Fluke style Baits for smallies 2024
Smbass19 reply :
I was wondering what everyone's favorite fluke style bait is and how they rig them, specifically for smallmouth.
Mine is a white pearl super fluke weightless with a 3/0 or 4/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook.
TnRiver46 reply :
For winter it's a 2.5 inch gulp minnow. For summer I usually throw a hand pour that's a tad longer than a zoom super fluke
MickD reply :
SmBass19, good choice. Not sure where you're from, but in clear water in MI, one of the best is the white 4-4.5 inch swim bait (with the "boot tail," I think it's called) on a 3/16 darter head jig twitched off the bottom. Good for searching since you can make long casts, fish it fast. Walleyes, northerns, and LM will hit it too.
Smbass19 reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 7:38 AM, MickD said:SmBass19, good choice. Not sure where you're from, but in clear water in MI, one of the best is the white 4-4.5 inch swim bait (with the "boot tail," I think it's called) on a 3/16 darter head jig twitched off the bottom. Good for searching since you can make long casts, fish it fast. Walleyes, northerns, and LM will hit it too.
From northern Illinois, but I fish mostly in Michigan, UP, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Which brand swim bait do you like? The Swimming fluke? I've done pretty well with the strike King swim n shiner. I typically use it with a classic 1/8 oz ball jig head.
FryDog62 reply :
#1 for me is the SK Caffeine Shad on 3/32 oz Owner Twistlock Light Hook. I’ve never seen any other fluke style bait fall like this one on slack line. Irresistible falling/swimming action...
Scott F reply :
I use the Case Sinkin Salty Shad. Sinks like a Senko, no weights needed.
padon reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 8:56 AM, Scott F said:I use the Case Sinkin Salty Shad. Sinks like a Senko, no weights needed.
I like those and yamamoto d shads in current the extra weight gets them down a little with no weight needed.
MickD reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 8:35 AM, Smbass19 said:Which brand swim bait do you like?
Strike King KVD swimmin caffeine shad, 5", I guess it is. They offer 4 and 5 in, and the one I use has to be bigger than 4. Pearl white. I've found that for a good percentage of hook sets I need to make sure when I put it on the hook that I don't close up the gap too much. I went through a streak last year of fish that aggressively took the lure, and were on for 10-15 seconds, then came off. I paid attention to the above and increased my percentage significantly. I use the Gamakatsu darter head jig in 3/16 and 1/4, but also am going to try another with a 3/0 hook (to get a larger gap). They can be put on the jig with the hook coming out the side, too. Gives a bigger gap, not sure about how effective it is that way yet, but since it's coming off the bottom so aggressively, I can't see how it would hurt.
fishnkamp reply :
This is easy for me I fish from MD to VA, PA, TN, KY, Mo etc and my absolute favorite for smallies, largies and KY spotted bass as well as stripers is a Reaction Innovation Skinny Dipper. Actually all 3 sizes. In water 10 foot or less it is rigged with a belly weighted hook. For deeper water, it is rigged on a swimbait jighead like the Big Hammer jigheads or
Picasso Smart Mouth swimbait jigheads. Either way I swim it, then kill it. The insane motion it has on the fall is terrific. That is when most of my strikss occur on that fall.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 8:56 AM, Scott F said:I use the Case Sinkin Salty Shad. Sinks like a Senko, no weights needed.
Those look awesome! Do you typically fish the 5" variety? I googled them and saw they also have a 3 3/4" size as well.
Fewer colors though.
Scott F reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 12:39 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:Those look awesome! Do you typically fish the 5" variety? I googled them and saw they also have a 3 3/4" size as well.
Fewer colors though.
I've been using both sizes for years. I have owned a variety of colors and I have NEVER had a time when one color caught more than any other color. Actually, I use them in the same way and the same places I use senkos. Weightless and T-rigged.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 12:57 PM, Scott F said:I've been using both sizes for years. I have owned a variety of colors and I have NEVER had a time when one color caught more than any other color. Actually, I use them in the same way and the same places I use senkos. Weightless and T-rigged.
Haha so it's pointless to ask what colors you prefer. That sounds great though, I think the smaller may work best for me but I don't have a ton of experience with fluke style baits. Senkos on the other hand..
Scott F reply :
I USED to favor smaller baits for smallmouth and sometimes they do prefer a smaller bait, but do not be afraid to use the 5 inch. Trust me, you'll get 8 inch smallies to hit bigger baits. But fish with whatever you have confidence in. You'll enjoy your day on the water more if you aren't second guessing your choices.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 1:31 PM, Scott F said:I USED to favor smaller baits for smallmouth and sometimes they do prefer a smaller bait, but do not be afraid to use the 5 inch. Trust me, you'll get 8 inch smallies to hit bigger baits. But fish with whatever you have confidence in. You'll enjoy your day on the water more if you aren't second guessing your choices.
Guess I'll just have to try a variety! I wish they had a green pumpkin blue.... That's a killer for me in other plastics.
Burtonxj reply :
Nose hooked White Ice Super Flukes
padon reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 1:22 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:
Haha so it's pointless to ask what colors you prefer. That sounds great though, I think the smaller may work best for me but I don't have a ton of experience with fluke style baits. Senkos on the other hand..
I fish the Susquehanna for smallmouth a lot. don't be afraid to try the 5inch size. the only time I use the small size is in early spring, all summer and fall they eat the bigger one and it casts better
Smbass19 reply :
Follow up, similarly related, size issue. I just watched Facts of fishing with Dave Mercer. He was using a Jackall Cross Tail Shad, which was designed specifically for drop shotting, but he found another use. He was rigging it on an 1/8 oz swimbait jighead and just slow reeling it along the bottom. It looked amazing in he water and he crushed the smallmouth. Couldn't really tell if he was using the 3" or 4". But I can't imagine the 4" could possibly be "too big" for good size smallmouth. Any thoughts?
FryDog62 reply :
Another TV guy, Karl Kalonka, pretty much only uses the 5 inch Caffeine Shads for Smallies...
Smallmouth pretty much have short-man inferiority complex and have no problem hitting larger baits at all. I’ve caught them on muskie lures several times...
J Francho reply :
Super Flukes, in whatever color you like. I go for some natural color. Main difference in rigging is to use a 2/0 Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap, and nose hook it.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/10/2018 at 8:22 PM, padon said:I fish the Susquehanna for smallmouth a lot. don't be afraid to try the 5inch size. the only time I use the small size is in early spring, all summer and fall they eat the bigger one and it casts better
Thanks for the input. I'm thinking I'll just go ahead and get the 5". I tend to gravitate towards tubes and hard jerkbait early in the year any way, so I may not end up using the smaller Case minnow anyway.
I've also never really used a white color for flukes, or any plastics honestly, but that white pearl really seems tp be the goto for people. Their site has some vids by a sponsored guide as well and he loves that color.
Crestliner2008 reply :
I like to just nose hook a Zoom Fluke (any size) with a 1/0 inline circle hook. Has worked for me for many years. I believe nose hooking it is more effective than texposing an off-set worm hook. But that's just me. 
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 1:16 AM, Crestliner2008 said:I like to just nose hook a Zoom Fluke (any size) with a 1/0 inline circle hook. Has worked for me for many years. I believe nose hooking it is more effective than texposing an off-set worm hook. But that's just me.
Interesting. I've seen that rigging mentioned before but have never used it. Do you have any issues with losing more baits that way, seeing as the hook is so much further to one end?
I can get a little bit trigger happy and may have issues not letting them take it all the way in.
J Francho reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 3:48 AM, WI_Angler1989 said:Do you have any issues with losing more baits that way, seeing as the hook is so much further to one end?
Yes with the softer baits, like the Keitech version, but not the original Zoom Super Fluke.
smalljaw67 reply :
I use a River Rock Custom Baits 5" Jointed jerkbait in pearl and custom flash shad. The smallmouth crush it and I found the Owner Twist lock light hooks in a 3/0 or 4/0 works great for soft jerkbaits. BTW, I know a lot of guys get hung up on heavy hooks, the Twist Lock light isn't a light wire hook, it is a regular medium or standard wire hook and while I normally fish them on 8# line on a spinning rod I do occasionally throw them into cover on a MH casting set up with 15lb line and never had a hook bend out.
padon reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 4:33 AM, smalljaw67 said:I use a River Rock Custom Baits 5" Jointed jerkbait in pearl and custom flash shad. The smallmouth crush it and I found the Owner Twist lock light hooks in a 3/0 or 4/0 works great for soft jerkbaits. BTW, I know a lot of guys get hung up on heavy hooks, the Twist Lock light isn't a light wire hook, it is a regular medium or standard wire hook and while I normally fish them on 8# line on a spinning rod I do occasionally throw them into cover on a MH casting set up with 15lb line and never had a hook bend out.
I use the same hook for my flukes . The screw lock helps keep the bait from getting torn up as much. I also throw mine on spinning tackle for smallmouth in the river.
bowhunter63 reply :
Zoom fluke weightless with a 4/0 ewg. Arkansas Shiner is my go to color.
Djohn reply :
Caffiene Shad 5"
heavyduty reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 4:33 AM, smalljaw67 said:I use a River Rock Custom Baits 5" Jointed jerkbait in pearl and custom flash shad. The smallmouth crush it and I found the Owner Twist lock light hooks in a 3/0 or 4/0 works great for soft jerkbaits. BTW, I know a lot of guys get hung up on heavy hooks, the Twist Lock light isn't a light wire hook, it is a regular medium or standard wire hook and while I normally fish them on 8# line on a spinning rod I do occasionally throw them into cover on a MH casting set up with 15lb line and never had a hook bend out.
I'm gonna give these a try. 99% of the time I fish soft jerkbaits and senkos weightless. I noticed they also come in a 3/32 weighted version. Have you tried the weighted version?
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 12:57 PM, heavyduty said:I'm gonna give these a try. 99% of the time I fish soft jerkbaits and senkos weightless. I noticed they also come in a 3/32 weighted version. Have you tried the weighted version?
I don't like weights with soft jerkbaits, even a light weight ruins the action. The baits I use have a good salt content so they sink at a faster rate so you really don't need weight and so I just use the hook without any weight on it.
WI_Angler1989 reply :
I'll have to try a jointed jerkbait from River Rock next ti me I place an order. I love their tubes and Smallie finesse worms already.
It seems like most people opt for a white color and some variety of it for fluke style sold jerkbait. Any particular reason to use whites over greens? I ask because my waters have an abundance of perch, so green is always an obvious color for me.
TnRiver46 reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 10:53 PM, WI_Angler1989 said:I'll have to try a jointed jerkbait from River Rock next ti me I place an order. I love their tubes and Smallie finesse worms already.
It seems like most people opt for a white color and some variety of it for fluke style sold jerkbait. Any particular reason to use whites over greens? I ask because my waters have an abundance of perch, so green is always an obvious color for me.
I know a fella that swears by watermelon flukes
WI_Angler1989 reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 11:04 PM, TnRiver46 said:I know a fella that swears by watermelon flukes
i guess it'll just be a trial and error thing next season. I found a company on this thread that seems to be the perfect choice for how and where I fish.
padon reply :
I use white a lot but also like Arkansas shiner and watermelon magic. sometimes in super clear water the white just seems kind of overpowering which is when I use one of the others.
Turkey sandwich reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 4:33 AM, smalljaw67 said:I use a River Rock Custom Baits 5" Jointed jerkbait in pearl and custom flash shad. The smallmouth crush it and I found the Owner Twist lock light hooks in a 3/0 or 4/0 works great for soft jerkbaits. BTW, I know a lot of guys get hung up on heavy hooks, the Twist Lock light isn't a light wire hook, it is a regular medium or standard wire hook and while I normally fish them on 8# line on a spinning rod I do occasionally throw them into cover on a MH casting set up with 15lb line and never had a hook bend out.
Every season I intend to fish flukes more, but never really commit to them like I do a jig/crankbait/etc. You're probably the 10th person who's opinion I trust who's mentioned the River Rock jointed soft plastic jerk baits. Where do you generally order them from? Also, I'll second the Owner Twist Lock/Twist Lock weighted series of swimsuit hooks. They're awesome, and ridiculously versatile. They're stellar for soft jerk baits and swimbaits, but also great for swimming worms, oversized grubs, frog/toads, you name it. If you want it to be weedless, and to not totally shred the plastic, they're killer. I think you can get them anywhere from weightless up to 3/16th or so and the weight isn't obnoxiously bulky or interfere with action.
smalljaw67 reply :
On 1/12/2018 at 3:47 PM, Turkey sandwich said:
Every season I intend to fish flukes more, but never really commit to them like I do a jig/crankbait/etc. You're probably the 10th person who's opinion I trust who's mentioned the River Rock jointed soft plastic jerk baits. Where do you generally order them from? Also, I'll second the Owner Twist Lock/Twist Lock weighted series of swimsuit hooks. They're awesome, and ridiculously versatile. They're stellar for soft jerk baits and swimbaits, but also great for swimming worms, oversized grubs, frog/toads, you name it. If you want it to be weedless, and to not totally shred the plastic, they're killer. I think you can get them anywhere from weightless up to 3/16th or so and the weight isn't obnoxiously bulky or interfere with action.
I like the 5" for that bait and it works well on both a 3/0 and 4/0 Owner twist lock light hook. I have a few favorite colors, pearl, custom flash shad, poison ivy, and blue glimmer, all of those colors have produced good fish on the Susky and Juniata rivers. https://river-rock-custom-baits.myshopify.com/products/5-jointed-jerkbait?variant=1101201899545
Smbass19 reply :
RIVET RIG.....
I found this method last year. Haven't tried it, seems like a good idea if you're fishing open water. Zona says he uses this rig for both caffeine shad and for swimming style plastics. Little complicated, but I think it would definitely increase your hook up percentage.
https://1source.basspro.com/index.php/component/k2/237-fishing-info/3681-fishing-zona-and-defoe-s-riveting-rigging-secret
Sylvaneous reply :
I use a 4" regular fluke or the Fin-S-Fish. I nose hook it with a Gammakatsu 2/0 or 3/0 Shiner hook. The body 'flaps' and darts and swims, but does not glide that the T-rigged Super fluke. This bait is for the SMB living along the banks of the river, where the most and most aggressive fish live. That specific hook provides, of course, a wide gap, a straight pull, and also a keeling or low center of gravity effect for stability. SMB almost always take the head of bait, so I rarely miss fish.
Color? Mostly pearl. In clear, warm water (July, August) I use Albino. The pale purple top makes it look a lot like an open water river shiner and its bright blue sides. Also baby bass. Oh, White Ice, too. That's it.
Bobby F reply :
On 1/11/2018 at 1:16 AM, Crestliner2008 said:I like to just nose hook a Zoom Fluke (any size) with a 1/0 inline circle hook. Has worked for me for many years. I believe nose hooking it is more effective than texposing an off-set worm hook. But that's just me.
I agree crestliner2008 Since i started doing that my hook up ratio is better ..I like to screw a owner hitch in the nose adds a little weight and protects bait.
Sam reply :
Pearl flukes on Virginia's upper Historic James River above Bosher's Dam are outstanding.
But please keep this information to yourself.
TOXIC reply :
Smallmouth Killer on Lake St Clair. Saved a trip for us one year and we went through 10 bags a day. Luckily I was hooked up right before we left and for some reason put them in my truck. 5" Yamamoto DShad Texas weightless rigged on a 4.0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, dragged like a tube. It's been a staple and produced every year.
lbriggs reply :
3" gulp minnow in pearl or smelt on a 1/8 drop shot, or a 1/10 ned rig head will catch them anywhere in Iowa for me.
NHBull reply :
BPS has an elastic shad in the salt water section with all the motion of the caffeine, but last a hell of a lot longer
FryDog62 reply :
On 1/20/2018 at 10:29 AM, NHBull said:BPS has an elastic shad in the salt water section with all the motion of the caffeine, but last a hell of a lot longer
Sounds interesting... I checked BPS site but couldn’t find. Plz share if you have the link. Thx
NHBull reply :
On 1/20/2018 at 12:18 PM, FryDog62 said:Sounds interesting... I checked BPS site but couldn’t find. Plz share if you have the link. Thx
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