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Best Producing Smallie Plastic? 2024


fishing user avatarJKarbo214 reply : 

What is everyone's best producing smallmouth plastic?  This past season I had the most success with the Yamamoto double tail skirted grub in watermelon black for smallies.  What has everyone else had success with?


fishing user avatartnbassfisher reply : 

A 5" grub will always catch good numbers, but for me it is definitely Zoom Lizards, both 4" and 6"


fishing user avatarflippincrazy reply : 

A single tail grub.


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 

Rage Tail Baby Craw

8-)


fishing user avatarMrs. Matstone reply : 
  Quote
Rage Tail Baby Craw

8-)

That is my first choice too.  ;D I also have done well with the eeliminator.


fishing user avatarJ Francho reply : 

Numbers? Or Size?  It really boils down to time of year and location.  I'll go with Roboworm 4" in Aaron's Magic, on a drop shot rig for consistent deep smallie action.


fishing user avatarJig Man reply : 

Melon pepper tube for me.


fishing user avatarBRONZEBACK67 reply : 

Drop shotting...Cross tail shad in ayu and Yamamoto shad shape worm in green pumpkin.

Tube would be green pumpkin purple fleck.


fishing user avatarNick reply : 

Streams: superfluke during warm water season or a 4"senko and smallie beaver Green pumpkin on a stand up jig head in colder water.

Flatwater: 4 inch grub or tube (These fish normally aren't real picky.)


fishing user avatarLund Explorer reply : 

Depending on location and forage base, it could range from a tube, to a grub, to a craw worm.  And then there is a cut down ribbon tailed worm.

In the early part of the year, I will take a 7" power worm (black or motor oil) and cut down the head so that it is small enough to fit a 2/0 Gammy EWG hook.  I use either a smaller worm weight or a splitshot that is just heavy enough to maintain bottom contact when I fish the bait with casts that quarter upstream.  This allows the bait to move along with the current and under overhanging cover.

I think this approach mimics a leech or smallish eel and the smallie simply hammer the bait when they bite it.  If the fish takes off running with the bait, I'll always cast back into the same cover assuming that the fish was trying to escape with his meal from others inside the same cover.


fishing user avatarShane J reply : 

Rage Tail Baby Craw by a mile. Top colors are Watermelon Red with claws dipped in chart JJ's, and Candy Craw. Eeliminator gets quite a few, too!


fishing user avatarbigredxlt reply : 

in clear calm water during the summer heat when looking for size over quantity I have had the most luck with a rapala skitterwalk in bluegill. I caught a whole bunch of 2-4 pounders that came up from the depths to nail it.

Other than that I really like dark natural colored 4" senkos


fishing user avatarshakyhead reply : 

small jigs, hula grubs, senkos


fishing user avatarWanderLust reply : 

Tubes, weightless 4 - 5 inch worms and weightless flukes


fishing user avatarww2farmer reply : 

Tubes, and 3" Gulp......often time it matters not what style/color, as long as it's Gulp.


fishing user avatarMNGeorge reply : 

For size, I'd say Sweet Beaver, for numbers, it's a toss up between rage tail craws and tubes.


fishing user avatarSfritr reply : 

did someone say FAT IKA????????

Also, Franco

I agree.  roboworm in exactly that color drop shotting with 6lb flourocabon is hard to beat


fishing user avatarMNGeorge reply : 

OK, Sfritr and Francho, I'm not finding any 4" Roboworms anywhere.  Where do you get yours?


fishing user avatarmaineman reply : 
  Quote
Rage Tail Baby Craw

8-)

X3  black red flake  ;)


fishing user avatarWanderLust reply : 
  Quote
did someone say FAT IKA????????

Also, Franco

I agree. roboworm in exactly that color drop shotting with 6lb flourocabon is hard to beat

Fat IKA is my number 1 green fish lure. The brown ones seems to like tubes for snacks. 4" watermelon dinger was also deadly.


fishing user avatarCrestliner2008 reply : 
  Quote
Numbers? Or Size? It really boils down to time of year and location. I'll go with Roboworm 4" in Aaron's Magic, on a drop shot rig for consistent deep smallie action.

Right on!  :)


fishing user avatarMaineBassMan reply : 

My favorite plastics for smallmouth are tubes, grubs, texas rigged rage tail craws or 1/4oz. & 3/8oz. jigs rigged with a rage tail craw. For top water action I love stanely ribbit frogs.


fishing user avatarHersh reply : 

Early in the spring on the river here watermelon red  strike king coffee tubes  later on the 4" poor boy stick worm in any sort of watermelon, watermelon red or baby bass color.  Also poor boy erie darters work at times


fishing user avatarroadwarrior reply : 

Another vote for the Fat Ika.

If you count trailers, the Swarming Hornet/ LFT

Live Magic Shad is another option.

:o


fishing user avatarTuckman reply : 

Sweet Beavers and any 4" stickworm.

Dragged on a fb head or dropshotted


fishing user avatarBassThumb reply : 

Finesse tubes on light wire tube jigs.


fishing user avatarSfritr reply : 
  Quote
OK, Sfritr and Francho, I'm not finding any 4" Roboworms anywhere. Where do you get yours?

Tackle Warehouse, Bass Pro, Cabelas 

I was just at BPS today and they had more stocked that I have ever seen in the past


fishing user avatarbasscrusher reply : 

Let me preface by saying I do most of my smallie fishing in a secluded tributary creek where a 14" smallie is big and bottom-bumping lures get broken off about every 5th cast in a massive maze of rocks.  That said:

for numbers: 3" senko in watermelon or black

for size:  4" Yum Dinger in green pumpkin/red

biggest I ever hooked: Zoom tube in the Natural Shell color


fishing user avatarbig t 4488 reply : 

4.8 jackall flick worm with a drop shot technique kills them in keuka lake at about 30-50 feet bluff point


fishing user avatargeorgiaken reply : 

Cabin Creek spider jigs and tubes.


fishing user avatarZel... reply : 

Soft jerbaits: 3 Bass Assassin, 4 Finesse Fish, 4 Sluggo

Spring: Slider 1.5" Crappie/Pan Fish Grub; Tubes: 3 Screwtail Minnow (don't know what they're called after all these years or even if they're still made, but I got plenty).

Summer: 4 Berkley Finesse Worm Hand Pour.

Fall: G.Y. Fat Ika.


fishing user avatarbankerbasser reply : 

Zoom Super Speed Craw in Watermelon Red, Carolina rigged Senko in various colors


fishing user avatarCrankenstein_MI reply : 

Weightless Hot pink Super Fluke


fishing user avatarTin reply : 

Tube

Brush Hog

Fluke

Spider Jig


fishing user avatarmidnighthrasher reply : 

1- Tube - 3.5 coffee tubes (3/8 tube head)

2- Jackall crostail or pintail (Dropshot)

3- Fat Ika (rigged backwards)

4- Senko (yamamoto senko. the real deal only. NO wanna be's)


fishing user avatarAluma-Bass reply : 

vibra tubes!  ;)


fishing user avatarCrankenstein_MI reply : 

I have caught a bunch on a hula grub as well


fishing user avatarGavin reply : 

I river fish for smallmouth mostly...

Zoom Fluke-Pearl or Glimmer Blue

Zoom Fat Albert-Green Pumkin or Green with red flake

Chompers Hula Grub-Same as above

V&M Pork Pin with a brass weight


fishing user avatarVTechHokie reply : 

3" Gitzit tubes, they are hard to find now but a big bag of them will last quite some time


fishing user avatarWdyCrankbait reply : 
  Quote
Rage Tail Baby Craw

8-)

Yes, but have they worked for you?  LOL!!!  I gotta go smallmouth fishing with you!


fishing user avatarAddicted to Smallies reply : 

I hate to be "that guy" but I have to say it... Senko's have been my best producer.  Probably worth mentioning that I fish rivers, not lakes.

I suppose it may be a confidence thing for me now, but I found the 4" and 5" Senko's (usually the BPS brand, actually) in watermelon or pumpkin to be good producers for me when other things aren't working.  They seem to be perfectly weighted to get down and bounce along in the riffles, but work equally well in the deeper pools.  Texas rigged, sometimes with a TINY hook weight on the front of the hook.  Also fish them wacky sometimes, but they get hung up a bit more, and I haven't found the hook-up ratio to be any better for me.


fishing user avatarAddicted to Smallies reply : 

Oh, I almost forgot... the Baby Brush Hog is also deadly.  Probably tied with the Senko in my book for producing when everything else in my tackle box seems to be falling flat.


fishing user avatartcain38 reply : 

I like a grub in the spring and a Yum Wooly Bug in the late spring though summer. :D


fishing user avatar-nick- reply : 

Nice thread. Going to be going down the river on my kayak tomorrow targeting smallies and I was thinking I was about to have to hit up dicks sporting goods after work to pick up some new lures for smallmouths, turns out I have most the things you guys catch them on. Might have to make a trip anyways, no such thing as over prepared.  ;D


fishing user avatarErn reply : 

Yum Dinger, Bitsy Tubes, and Super Fluke JR.


fishing user avatarDave T. reply : 

When it comes to smallies and plastics, I've found that if it is "small", "wiggly", and "green pumpkin" in color, it will catch plenty of smallies anywhere.  :)


fishing user avatarPa Angler reply : 

I catch a lot on a Zoom Horny Toad and a 1/8oz Roadrunner with a 3" Grub.

Tight Lines

Pa Angler


fishing user avatarAndy C reply : 

Zoom superflukes and yum crawbugs, rage tail craws.  Smallies aren't exactly picking a lot of times. 


fishing user avatarbucky reply : 

Tube, grub, and jig, in that order.


fishing user avatarNorcalBassin reply : 

4" single tail grub, hands down.


fishing user avatargrimlin reply : 

For numbers

4" stickbait

3"-4" tube

3" curly tail grub

For size

RI Sweet beaver T-rigged

Jig with a craw trailer


fishing user avatarlaus reply : 

Tend to go with temp....dart-head jig with curly tail grub good starting point late 50's temp. Kicks w/ inline spinners after, least for me.


fishing user avatar3dees reply : 

for quality I'll go with a chompers 4" dbl. tailed skirted craw in pumpkin or watermelon on a football jig. for quanity it's old school. 4" slider worm on 1/8th oz jig.


fishing user avatarkash1 reply : 

Hi new here to the board and I have to say it's really amazing how much I have learnned just from this thread. I do a lot of Smallmouth fishing in Ontario (NWO) where a lot of the lakes are clear,cold and deep with a lot of rocky structer. My personal best bait I use a Zoom OLE MONSTER HEAY SALT WORM in either anything with red flakes in it or a Watermelon color. I just hook them throuh the nose flip it out and let it sink and then reel in with a stop and go motion. It's hard to believe how a smallie will take a 10 1/2 inch bait in one gulp. These baits were bought to take down to use on Pickwick or Wilson lake in ALabama but trip got cancelled so I tried them in Canada and have been using ever since up there. Biggest smallie to date is 7.12lbs. In 40 days I'm headed back up there to fish the AYA and the SSS Tournaments.


fishing user avatarTimJ reply : 

4" tube

poorboys goby (jig, ds or c-rig)


fishing user avatarbobbyc reply : 

best way to rig the rage tail baby craw? ...thanX.


fishing user avatartholmes reply : 
  On 3/12/2011 at 2:11 PM, NorcalBassin said:

4" single tail grub, hands down.

^^ This. In black, smoke, or green pumpkin.

Tom


fishing user avatarTerryR reply : 

3 or 4 inch curly tail grubs with a 1/4 or 3/8 ounce jig head, depending on current, in either black, yellow, or clear with black flake works for me. Also, for me personally, I seem to do better with chartreuse jigheads for whatever reason.


fishing user avatarprogressivefishing reply : 

5" hula grub on a football jig if fishing rocks and the cray fish are active. If not a brown or brown/red crank bait. Thats about as simple as I can make it, however I always seem to over think it... I think most of us do when it comes to fishing. haha


fishing user avatarkc.coleman reply : 

Plastic worms in green pumpkin and junebug have been hitting hard at our lake this summer with the bass staying deeper in the water


fishing user avatarSmallieDncr reply : 

Kinami 4" grub in chartreuse or green pumpkin on a revenge jig head. I have caught to over 7 on these.

Kinami swimsenko in white or green pumpkin

Keitech 4" swing impact in ayu or green pp.

Smallie beaver in dirty sanchez on a zipper football head. I fish these on Lake Michigan with great success.


fishing user avatarKamiahkid reply : 

Hands down...3.5" Sweet Beaver


fishing user avatarBill Porter reply : 

Black w/ no flake 4 inch Yamamoto Senko weightless on 2/0 EWG Lazer Sharp Red Hook! Close second is Case Plastics 3 3/4 inch Sinkin Salty Minnow on GAM WG size 2 Finesse hook (nose hooked for that sweet action of course)! Also the Hellgramite from Case Plastics is like candy to smallies, early spring you can catch one every cast.


fishing user avatarShifty reply : 

3 or 4 inch Berkley Crazy Leg Chigger Craw, Green Pumkin....Texas rigged.

Smallies tear these things up on the Colorado.


fishing user avatarsenkoman81 reply : 

Wacky rigged senko numbers, baby brush hogs for size


fishing user avatarBradH reply : 

Chompers 4" straight tail worm in green pumpkin. On a jig, drop shot or split shot rig.


fishing user avatarcastaway reply : 

weightless Zoom super fluke in bubblegum color and 5" Kalin grub in smoke,salt and pepper color on 1/4 oz. leadhead.


fishing user avatariceehot66 reply : 

Keitech Fat 2.8 or 3" in Pro Blue red pearl or Shad colors color slayed em really good this past season here in NJ


fishing user avatarG_money reply : 

First let me say I exclusively fish for size...that being said:

1. yamamoto double tail hula grub (brown grape blk flk) on a 1/4 oz strike king shakyhead football jighead

2. Strike King Tour Grade Finesse Jig (Watermelon with red flk) with uncle Josh #11 pork trailer (trailer depends on hatch color and water color

3. a distant third; Yamamoto 4" senko (outperforms the imitators by far--but very pricey if bite is hot)


fishing user avatarSiebert Outdoors reply : 

4" grub or tube in green pumpkin varient.


fishing user avatarsmallies24/7 reply : 

a custom hand poured bait up here where i live called sniper lures. the sniper bolt in white or green and dropshotting. you should look them up at sniperlures.com.


fishing user avatarToledoEF reply : 

I fish pretty swift current in the maumee river. I use small size rebel wee craws, with the hooks replaced lol. Rebel pop-r, 1/8oz sk buzzbait in black. Some local hand poured tubes with 1/16th up to 3/16oz shakey heads instead of the tube jigs and flukes.


fishing user avatardumfish reply : 

4 and 6 inch grandebass rattlesnake worms in watermellon red flake, 3.75" lake fork magic shad,


fishing user avatarCrookedneck reply : 

Strike King baby rodent (3.5") green pumpkin with a 1/4 oz black bullet weight


fishing user avatariceintheveins reply : 

Grubs, be they single, double or skirted. Green Pumpkin, white, watermelon ect.


fishing user avatarRevoSEMIpro reply : 

Strike King Coffee tubes or a 4" Senko, do a lot of damage with both.


fishing user avatarout_doors_guy reply : 

In no particualr order:

NetBait Tiny Paca Craws

4" Yamamoto Senkos

Kinami Double Tail Hua grubs

BPS Tubes

Colors I prefer would be green pumpkin, smoke, watermelon/red flake and black




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