BillM Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 I use them as well in white with great results.I find them a lot hardier than the others.1/2 oz size. Yup, the only thing I find is that the reflective finish is easily chipped off the head itself. I'm going to start putting a few coats of clear nail polish on them to see if that helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustic-Fisher Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 There was no offence being made your way. I can tell you about a day I spent on the lake and only took two rods. Both with spinnerbaits. One of my best days. Fished from 8 -15 fow. Zigzaged.in and out.Sometimes we make it so complicated. The past two days I had a top water,worm and spinner bait on three rods. That was it. No box to retry different baits. All worked for me. As for spinner baits,I was a Stanley man,but have since gone with BOOYA. Thats why I always say,BOOYA,when they hit. Agreed keep it simple . Remember those pigs we hooked 8' from shore while we fished from the shore at that back lake we hit. Doesn't get much simpler LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplumma Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Senko wacky rigged with no weight or if it is a faster presentation it is a cotton cordell big O white med dive. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_paluch Posted June 30, 2014 Report Share Posted June 30, 2014 Saturday on Simcoe most fish were caught within 4-6feet. Caught a few in a foot or 2 deeper but most action was shallow as we were mainly sight fishing. Fishing the deeper water has always been something I've struggled with. I love when threads like this pop up on here because the wealth of experience and knowledge makes for a good read. The presentation of choice for this weekend was baby bass coloured wacky rigged senkos and baby bass coloured caffeine shads. Next weekend the spinner baits and crankbaits are coming out in full force lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 I started fishing crank baits quit a bit last year for both smallies and largies off deeper weed/rock edges. I'm trying to get out of the rut of always throwing the same patterns (ie topwater because it's so addictive, lol) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Spinnerbaits are deadly, i use black with silver Colorado and willow leaf blades. Strike king pit belly spinners are deady(i too fish current). Another tactic I've learned is like crappie fishing when there suspended. Small or large plastic, dropped to where you mark them, then lift and drop. Not really a jig but slower, they bite on the fall Jerk baits work too and i also love rapala dt 10's in golden shiner or crawfish patterns Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OhioFisherman Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Tubes aren't just a deep water lure, lighten the weight and they work fine in water 5 to 12 feet deep. Small hair jig, 1/8 - 1/4 ounce and pork or plastic for a trailer. Small crankbaits, my favorite was the Storm Wee Steelie wart, but there are others that work. Roadrunner style baits http://www.basstacklemaster.com/Sworming-Hornet-Fish-Head-Spin-p/shfhs.htm A better hook than the standard roadrunner, you can also by a ponyhead mold and make your own. A Heddon sonar or other style blade bait, they vibrate like crazy and trigger strikes, you have to adjust your retrieve speed to the water depth, not just a jigging lure. Ball head or Mushroom head style jigs, throw on a 4 inch worm, lizard, or 3 inch grub. Carolina rigged soft plastics. Float n Fly, they work for smallies too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 i was catching smallies on opener, in water 6' to 12', on luckycraft jerk baits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Agreed keep it simple . Remember those pigs we hooked 8' from shore while we fished from the shore at that back lake we hit. Doesn't get much simpler LOL That was crazy. Now if I could only remember how to get back there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 Thanks for all the replies everyone... Looks like I have a few things to try... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted July 1, 2014 Report Share Posted July 1, 2014 That was crazy. Now if I could only remember how to get back there. Back lakes, you could toss marshmellows at those fish and they'd bite. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ainsley Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Was crushing them on Saturday and Sunday on a luckycraft pointer 100 in ghost minnow and aurora black. Was trying my fav baits and nothing: keitech swimbaits, terminator t1 spinnerbaits, bomber crankbaits, and tube jigs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singingdog Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 Your original question covers lots of behaviour/presentation territory, and should bring up lots of questions that will lead you to understand smallies better. Before I threw something at them, I would ask myself a few questions: 1. Where in that depth range are the fish? 2. What "mood" are they in? 3. What kind of water (clarity, productivity) are you fishing? Aggressive smallies, no matter what depth they are holding, will rise a long way to hit. BIG spinnerbaits, burned super fast, is a great way to find them and catch them if they are aggressive. In that case, you don't really need to worry about the depth of the fish. Finicky smallies, holding tight to the bottom, or stubbornly holding at 8' in 12 FOW are a whole different story, especially in current. If they are on the bottom, that is easier then if they are suspended. Maintaining bottom contact gives you constant feedback. Trying to present at 8' in 12' of water is much, much tougher. I am surprised that no one has mentioned lipless cranks. They are one of the most versatile, and most effective smallie lures in my box. You can burn them for aggressive fish, count them down to pretty much any depth, or fish them right off the bottom like a jig. I catch lots of big smallies in 25 FOW with lipless cranks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garnet Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 This is a good point Aggressive vs Finicky. They aren't necessarily finicky when you go to dropshot our tude. Yesterday they just weren't looking up burned spinner baits, snapping jerks , buzzing cranks nothing. Pull out the dropshot and they had it most times before it hit the bottom. Put they didn't seem to want exacter movement on drop shot just hold in 1 place. That article we all read about finicky hard to catch smallies is mostly crap. "Smallies are killers and the bigger they are the more aggressive they are". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shloim Posted July 3, 2014 Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 I use a lot of 4" gulp minnows on darter jig heads and jerk baits are usually good too... I try to keep it simple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted July 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2014 This is a good point Aggressive vs Finicky. They aren't necessarily finicky when you go to dropshot our tude. Yesterday they just weren't looking up burned spinner baits, snapping jerks , buzzing cranks nothing. Pull out the dropshot and they had it most times before it hit the bottom. Put they didn't seem to want exacter movement on drop shot just hold in 1 place. ". Same here yesterday Shallow bite was crap... Tried 20-30 feet deep with tube and drop shot... Drop shot produced so my partner switched over but brown instead of the smoke I had on... He was gettin bites 2-3 to my 1... I switched to brown and it was game on... Tons of light bites and dropped fish tho... They can be fussy little buggers... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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