Crankin' Preferences of the Smallmouth 2025
FIN-S-R reply :
Have you guys noticed that smallies preferentially hit certian type of cranks. Does action, say a wobble as opposed to a wiggle make a difference, or general color patterns, say a contrasting pattern as opposed to a gradual blend or solid color seem to be a preference? I notice some cranks I use tend to only stick pig smallies, and others only dinks, and still others only LMB all in the same lake on the same spot. Now in considering this, please negate the probable variation in water color, lighting conditions, and other factors that may change from day to day, and just focus on the differences or lack there of btw the SMB and LMB when crankin'.
My personal observation from review of notes, is that I generally get a better pig smallie bite on those cranks that lean toward the more extreme end of the scales. For instance, a white/ green back DLN seems to produce good numbers of LMB and some medium size SMB. But when I implement the same crank with a little chart on it, it tends to stick pig smallies and fewer LMB. Same with action, the same color scheme in two different models, say a DLN as Opposed to a DT with a tighter more frantic wiggle, the DT seems to produce more smallie strikes than does the DLN which produces more LMB bites. This also seems to hold true toward the wobble end of the scale, wheras I have had good luck for chunk LMB on a DD22, and then the same color pattern Daiwa DT Titan Dragger (a really wide wobble) seems to stick more SMB.
How about Jerk Baits? I have had little or no luck for big smallies on jerks, deep or shallow, slow or fast. What do you guys notice is a good rule for what I have heard is the ultimate big smallie bait?
Deuceu72 reply :
I personally like plastics and jigs for BIG smallies, but if we're talking about crankin, my fav is a lipless crankbait. These produce the best for me when it comes to smallies. I also love jerkbaits, especially in the spring.
FIN-S-R reply :
Well I have noticed the same pattern with lipless cranks too. A red vibe seems to catch more smallies, while a ghost shad vibe will stick LMB. And a kinami hard bait vibration bait or LVR will do a number on LMB, while the Vibe or Sigoi tends to do a better job on SMB.
roadwarrior reply :
Most of the biggest smallmouth I have caught on artificial lures have been caught on jerkbaits, specifically full size Rapala Husky Jerk (blue & silver) and Lucky Craft Pointer 128 (American Shad). I think smaller lures (X-Rap, Pointer 100 & 78) would catch far more fish, but I feel that larger lures catch bigger fish.
YakAttack reply :
When it comes to crank baits I think the action of the bait has more to do with a strike than the color.
I prefer square billed cranks myself.
As for jerk baits, I think the color matters as well as the presentation. I like LC 100's in American Shad, Chartreuse Shad, Ghost Minnow, and Nikishi (clown).
CJ reply :
Fall seems to be the best time for crankbaits(jerkbaits for pre-spawn) on Ky.Lake,usually because of the more and higher water discharges,IMO.The Bomber Fat Free Shad in Citrus Shad has been one of the best along with a Norman DLN(depth pending).
Nick B reply :
I have caught smallies out here with Rattlin Rapalas
basspro48 reply :
I always seem to catch bigger smallmouth on big deep diving cranks in citrus type colors, and IMO the suspending jerkbait is the best bait of all time for monster smallies. The standard Lucky Craft Pointer 100 works good but the Slender Pointer 112 is like a smallmouth magnet. During one outing me and my buddy caught 25 smallmouth over 2lbs. in 1 hour, and my buddy even hooked a monster but it bent his hooks. It's just something about the aggressive darting action and perfect suspension of the Slender Pointer that smallmouth just can't resist.
wvubassfan reply :
I have to say that the pointers from the 78 and up have been my best bait for the smallies.
I have had good luck with DT's but for the money it is hard to beat the bandit 300 mad cow
i don't know why but that is what i catch my pigs on
CJ reply :
I was waiting on someone to mention a Slender Pointer,Basspro48.I picked one up in MS MJ Herring(same as Americsn Shad except has a puke brown back instead of turquois).It's just got smallie wrote all over it.
WCCT reply :
As far as cranks go, I would have to say a Baby Hot Lips in a craw pattern. I get some really big smallies in the spring by fishing this really fast and erratic.
Master_Hunter_1977 reply :
I would have to say spring time my lunkers would be on a hotlip and it summer to fall would be a lipless crank
tight lines
scott
Bud reply :
QuoteI was waiting on someone to mention a Slender Pointer,Basspro48.I picked one up in MS MJ Herring(same as Americsn Shad except has a puke brown back instead of turquois).It's just got smallie wrote all over it.
When you find out CJ let me know. I have a couple like that
basser89 reply :
Bandit 100 and 200's as well as Rebel Wee R's. I just started throwing jerkbaits for smallies last year. Rogues brought me a lot of luck!
Munkin reply :
Bandits or a big o in crayfish pattern banged off every rock you can find in the river. Try killing the bait when you get it close to the boat? a lot of SM will grab the bait as it stops. More than once I have tried to make a cast and there was a SM on the end of the line.
Allen
kbkindle reply :
kb here munkin took the words right out of my mouth here on my home lakes i allways have a big o tied on and also a 100 series bandit. one day i can go out and they want a wide wobble like a bandit the next day a big o with a tight wiggle in the bigo's they like firetiger and chrome black back and super shad in the bandit they want purple with stripes and mistake colors work the best for me kb
Craw reply :
I've had the most success with Bomber Model As. The 6A and 7A specifically. Brown crawdad, green crawdad and firetiger. Those baits are the staple cranks here in my neck of the woods.
justfishin reply :
Yea Craw, I forgot to include the 6A and 7A. Hell, I have a whole box of them. I like them in Olive, Firetiger and Red the best. They are hard on those smallies.
CK14 reply :
jointed shad-raps, and deep divers like bay hot lips.
MALTESE FALCON reply :
For me it's, Shad Raps jointed and straight, Rattlin Raps, C.C. Grappler Shad, Frenzy divers, X-Raps.
Falcon
squid reply :
LIPLESS CRANKBAIT IN ROOTBEER FOR THE DETROIT RIVER WORKS GREAT.
Danceswithbass reply :
A 4" swim bait is a deadly bait for big small mouth. You wont get the numbers with it, but when you hookup with a fish you can bet it will be 3lbs or better. What ever you do dont let them jump, those swimbaits are easy for the fish to throw. Also Norman deep little N in night train color(crome/purple) is great on small mouth.
FIN-S-R reply :
swim baits and DLNs???? WHat body of water do you throw them on for big brownies? im wise to the DLN thing, but I usually dont bust out the swim baits until im kicker huntin.
bronzebackcrippler reply :
Wow! It's amazing how closely everyone agrees on crankbaits for smallies.
For me in the spring I have great luck on red 2 and 300 Bandits.
Any other time of the year it's any shad colored model A.
Team Daiwa jerkbaits and X-Raps work good year round.
Danceswithbass reply :
Fin I promise you will get bit on a 4" swim bait. I used them last year for the first time for smb and they were the bomb on Texoma Eufaula and Tenkiller. I caught a 5lber on Tenkiller with it last May. There aint a lot of smb in killer, but they do like that bait.
Quoteswim baits and DLNs???? WHat body of water do you throw them on for big brownies? im wise to the DLN thing, but I usually dont bust out the swim baits until im kicker huntin.
Replica. reply :
In small to medium sized rivers I like to use a #7 rapala original floater silver/black back.
logger reply :
QuoteFin I promise you will get bit on a 4" swim bait. I used them last year for the first time for smb and they were the bomb on Texoma Eufaula and Tenkiller. I caught a 5lber on Tenkiller with it last May. There aint a lot of smb in killer, but they do like that bait.Quoteswim baits and DLNs???? WHat body of water do you throw them on for big brownies? im wise to the DLN thing, but I usually dont bust out the swim baits until im kicker huntin.
I agree. I caught my PB smallie on a 4" soft bodied swimbait here in michigan.
Bass Angler reply :
hey. in the late summer months, i like to use (not advertising) yamamoto senkos texas rigged without any added weight, and rapala x-raps (slashbait but really a jerkbait) for big smallies and largemouth bass too. i've found that probably my best lure over the years has been the rebel crayfish (once again, not advertising). largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and anything else that sees it cant resist. easy to use too. i live on the backwaters of a dam (the deep part) and the water is very low-visibility. this kind of water needs a powerful action because the fish have to use their lateral line to find their prey. i depend mostly on rapalas, daredevils, mepps spinners, and things like that. hope this is useful...
boondocks reply :
By looking at all these different replys one would think that any crankbait on the market would work for smallies. I have had good luck throwing the smaller wiggle warts. Firetiger.
roadwarrior reply :
Actually, I think that is exactly the case. The key is finding the fish. Whenever we have a thread on "color" I think you'll see that by the time it runs its course, nearly every color available has been recommended or at least mentioned. The same holds true for many lure categories. Right time, right place, right presentation...If the bass are there and they happen to be in the right mood, nearly everything works. The "secret" lures and colors are those that produce when nothing else is working.
castaway reply :
The Bomber deep flat A , or a Storm wiggle wart catches alot of smallmouths, but I don't specifically crank for smallmouth.
wvubassfan reply :
Roadwarrior you are so right. We got into a mess of them up on Erie. It was one of those days they would hit anything. We just threw our cheapest stuff so if we got a break off it was no big deal. Retie and start over.
Munkin reply :
QuoteActually, I think that is exactly the case. The key is finding the fish. Whenever we have a thread on "color" I think you'll see that by the time it runs its course, nearly every color available has been recommended or at least mentioned. The same holds true for many lure categories. Right time, right place, right presentation...If the bass are there and they happen to be in the right mood, nearly everything works. The "secret" lures and colors are those that produce when nothing else is working.
This is what I have been working on myself. Instead of spending time switching crankbait colors I concentrate on finding fish! Right now I only carry 4 or 5 colors of crankbaits but I make sure I can cover all depths from 6" to 20'.
Allen
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