Go to bait for Creek smallmouth 2024
Missouri Rigging reply :
I have been thinking about hitting up some Creeks for smallmouths and wanted to know what are your guy's go to bait for freak Panda smallmouths. I'm for sure tying the ned rig on.
Tennessee Boy reply :
Rebel Wee-crawfish
smalliemonger reply :
wacky creek worm, small weightless fluke, inline spinner.
I agree with the wee crawfish and Ned seems like it should work.
JLBBass reply :
3" kalin grub has to be one of mine.
waymont reply :
07 and 08 original Rapala, size 1 and 2 Mepps aglia, small poppers, small Flukes, and 4” weightless worms. All great baits, stream smallies can be pretty aggressive.
Brew City Bass reply :
3.5ft berkley dredger! It's a crazy little crank that anything will hit.
Allen Der reply :
4" kalins grub, manns baby 1 minus, #1 or #2 mepps
Crestliner2008 reply :
Small, white, suspending jerk baits.
Spankey reply :
Sometimes in those small creeks smallie fishing can get real tough. No response to bass lures. They get a real lock jaw. Fly fishing them and live baiting (minnows or small shiners) will get it done. Use barbless hooks that helps. No shame in live bait in any situation really. Just my 2 cents.
BassinCNY reply :
I've never fished a creek for smallies but I think my first choice would be a small tube, then a hair jig.
smr913 reply :
This is 90% of the fishing I do.
Topwater- 1/8 buzzbait, Pop-R, Whopper Plopper
Mid Column- Paddletail swimbait, 3-4" grub, spinnerbaits, small cranks
Bottom- Ultravibe speedcraw on shakey head, bitsy bug w/ trailer
ohboyitsrobby reply :
Rebel wee craw. Catches Creek fish pretty much year round besides the COLD.
Hower08 reply :
1/8 oz jighead and pink/chartreuse twistertail
Bdnoble84 reply :
I second the 1/8 to 3/32 oz jig head, i favor a 3” green pumpkin curlly tail though
12poundbass reply :
3/8oz jig with brown/orange skirt
Drew03cmc reply :
3" Tackle HD HiDef Craw on their Stealth HD jighead.
Pickle_Power reply :
I'll toss in another mention for the Rebel Wee Craw and hair jigs.
I have caught more stream smallmouths on a crawler under a float than any other tactic, especially at dams and mouths of creeks.
roadwarrior reply :
Rage Tail Menace
Manly Studson reply :
Took my boys creek fishing last weekend. We hiked to a location that isn’t accessible by boat unless you put in 10 miles away. All of us caught our first smallmouth bass ever. We used SK bitsy tubes rigged weed-less on a size 1 non-offset ewg hook. But even that hook was too large for the tube. First time using tubes and first time catching smallmouth bass. Loads of fun.
Steveo-1969 reply :
My favorite is a SK Bitsy Bug jig with Baby Rage Craw trailer.
Otter17 reply :
On 4/3/2019 at 9:51 AM, Manly Studson said:Took my boys creek fishing last weekend. We hiked to a location that isn’t accessible by boat unless you put in 10 miles away. All of us caught our first smallmouth bass ever. We used SK bitsy tubes rigged weed-less on a size 1 non-offset ewg hook. But even that hook was too large for the tube. First time using tubes and first time catching smallmouth bass. Loads of fun.
❤️
TnRiver46 reply :
On 4/3/2019 at 9:51 AM, Manly Studson said:Took my boys creek fishing last weekend. We hiked to a location that isn’t accessible by boat unless you put in 10 miles away. All of us caught our first smallmouth bass ever. We used SK bitsy tubes rigged weed-less on a size 1 non-offset ewg hook. But even that hook was too large for the tube. First time using tubes and first time catching smallmouth bass. Loads of fun.
SHove an 1/8 round ball jig head in those bitsy tubes. Best rig going. Bring plenty of them because you will lose a lot
Manly Studson reply :
On 4/4/2019 at 3:36 AM, TnRiver46 said:SHove an 1/8 round ball jig head in those bitsy tubes. Best rig going. Bring plenty of them because you will lose a lot
Will do. Thanks for the advice. Smallmouth and spotted bass were hammering the bitsy tubes.
redmeansdistortion reply :
I catch tons of smallmouth while steelhead fishing. While this is a steelhead drift rig, I'm going to assume it's deadly for smallies too since I hook into them often. I use a 3/16 oz to 3/8oz oz slinky weight (depending on current speed) on the main line and a #8 snelled octopus hook on the leader with a 3" pink trout worm. I throw it out there and let the current carry it down stream until I get a hit.
billmac reply :
Meeney Spin or Beetle Spin
BassinCNY reply :
On 4/6/2019 at 12:34 AM, redmeansdistortion said:I catch tons of smallmouth while steelhead fishing. While this is a steelhead drift rig, I'm going to assume it's deadly for smallies too since I hook into them often. I use a 3/16 oz to 3/8oz oz slinky weight (depending on current speed) on the main line and a #8 snelled octopus hook on the leader with a 3" pink trout worm. I throw it out there and let the current carry it down stream until I get a hit.
I will give this a try. Thanks for the tip.
Manly Studson reply :
On 3/31/2019 at 11:41 PM, roadwarrior said:Rage Tail Menace
I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?
TnRiver46 reply :
On 4/9/2019 at 9:45 AM, Manly Studson said:I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?
I haven’t mastered it quite like @roadwarrior but I have used them weightless, Texas rig , and shakey head. They all work very well, in addition to being a good trailer for jigs and bladed jigs . I haven’t Carolina rigged one yet but I bet it would work
Otter17 reply :
On 4/6/2019 at 12:34 AM, redmeansdistortion said:I catch tons of smallmouth while steelhead fishing. While this is a steelhead drift rig, I'm going to assume it's deadly for smallies too since I hook into them often. I use a 3/16 oz to 3/8oz oz slinky weight (depending on current speed) on the main line and a #8 snelled octopus hook on the leader with a 3" pink trout worm. I throw it out there and let the current carry it down stream until I get a hit.
I really like this setup. Thankyou for posting this.????
roadwarrior reply :
On 4/9/2019 at 9:45 AM, Manly Studson said:I’ve read other forums where you’ve mentioned the Rage Tale Menace. How do you rig it? How do you fish it?
Texas Rig with a 3/0 EWG hook and 1/4 or 3/8 oz bullet weight.
SCWatrboyo1 reply :
I throw these jig heads in small creeks especially the smaller ones with either a slider or zman finesse
FishinBuck07 reply :
Mine would be a 3" stickworm with a 1/16 oz bullet weight texas rigged. My favorite way to catch them in the creek would be my fly rod though, not always the most productive though since I am still learning.
Highview Hank reply :
inline spinner, curly grub, tube. They have been hammering the orange flame, rock bass hot on 3 inch speed shad
J Francho reply :
Try a Norman Fat Boy. You will be surprised at how well it works, and not just for smallies.
https://www.lurenet.com/norman-fat-boy
Dogface reply :
On small creeks I use a hellgrammite imitation or something similar to a hellgrammite, in-line spinners and small twister tails.
On bigger running water I use those mentioned above and the Rebel Crawfish, the Beetle Spin and the Tiny Torpedo with blades.
Dry flies work great especially if there is a small hatch. A big hatch might put too many flies on the water and the fish will never find your fake.
And then there is live bait!!! Specifically minnows.
BTW I see someone mentioned Z-Man baits. I just purchased some Z-Man craws and light jig heads. I hope to try them in some of the smaller creeks I fish. Hopefully rocks won't be too much of a problem but they seem perfect size for small water.
Dogface reply :
On 4/10/2019 at 7:23 PM, FishinBuck07 said:Mine would be a 3" stickworm with a 1/16 oz bullet weight texas rigged. My favorite way to catch them in the creek would be my fly rod though, not always the most productive though since I am still learning.
A flyrod with a small popper is deadly. I should have included that in my suggestions above.
CountryboyinDC reply :
On 5/20/2019 at 10:35 PM, Dogface said:On small creeks I use a hellgrammite imitation or something similar to a hellgrammite, in-line spinners and small twister tails.
On bigger running water I use those mentioned above and the Rebel Crawfish, the Beetle Spin and the Tiny Torpedo with blades.
Dry flies work great especially if there is a small hatch. A big hatch might put too many flies on the water and the fish will never find your fake.
And then there is live bait!!! Specifically minnows.
BTW I see someone mentioned Z-Man baits. I just purchased some Z-Man craws and light jig heads. I hope to try them in some of the smaller creeks I fish. Hopefully rocks won't be too much of a problem but they seem perfect size for small water.
I like all of these, particularly the first 2 lines. I was a huge Case hellgrammite fan (still am), but I've run into another that is made of a plastic like the Z-man baits. They last for 10+ fish usually, although they are harder to rig in certain cases (think jighead with wire baitkeeper). They are NikKo Zaza, and I buy them from the outfitter that shuttles my kayak, but I see they're on Amazon now. These and the Z-man baits last an amazing amount of time, and I'm turning to them more and more for smallmouth in skinny water.
Dogface reply :
I just bought some Nikkos. I haven't used them yet.
CountryboyinDC reply :
On 5/21/2019 at 12:09 AM, Dogface said:I just bought some Nikkos. I haven't used them yet.
I think you'll like them. When the summer gets in full swing, I'll probably be using these all the time, either on a light jighead or on a size 4 EWG hook Texposed with a small worm weight. The great thing is when you start catching them every few casts you may only have to adjust them on the hook every few fish. I've never needed a new bait on a single trip (unless I lost the whole jighead).
FishinBuck07 reply :
On 5/20/2019 at 10:51 PM, Dogface said:A flyrod with a small popper is deadly. I should have included that in my suggestions above.
Like I said I am still learning, when you are fishing the popper are you letting it just drift the current or are you popping it constantly? I know stupid question
Dogface reply :
On 5/21/2019 at 10:37 PM, FishinBuck07 said:Like I said I am still learning, when you are fishing the popper are you letting it just drift the current or are you popping it constantly? I know stupid question
Not a stupid question. I'll try different retrieves depending on different circumstances but most times I'll cast to cover and make gentle moves or pops. I want to keep the popper in the vicinity of the cover. My thinking is that the fish is holding to cover and I want to present an easy meal. I usually work each piece of cover and I favor shallow cluttered areas to fish poppers.
If you get a hit hesitate a second or two before sitting the hook. If you set too quick you'll pull the hook out of the fishes mouth.
BTW it is addicting.....all those top water hits!!
FishinBuck07 reply :
On 5/22/2019 at 12:19 AM, Dogface said:Not a stupid question. I'll try different retrieves depending on different circumstances but most times I'll cast to cover and make gentle moves or pops. I want to keep the popper in the vicinity of the cover. My thinking is that the fish is holding to cover and I want to present an easy meal. I usually work each piece of cover and I favor shallow cluttered areas to fish poppers.
If you get a hit hesitate a second or two before sitting the hook. If you set too quick you'll pull the hook out of the fishes mouth.
BTW it is addicting.....all those top water hits!!
Thank you very much! I figure it is just like setting the hook on a frog with conventional gear, wait till you feel he weight of the fish?
All I know is I really enjoy fighting creek smallies on the fly rod! Tied a new hellgrammite fly over the winter that i am excited to see how they like.
Dogface reply :
Good luck with the hellgrammite fly. It should be a killer.
Munkin reply :
LC Pointer 65sr.
Allen
king fisher reply :
Inline spinner.- will catch anything. Works best cast up stream in runs and riffles.
4" hula grub with 1/8-1/4 ounce jig head..- for when they don't want a spinner. Works great in eddies, and deep pools, but can be drifted in current.
Floating Rapala - great twitched on top for surface strikes, then finish retrieve by reeling straight in.
Small mouths in creeks are not usually picky. Will hit anything if the presentation is right. Pick a lure that will work depending on current speed and depth. The lures I mentioned will cover top to bottom, riffles, runs, tail outs, pools, eddies and pockets behind rocks, logs, and weeds. Many other lures will work just as well, these are the ones I bring when I fish creeks for both bass and trout.
related Smallmouth Bass Fishing topic
previous topic
© 2024 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.