08-31-2003, 01:05 AM
[cool]Smallies don't get to be biggies by being dummies. They are a bit more selective and generally hit smaller lures on lighter lines than largemouth.
In most waters, smallies feed on one of two things...crawdads or minnows. Their favorite by far is 'dads...especially the young ones and softshells. So, if you are trying to come up with a lure color for them, don't go to the bright oranges and greens of commercial crankbaits and plastics. Start with smoke sparkle and add a couple of touches of light green or brown with a permanent marker. Try to capture a specimen of the local bugs by turning over rocks and lifting out clumps of weeds. You know how to get 'em. Take a good look at the colors, and you will usually find the live ones are pretty drab, and not the typical "crawdad" colors.
The translucent appearance of smoke sparkle is a good simulator for small crawdads. You can use small tubes or twisters in 1 1/2" to 3"...with 2" being a good bet in most cases. I do well with the small "slider jig" bodies, with the little paddle tails.
Use LIGHT heads...like 1/32 to 1/16 oz. When retrieving, crawl them over the bottom slowly, like a real mudbug. Once in a while do a shivver lift off the bottom, to simulate a bug taking off and then settling to the bottom again. A lot of hits will come as you do the lift. Just as many will come when the jig is settling, so watch your line.
The Senko lures have become very popular with both LMB and SMB fans. You can't fish them wrong. They do not need weight and they sink well on their own...with a sexy side to side motion that fish find very attractive. There have been lots of stories of guys catching big bass on them while they are laying on the bottom perfectly still (the Senkos).
When the smallies are active and chasing food, several different kinds of spinners work on them. I have caught them on everything from silver steelhead spinners to big spinner baits fished for largies. In the middle, use Roostertails...in white, black, brown and other colors. Some of the Panther Martin inline spinners are deadly on smallies too.
When they are really aggressive, especially in the spring and fall, they will hit topwater...like Pop-Rs, propellor shads, floating Rapalas, etc. If you throw the topwater, move it slow and let it set between movements. Again, they will sometimes blow up on the lure after it has been motionless for several seconds. Other times they want a lot of motion. Vary the presentation until they vote for what you are doing.
Now, go read one of the thousand books that has been written on smallmouth and keep experimenting. The fish don't read the same books.
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In most waters, smallies feed on one of two things...crawdads or minnows. Their favorite by far is 'dads...especially the young ones and softshells. So, if you are trying to come up with a lure color for them, don't go to the bright oranges and greens of commercial crankbaits and plastics. Start with smoke sparkle and add a couple of touches of light green or brown with a permanent marker. Try to capture a specimen of the local bugs by turning over rocks and lifting out clumps of weeds. You know how to get 'em. Take a good look at the colors, and you will usually find the live ones are pretty drab, and not the typical "crawdad" colors.
The translucent appearance of smoke sparkle is a good simulator for small crawdads. You can use small tubes or twisters in 1 1/2" to 3"...with 2" being a good bet in most cases. I do well with the small "slider jig" bodies, with the little paddle tails.
Use LIGHT heads...like 1/32 to 1/16 oz. When retrieving, crawl them over the bottom slowly, like a real mudbug. Once in a while do a shivver lift off the bottom, to simulate a bug taking off and then settling to the bottom again. A lot of hits will come as you do the lift. Just as many will come when the jig is settling, so watch your line.
The Senko lures have become very popular with both LMB and SMB fans. You can't fish them wrong. They do not need weight and they sink well on their own...with a sexy side to side motion that fish find very attractive. There have been lots of stories of guys catching big bass on them while they are laying on the bottom perfectly still (the Senkos).
When the smallies are active and chasing food, several different kinds of spinners work on them. I have caught them on everything from silver steelhead spinners to big spinner baits fished for largies. In the middle, use Roostertails...in white, black, brown and other colors. Some of the Panther Martin inline spinners are deadly on smallies too.
When they are really aggressive, especially in the spring and fall, they will hit topwater...like Pop-Rs, propellor shads, floating Rapalas, etc. If you throw the topwater, move it slow and let it set between movements. Again, they will sometimes blow up on the lure after it has been motionless for several seconds. Other times they want a lot of motion. Vary the presentation until they vote for what you are doing.
Now, go read one of the thousand books that has been written on smallmouth and keep experimenting. The fish don't read the same books.
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