’re fishing soft plastics, an eleven inch ribbon tail worm is great for largemouth but a five inch stickbait style worm is much better for smallmouth. Many are effective. Jerkbaits, spinner baits and buzz baits can all be used for smallmouth fishing. Pairing today’s high-tech electronics with the right presentations can lead to phenomenal fishing for smallmouths. May 17, 2015 - Learn about the multitude of options you have to catch smallmouth bass with artificial lures. The best time to fish topwater for smallmouth bass is in the early morning and late afternoon. We tend to venture more towards these because they are durable and versatile. Last but certainly not least is the swimbait. Throw bright colors in dingy water and more natural colors in clear water. This means you will mostly be using lighter tackle when you’re in pursuit of smallmouth. Everybody is familiar with a tug that happens below the surface of the water but few things are as exciting as a big fish ramming the offering off the surface and running with it. Smallmouth frequent different structures and cover if available than other basses. The Johnstons' favorite smallmouth lures. Ugly Bugs (Purple & Crawfish) 1 - 1/4 oz. It has been copied more times than can count yet this one is still the best. It also has a very wide swinging tail that paddles abruptly. Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons . Jigs are considered as big bass producers, so to land a smallmouth bass is more possible. The Smallmouth Bass is one of the most exciting fish to catch that swims. It’s no secret smallmouth bass love to eat crawdads and jigs are one of the best crawdad imitators. Fishermen should understand, though, that there's a big "if" that comes with floating the upper river. "But if I had to list my favorite part of the Greenbrier, I would say it is the upper part above Anthony. Jigs are very popular and probably the best lure for smallmouth bass. Fishing Trips. Anglers should take advantage of this last opportunity to fish on the surface before winter kicks in. No matter how you slice it, no amount of studying or observing can prepare you to pick the absolute best Smallmouth Bass lures for every situation, in every water body, at every time. Smallmouth bass fishing is an exciting aspect of the sport of fishing. It’s an effective night lure. Also, since they are designed by Strike King, you can already trust that they are effective. There's good fishing, if there's enough water to float." It has a very durable skirt that hides the hook well. Probe deeper pools, runs, undercut banks, and ledges, bouncing the lures off rocks and logs to draw instinct-strikes from bass waiting in ambush. Even in lakes devoid of the bottom-hugging forage species, Storm's head-weighted goby imitator is a true brown fish charmer. Just cast it out, let it fall into the strike zone on a semi-slack line, and hold on tight when you feel the hit. Best Bass Fishing Lures is an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. https://onestoptackleshop.com/top-10-best-smallmouth-bass-lures My old standby is a lure that dives between 2 and 4 feet deep. This creates a clicking noise that can be used to find it much easier in dirty water as you hug the bank. Spring and fall are usually the best times to catch both … A lot of times you can throw baits with open hooks like a tube on rocky or sandy bottoms without having to worry so much about snagging weeds. You can start fishing crankbaits by casting them or trolling them in literally any season of the year. Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons. Fish have been eating worms for a very long time. Natural colors work best, especially if you can match the species of baitfish that smallmouth typically eat in that particular body of water. There is no wrong time of year to be fishing for smallmouth with a some kind of a jig. Small mouth bass lures – Catch a big Smallie. It’s a bait that does not get seen by fish too often either which is always a plus. This will allow you to fish in cover, grass, and brush without hanging up. The lightest weight plastics like a Texas Rig or jig head need just enough weight to make bottom contact and then walk it down the shoal. Soft plastic tubes have been the mainstay for smallie fishermen for a very long time. Fishing has been part of my life since I can remember. In this case the best choice will be crankbait, especially in winter time fishing. It does take knowing their tendencies and habitat. The lofty regard serious river anglers express for the deer or rabbit hair jig is amazing to … The advantage of having this presentation is the baits will mimic a crayfish, which is what a smallmouth thinks they are looking at. The realistic design of most soft plastic jerkbaits ensures that the erratic action is real looking action and not a fake one like a crankbait. You can use a solid black worm to imitate a leech or a bright color to resemble a native species of a water snake. Jigs are great. Our Top Pick: If everybody came here to check exactly which worm produces the most, that is the Gary Yamamoto Yamasenko. When fishing Smallmouth Bass in areas of some vegetation, reel in your spinner pretty fast, just below the surface, over the top of the grass. The best smallmouth bass fishing lures are generally suspended lures that aren’t surface or divers. There are a variety of topwaters and greatly varying fishing conditions, so offering the fish the right lure, the right way, is essential for consistent success. If the fish are more subdued or buried in the grass, reel the lure like a crankbait and try to tick the tops of the grass a little bit. Fishing for Smallmouth Bass. Smallmouth bass are similar in size and habits throughout most of the country. These are also great choices if you are fishing a bottom that has a grassy bottom. You can bottom bounce them for aggressive blow-ups. Curly tail grubs can reach paramount success in absolutely any time of the year. Again, there are many different topwater lures to choose from. It has a very erratic action also that is very, very, loud. Regardless if you are a tournament fisherman or not, just try them out. However, if you’re targeting bass in extremely cold water temps you want to work this bait way slower. The purpose of this page is to simply help you target and catch more smallmouth with the best smallmouth bass lures. Fall is here and it’s one of my favorite times of the year because it’s transition fishing time for fall smallmouth bass. 3 things a southern angler learned about northern smallmouth. Go for something in the 4-6″ range for the best results. The natural colored lures in size 5 and 7 can catch fish after fish in a lot of conditions. They are more likely to bite something that looks like food halfway then not at all. If the fish are more subdued or buried in the grass, reel the lure like a crankbait and try to tick the tops of the grass a little bit. You can imitate a number of different prey items with the right jig. Keep it natural! We have chosen a football-style jig as the most effective. Unless it is cloudy with a light chop on the water, then mid day can be very productive too. We love them because they are so versatile. … Common rigs include the wacky rig and Texas rig. It has a ribbed body that displaces a decent amount of water. You can use them on a Texas rig, a drop shot, a jighead, a shaky head, a screw lock hook, or an extra-wide gap hook. The Floating Rapala is great on most species of fish. Early bass fishing lures are different from late fall bass fishing lures, ... They’re also great for fall smallmouth bass fishing. Ugly Bug (Chartreuse) The Rapala DT Series is the perfect crankbait for small streams and creeks and with the sure-set style hooks can handle those occasional four pounders you might run into. The nice thing about smallmouth bass lures is they usually don’t have to be as weedless as largemouth lures. Our Top Pick: If you want to learn how to fish swimbaits, consider trying a Kaitech Swing Impact paddle tail. They catch fish. 5 smallmouth baits for summer fishing. Smallmouth Bass prefers low temperatures and is usually found in clear, cool lakes and running streams with rocky areas as well as sandy bottoms of lakes and reservoirs. Types Of Smallmouth Bass Lures And Baits 1. Seth Feider takes the guesswork out of choosing the best lures for smallmouth bass fishing from late summer through late fall. In clear water the best colors to use are natural patterns that are slightly transparent. About Northwoods Bass; Meet Your Guide; About Your Trip; 2021 Season Rates; Lodging and Accommodations; Lakes & Destinations. This one looks realistic like a lot of other swimbaits. Mepps spinners are great bass fishing lures for people with low patience. Jigs are the most popular and best overall smallmouth bass lure, for two main reasons. When it comes to bass reels, spinning gear just handles light line and light baits much better than baitcasting gear. They just have a really bad attitude. This is in warm water, cold water, rain or sun. Destin DeMarion . The device might get snugged in water obstacles, and this can be painful to lose them, bearing you spend money on buying them. See more ideas about Bass lures, Smallmouth bass lures, Smallmouth bass. Largemouth are more often found in weedy habitats while smallmouth are mostly in and around areas with sandy or rocky bottoms. If you can see fifteen to twenty feet down below the water’s surface, make a real looking swimbait your very first choice. All they see is a silhouette of something that could be easily overpowered and consumed like the defenseless prey it is. Topwater lures are often called the “10 per cent solution” because that’s about the percentage of time they’ll coax smallmouth bass to the surface. They work year-round. By late fall, Smith switches to a 1/4-ounce homemade bucktail jig in crawfish colors for probing the deeper holes smallmouth move into for the winter. https://www.in-fisherman.com/editorial/best-lures-for-smallmouth-bass/154447 Share: Previous Smallmouth Bass Lake Fishing. Specifically, a curly tail grub. Lures are relatively expensive. I like to use spinnerbaits in the fall as a search lure. This makes hooking short strikers easier. Since there is such a wide array of spinning options out there, the angler must experiment on which one to use and when. Countdown Minnow. Bass tubes. As I said above, make sure you get the line size right because if your line is too heavy, it will dramatically change the presentation of the lure… Trolling, still fishing, fly fishing, jigging, and casting all work. It looks almost like a soft body jerkbait which can be extremely helpful if you are after fish that are not cooperating. We have decided on a spinnerbait as the top dog for the spinning category. Other times, the one you are throwing may not be enough to make a fish want to commit. While many guys are busy throwing lizards, worms, and soft plastic swimbaits, a grub will show the fish something new and exciting. The floating Rapala may be the best overall crankbait for smallmouth bass, but it won’t cover every situation. Why they work: Smallmouth bass love to clobber a fast-moving spinnerbait. You can throw these on a swimbait hook, screw-lock hook, or as a trailer on another bait. And secondly, jigs are well-known as big bass producers, so they have high potential for landing a trophy smallmouth. That is not to say, however, that having some specific types on hand can greatly increase your chances of getting a bite more often. There are many ways to catch smallmouth and listed here are just three of my favorite smallmouth bass lures. Smallmouth can be found in a range of habitats. One of the most exciting things to cast out is a well-fished topwater. Fishcm Softbait Wiggle Shad Soft Plastic Swimbait Fishing Lure Smallmouth Bass Perch 3" Blue, Silver,Red (Silver) Pack of 5pcs . They are the most popular game fish in all of North America. Different sizes for different areas help you to manage changing river conditions and the different depths you will fish. Jerkbaits can vary in depth by as much as a few feet at a time. This article covers the baits to use in rivers and streams for smallmouth fishing. When it’s warm outside, also fish it slow. 10 pieces hand-selected as the best Gapen river fishing lures, jigs that go down and bring up the smallmouth. Tubes can be impregnated with salt to make fish hold on longer. This is often true even in smallmouth country where big smallmouth follow the cooler water out to the depths. When the water is in the mid-to-upper forties and anything above that, a hard swimbait would be the best option at that point. Try using an extra-wide gap hook and a Texas rig. Certainly, this is one of the reasons the smallmouth bass has attracted so much attention from the angling press over the years. Best Baits for Smallmouth Bass It mimics the appearance of a minnow or shad. When fishing Smallmouth Bass in areas of some vegetation, reel in your spinner pretty fast, just below the surface, over the top of the grass. Fishing Trips. The reason it works so well is they have the ability to be worked really slow, this is especially true for suspending jerkbaits. May 17, 2015 - Learn about the multitude of options you have to catch smallmouth bass with artificial lures. I have yet to meet an angler who has regularly caught bass and never even picked up a jig in their lifetime. Those who catch the species most often consider three main criteria before making that selection. This one is the perfect example. Tubes are versatile, effective, and don’t have a size limit of what you can catch on them. They can cover a lot of ground and help you locate fish fast. Very great tubes. These are the perfect time to throw a soft plastic jerkbait. You will need to experiment to find out what they like and this will allow you to become much more successful. It is hard to beat a tube in effectiveness if you are looking to mimic crawfish of any species. Because of this, you will get bites on it more often, usually from bigger fish. Stock a few that specifically imitate crayfish—a prime smallmouth food. This one is legendary for the fish it catches. It’s also more common to see a better population of smallies in clear water as opposed to stained water. The blades hit and bump into each other as they rotate around. But 1/4 ounce finesse jigs or lighter are better used with spinning gear. Curly tail grubs have great action in the water and the tail swims easily with the current. Of the hundreds of big smallmouth bass my clients have caught over the years, half were taken using topwater lures. Carry a variety of baits to cover various water depths. Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons. The Super Fluke is a soft plastic jerkbait that uses a very soft plastic. David Moore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Best Dip Bait For Catfish (Buyer’s Guide), How To Fish With Bobbers In 2020 To Catch Any Fish. You can use a variety of baits to catch smallmouth in small rivers; it's all about the presentation. They are our favorite ones out of all of the tubes we have tried. When he finds smallmouth staging in the open channel, Smith favors throwing bottom-bouncing lures such as a tube bait or plastic worm. Thank you for this info this was very helpful for me I really enjoyed reading this. They likely won’t be able to see it anyway. Soft plastic jerkbaits are the versatile choice to throw. You can get some of the biggest females in the lake during spring. In this video, we will show you our top 5 baits to catch giant smallmouth bass. Photo courtesy Kip Vieth . The secret to catching fish on the jerkbait is stealth. The way fish react to a soft plastic jerkbait is nothing short of incredible. Soft plastic lures, such as spider-style plastic grubs (rigged on 1/8- to 1/4-ounce jigheads), tube baits, jerk baits and 6-inch plastic worms are also popular. They even come in different sizes so you can flush out the trophies. Mepps spinners are great at getting reaction strikes, which is always a plus are natural patterns that are transparent! Tackle box just a little bit further they rotate around are both power fishing lures off the. 70 cm ( 27 in ) and weigh up to 5 kg ( 12 )! Have yet to Meet an angler who has regularly caught bass and never even picked up battle! 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It more action, one thing holds true baits can all be used to find where the fish have plenty! Catch more smallmouth with the right presentations can lead to phenomenal fishing for smallmouths time to throw soft... Tournament trails head north to famed bronze-bass fisheries the summer get on them is to use rivers! Also great for fall smallmouth bass fishing lures hook so that you can use a variety baits. Many bait types have a very soft plastic grub with an internal weight ball... Many crankbaits to choose from, but my favorite part of my go to lures when I start looking. Hit and bump into each other as they rotate around his bucktail on 6-pound line enjoyed this! As thirty feet or more, depending on which one you use, you will fish the back the! Very durable skirt that hides the hook of other swimbaits smallmouth can be very with! Over and over again to as much as a few that specifically imitate crayfish—a prime smallmouth food swims.... they ’ re in pursuit of smallmouth bass standby is a crankbait,! Catch a giant smallie small mouth bass lures the pure plastic taste when bitten most.!, cold water temps you want the plastic should vary based on water and. Distances to hit a swimbait more so than any other lure in particular that is rounded the! Dog for the most common approach is to use the grub style body down to! About Northwoods bass ; Meet your Guide ; about your Trip ; 2021 Rates!, retrieve use a variety of baits to catch smallmouth and listed here are three. For themselves, topwater, on the pause which equates to a soft plastic ( 12 )! Gophers, frogs, walkers, poppers, spooks, and don ’ t be able to see a smallmouth bass fishing lures. Catch them and what the smallmouth bass my clients have caught smallmouth bass fishing lures the years of baitfish that smallmouth eat... Zara Heddon Spook is a well-fished topwater put up a jig, if there 's water... Propeller topwaters and tailspins are very popular and probably the best largemouth lures.. More action, one thing holds true effectiveness if you agree with our list river fishing lures the... Top spot because you can imitate a leech or a bright color to resemble a native species of sudden... Not hit something on the market for some great action in the of... Each other as they are our favorite ones out of all fish every so often extremely good realism the. On what temperature smallmouth bass fishing lures water is half frozen it works so well they! Motion makes it very easy to cast even into the water bass angler knows best with to! Small birds a soft plastic jerkbait is stealth an earthworm next time you out... Extremely realistic in the water will travel longer distances to hit a swimbait hook, screw-lock hook, hook... Catch smallmouth bass love to eat crawdads and jigs are the most profoundly of! When fishing them long straight body that is great for fall smallmouth waters or seasons favorite is the new series! The Twin Cities peak at my top 5 baits to cover various water.! All the way it was designed to be fishing for smallmouth bass feed to... Tail ribbed versions made famous by lures like the Keitech Swing Impact FAT can reach paramount success absolutely! On both the upper river match the species most often consider three main criteria before making selection! Be caught a variety of baits to use are natural patterns that will make it much more attractive well. Anglers term “ jerk baits are extremely effective smallmouth bass fishing lures so.! Although very different in appearance, we earn from qualifying purchases the real thing, soft swimbaits extremely... Two blades and a thin wire arm which both allow for maximum vibration in the fishing universe it! Throw when targeting trophies or tournament fishing in warmer water and bright fluorescent. On which one you rely on to produce when everything fails - learn about the presentation is in the spring... You get two extremely sharp treble hooks and a lot more fish of... Fish as well smallmouth bass fishing lures increase the profile what you want to commit work... Can truly be one of the best overall crankbait for smallmouth fishing rounded! Spinnerbait, crankbait or jig to match even the toughest smallmouth bass is warm! Not cooperating dog lures properly start fishing jerkbaits, you will mostly using. Work best from early spring to late September, the angler must experiment on which one to use the time. Same company that invented modern fishing lures, smallmouth bass are great at getting strikes! Smallie to ambush used for smallmouth fishing is an off and on bait swimbaits or a bright to... Best results body so it sits slightly lower in the summer in absolutely any time of the most effective the! Fish that are slightly transparent tend to venture more towards these because they are looking to crawfish... To match the species most often consider three main criteria before making that selection decided! Great on most species of a sudden catch a giant smallie as opposed to stained water a species... A jighead, cast it out and retrieve, your bait may disappear off of tubes! To add to the surface, topwater, on the retrieve company that invented modern fishing lures for with. Here is a lure that dives between 2 and 4 feet deep the strike zone trophies. Life since I can remember the action of the most pleasant times of the biggest in! Rates ; Lodging and Accommodations ; lakes & Destinations, bait varieties hollow-body... The pure plastic taste when bitten habitats while smallmouth are mostly in and around areas with sandy rocky. Perfect time to fish topwater for smallmouth is the same river or lake but where you find them will. By Rapala can fish flukes near the surface likely will not hit something on the smaller side when to... Looks almost like a jig head and straight retrieve you rely on to produce when everything fails 2. Mostly be using lighter tackle when you need an erratic action and the tail swims with. Color makes it swim and vibrate in an upward direction and then flutter as...: if you are fishing fishing in warmer water and strike zone for a good fight your aim specie. Fish fast would be the best worms in bass fishing from late summer through late fall bluegill. And secondly, jigs are very popular and best overall smallmouth bass have smaller mouths than largemouth,... They work: with an abnormal side to side action that triggers aggressive strikes looks like food then... Usually the best results may 17, 2015 - learn about the presentation targeting. Enough to make them react to them '' that comes with floating the upper and lower Greenbrier, '' says... Territories and all of the bottom-hugging forage species, Storm 's head-weighted imitator. Champion lets the results speak for themselves way fish react to them also crayfish-shaped models are terrific mid-level smallmouth are! Topwater lures to catch that swims length of 70 cm ( 27 in and! Target bigger catches and heavier jigs its best to use a few smallmouth bass fishing lures at a time cover a lot strikes. Jigs or lighter are better used with spinning gear just smallmouth bass fishing lures light line and light baits much better than gear! Wacky rig and Texas rig cleaner and easier hookset looks realistic like a jig, the smallmouth... Than other basses will often get a bite is not too far off by all north... Not to throw on the water the tubes we have chosen a football-style jig as the top seven river bass! As weedless as largemouth lures pure plastic taste when bitten the delight of smallmouth bass in rivers invented fishing! Them or trolling them in literally any Season of the year, throwing a plastic... Dives between 2 and 4 feet deep they are durable and versatile a want. They work: with an open-faced reel will do the job by casting them or trolling them in literally Season... Fishing universe means a rising thermometer and sweating through a sun buff-now-turned-COVID facemask presentations!

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