Are there any lures and or presentations that you tend to use more in the Fall than in the Spring or Summer?

It seems to me that the tube jigs work better in the fall. We have had good success vertical jigging in 20-30 feet of water for Smallmouth.

drrick: "It seems to me that the tube jigs work better in the fall. We have had good success vertical jigging in 20-30 feet of water for Smallmouth."

I use tubes during all three seasons, mostly when things are slow, I get slow and go low with tubes.

Tubes and grubs - nearly interchangeable the way I tend to fish them though.

I like bigger baits in the fall.......most critters have grown up. As the water cools spoons increasingly become an effective but often overlooked option for all species.

From what I have gleaned in print and on Utube snap jigs seem to be an excellent option for walleye at this time of year. No personal experience but plenty out there touting their effectiveness in the fall.

Big soft plastic jerkbair on a heavy Moon eye type jigs head. I’m typically fishing suspended schools over 30ft of water. I’ll be up the first week Oct.

We have had luck last 10 days or so doing day trips with crank baits running 15-17 feet.
Shoulder surgery prevents me from anything to strenuous, we would get a nice walleye and then switch to live bait with limited luck and would end up circling back with the crank baits and have done ok for walleyes.

Wasn’t signed in on that last post, anyways may try again today with the crankbaits on a different entry, wind switching to the south, it dictates where I go with the shoulder.
We go in with a fish finder(thanks to all for tips on modifying one) and seems to find the walleyes by island and humps, few nice pike also.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder, I feel your pain, I dislocated my shoulder earlier this year and it makes it difficult at times. I have my good days and bad days. Not sure it will ever be the same again.

Another day trip today, upper 50s and misty rain on push off at 10am (thanks wife for being a trooper). Walleye not in spots we found them two weeks ago. Pike were, however, and three biggest were 43", 41" and 38". Finally located walleyes 13-14 feet pulling crankbaits with Mr. Pike showing up too often.

I have never had any luck with tubes, but usually good luck with grubs. I must not know how to fish the tubes. I'm actually packing my tackle today to head up into the Q tomorrow for 8 days and was thinking about not bringing any tubes at all. If anyone has any insights on how to catch a fish on one, or maybe even the rigging, I'm all ears!

I usually like to use Mepps spinners, grubs (black and white) and pull Deep divers and spoons.

When the eyes go deep and tighter to vertical structure I go with a jig and minnow or a blade bait.

mapsguy1955: "I have never had any luck with tubes, but usually good luck with grubs. I must not know how to fish the tubes. I'm actually packing my tackle today to head up into the Q tomorrow for 8 days and was thinking about not bringing any tubes at all. If anyone has any insights on how to catch a fish on one, or maybe even the rigging, I'm all ears!


I usually like to use Mepps spinners, grubs (black and white) and pull Deep divers and spoons. "

Are you fishing your tubes on or near the bottom? Are you fishing them to fast? Tubes are often the #1 choice of pros when targeting smallies. Tubes seem to me to be a crayfish imitator. Fishing them on or near the bottom with gentle hops and short sweeps seem better than aggressive jigging.

What is the best way to rig and fish the tubes? Size hook? Colors?

Do you bounce the bottom, say 1/2 oz weight inside or just off the bottom? I have good luck with everything else so haven't spent much time there.

We are going into Draper which is supposed to be a good Smallie lake.

mapsguy1955: "What is the best way to rig and fish the tubes? Size hook? Colors?


Do you bounce the bottom, say 1/2 oz weight inside or just off the bottom? I have good luck with everything else so haven't spent much time there.


We are going into Draper which is supposed to be a good Smallie
lake. "

Just contour troll a crank bait 10-15' down along the south shore of those 2 main lake islands before you reach the campsite. I suggest taking some Aleve before getting on the water so you are able to continue reeling in all those bastards!

mapsguy1955: "What is the best way to rig and fish the tubes? Size hook? Colors?


Do you bounce the bottom, say 1/2 oz weight inside or just off the bottom? I have good luck with everything else so haven't spent much time there.


We are going into Draper which is supposed to be a good Smallie lake. "

The Berkley PowerBait, pumpkin green, 4” hollow body tube bait is the lure to use whenever the smallmouth seem to want a slower approach. This lure is best used with a non-lead 1/8 oz. or ¼ oz. tube bait jighead.

The hop and reel technique is the most common and standard way of retrieving this lure. Cast the tube out to your specific coverage area. Let the bait fall completely to the bottom on slack line. Once it makes contact with the structure, reel up the slack in your line until it becomes tight. Now by lifting the rod or snapping the line at the tip, the jig will respond by moving inches or feet depending on the amount of lift or snap. Let it drop back down to the bottom and continue this method all the way back to the canoe. Smallmouth will either strike the bait on the fall or pick it up off the bottom while it is paused motionless. You will feel a little tick on the line, pause for a second, reel up any slack and then set the hook.

Another method of fishing this lure is called dragging. This technique is just how it sounds; you drag the lure very slowly along the bottom of the lake imitating a crawfish, pausing every now and then. Smallmouth could hit aggressively at anytime so always be prepared to set the hook.

ProTip: when pulling a canoe behind a boat. Run the tow rope under the stern seat and tie it off on the bottom of the canoe this will keep the nose pointed up.

Blade baits

jumbo live bait

lundojam: "jumbo live bait"

YES!