Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: Top 10 Smallie Lures
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Sobi |
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Sobi |
Anyone loving the hair?! Kicks tail, especially in current. Check out: http://www.jimmydsriverbugs.com/ Can't even count or tell you how many sows have fell for his riverbugs!! |
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tom m |
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Jeriatric |
I seem to have abandoned my favorites when I go to the BW. There, I have used Heddon's surface plugs (Spook, Tiny Torpedo) the Original Rapala and leeches. I think the switch occurred because I was influenced by other people's BW favorites in old threads on this site, on the theory that you should listen to the locals. I never really thought about that until this thread. Reflecting, I realized that I have never taken a Rooster Tail, Senko or small popper (maybe because I haven't taken a fly rod) to the BW. Leeches do double duty (both smallies and walleye). My most success has occurred with leeches and perhaps that is why I haven't thought about my oversight much. |
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GeoFisher |
quote QueticoMike: " :):) I've never used any of those...I do use a tube close to the bleeding watermelon, and I have also used a texas RED wee craws, but all the others.......NOPE. I find it amazing what people end up catching fish with. Most of my stuff is soft plastic, or jigs. Later, Geo |
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Bdubguy |
- 4 in powerbait jig worm, green pumkin, 1/8 oz black mushroom jig head (#1 for me, we're on the same page Basspro69) - 3 in power bait twister tail, pumpkin seed, 1/8 oz gold jig (#2) - husky jerk - x-Rap - #9 floating rap, perch (topwater) - Pop-R - Swimbait, yum money minnow, 1/2oz jig head - swimbait, Sebile magic swimmer, up til now my secret bait, expensive, but deadly on smallies and pike - spinnerbait, 3/8 oz white, dbl willow This doesn't include trolling or live bait. I'll be adding mepps, zulus and senkos to my list. |
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lundojam |
senko under a slip bobber leech original floater skitter pop BP offers a real sleeper, the cleo. I've caught tons of smallies on a little cleo. twister tail jig and a minnow husky jerk shad rap |
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Mad_Angler |
quote PaddleAway: "Only thing I haven't seen mentioned is a Junebug sinking Gulp! My go-to for any type of bass anywhere. " I've seen a few mentions to "Junebug". I looked through the gulp site and can't find it. What is it? How do you use it? |
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Gravy33 |
quote Basspro69: "1. 4 inch Berkley Powerworm Black On 1/8 ounce Charlie Brewer Spider slider head, My number one by far for numbers of fish and big fish, responsible for 30 to 35 smallies over 5 pounds. Use it in clear water mostly. I'm right with ya Basspro69 I do like the black 4" berkley power worm with the chartreuse tail and camo worms too. A single hook rig is so much easier to unhook also and release so you can catch the next one ! BUT a jitterbug is by far the the most fun and those big boys really like them ! |
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toddhunter |
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keithcatfish |
I almost always rig senkos weightless, texas style if the fish are in fallen trees or thick weeds, wacky if cover is light. A 2/0 wide gap worm hook works fine. I like the 4" baits in any shade of green, green/brown, purple or black. |
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QueticoMike |
quote Basspro69: "quote CrappieDay: "Question for Basspro69:Cast out let it hit bottom and bounce hop bounce for about 10 feet or so, if not hit by then I just swim it back. If they are really active I swim it with twitches, very effective smallie lure . p.s. If theres been a major cold front I let it sit for up to a minute before I move it, and then very small subtle movements afer that. " Hey BP69, Thinking about drop shotting a 4" black Powerworm up there, have you ever done that? QM |
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QueticoMike |
quote Ray59: "I didn't notice anyone mention the Five of Diamonds! " I don't think many people use a big spoon for smallmouth up there. Those darn pike always get in the way :-) |
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toddhunter |
Last year I brought drop shot rigs but never used them. A little fussy for canoeing, and snaggy, but I think the fish would annihilate them. |
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Basspro69 |
quote QueticoMike: "I havent Mike, the presentation with the slider head has been so effective that I havent really had to deviate from it. Im sure it would work just fine though .quote Basspro69: "quote CrappieDay: "Question for Basspro69:Cast out let it hit bottom and bounce hop bounce for about 10 feet or so, if not hit by then I just swim it back. If they are really active I swim it with twitches, very effective smallie lure . p.s. If theres been a major cold front I let it sit for up to a minute before I move it, and then very small subtle movements afer that. " |
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Arlo Pankook |
And a 1oz. Crippled Herring in the fall. |
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QueticoMike |
Zulu - blue glimmer\pearl Lucky 13 - bullfrog Double willow spinner bait - chartreuse Berkley Power tube - bleeding watermelon Pop-R - blue\shad Mepps spinner - size 3 or larger - silver blade\white bucktail Floating Rapala - size 11 - black and silver Buzzbait - black Rebel Craw - 2 1/2 inch version - chartreuse Tiny Torpedo - bullfrog Can't go wrong here......... fish on! |
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Arlo Pankook |
Jerk Shad or Zulu Husky Jerk 1/4 oz jig and Power Grub (Chart/pumpkin) let me think about this some more... |
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keithcatfish |
senko senko senko senko senko zara puppy shad rap green/brown grub buzzbait In that order. |
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Mad_Angler |
Zulu (see BWJ article) Any topwater popper Taildancer (Catching smallies while trolling for other things) |
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QueticoMike |
quote keithcatfish: "senko How are you rigging your senko? Never used one, but I am interested. Best color? |
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Savage Voyageur |
quote CrookedPaddler1: "foam popper I will be using all but one for my next trip. Thanks for the confirmation of my lure choices. |
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Moonman |
#11 rapala perch #11 rapala natural perch shad rap black curly tail jig black bucktail jig smoke/watermelon tube jig spinnerbait. orange willow leaf blades, black skirt black tiny torpedo black jitterbug plastic natural jerk bait minnow - like the fin-s-fish, fished weightless fly angel hair streamer, blue over white deceiver, olive over white clouser, chart over white clouser, black Morish mouse popper, black Morish mouse popper, natural dahlberg diver black black/purple rabbit strip leech DDH leech wiggle damsel fly nymph Moonman. |
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PaddleAway |
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toddhunter |
quote Mad_Angler: "quote PaddleAway: "Only thing I haven't seen mentioned is a Junebug sinking Gulp! My go-to for any type of bass anywhere. " I'm not sure what a sinking Gulp is, but Junebug refers to a popular color, kind of blue/purple. |
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chesapeakes |
Senko in root beer. |
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jb in the wild |
BPS Have you seen the new hooks from VMC made to drop-shot will make things a lot easier. VMC Floating Raps, Tubes and Jerk Baits. JB |
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QueticoMike |
quote GeoFisher: "quote QueticoMike: " I must not be using anything you use then either....... strange....somehow we still manage to catch a few fish :) |
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QueticoMike |
quote jb in the wild: "Ordered these from BPS and I am looking forward to trying them wacky and drop-shot. Hey JB, Have been watching the Linders again on the weekend? :) Saw those VMC hooks too, really like the way they look and work, thinking about giving them a try as well. |
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toddhunter |
jerkbait (td minnow, pointer, x rap) jig/grub (not jigged, just straight retrieve)(brown/pepper) topwaters (pop r, chug bug, etc) spinnerbaits (3/16 oz) spinners (mepps style) tubes (#1 outside of BW, but too snaggy for me in BW) If i had enough room, I'd experiment with more colors on the above lures. Ordinary diving baits haven't done so well for me. I'll be trying a few lipless crankbaits this year based on recommondations. The above lures also catch pike and should catch walleye (if I ever locate them). For smallies, just cast to likely spots, such as rocky shores, emergent stumps, weed beds, and reefs if you're lucky enough to find them. Get close enough, and the fish, if there, will find your lure. |
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CrookedPaddler1 |
clauser minnow wolly bugger might mite (hellgramite) deer hair popper |
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overthehill |
wordens rooster tail in plain red.silver spoon senko wacky rigged rebel deep craw case plastics helgramite those are the lures, if I have live helgramites,craws,crawlers or grasshoppers......even better for me than lures |
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Basspro69 |
2. Spinnerbait Black with gold blades. 3. Floating Rapala 4. Road Runner 1/16 ounce yellow white or chartreuse. 5. Tube Jig 6. Mepps 2 or 3 Dressed with Silver gold or firetiger blades. 7. Rattlin Rapala Blue and Silver or Crayfish colored. 8. Jerkbait. 9. Black Jitterbug possibly my favorite lure of all time fun fun fun. 10. Little Cleo I have to mention that when all these fail, which is almost never, or I just want some down time from casting, a hook bobber and leech will get it done for you also. |
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jphares44 |
Chompers Twister-tail grub Yum Wooly Bug (watermelon or green pumpkin) Strike King Mop Jig w/ trailer (PBJ) Senko w/ drop-shot rig (heck, any color) 4" Ring Fry on Texas rig (again, love the watermelon / pumpkin) Well, listed 6 of 10 I guess. I'll second just about every lure someone else has mentioned already. We all know there are so many determining factors that can change rapidly when selecting lures, but I've had really good luck catching quality bass all year long with the lures mentioned above. |
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northallen |
- Texas rigged Powerbait Skirtgrub or lizard (lose lots of tails on the lizards) - prefer Panther Martins over Mepps; especially in current |
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Arlo Pankook |
quote QueticoMike: "quote keithcatfish: "senko Some good tips here...could be t.m.i. Wacky Senco Video |
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Arlo Pankook |
quote Sobi: "Loads of senko lovers here. Those are great looking jigs too. I'll be putting in an order for sure. The link again-Jigs |
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Jett |
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mc2mens |
2.Bobber, hook and a leech 3.Slip bobber, slip shot, hook and a leech 4.Slip shot, hook and a leech 5.Jig and a leech 6.Lindy rig tipped with a leech (fishing for walleye, but catching a smallie) 7.Bottom bounce setup, tipped with a leech (fishing for walleye, but catching a smallie) 8.Husky Jerk (if for some reason, the leeches aren’t working) 9.Shad Rap (if for some reason, the leeches aren’t working) 10.Skitter Pop (if for some reason, the leeches aren’t working) I catch 10 times more smallies with live bait than I do with a lure. The lures come out only, and I mean only, if the leeches aren't working. |
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bassnut |
Topwater: SMB: buzzbait:dark...lowlight...BIGfish time...Spook(3/4oz.)lower light...work erratic, work slow...work like you are struggling to get somewhere, anywhere Bottom: 3 to 4in. grub(tube, curlytail straight) just be helpless Horizontal: 3-5in. curly tail grub(1/16 to 3/8oz. round head jig), brand (whatever), below 48degress think marabou/feathers....Spinnerbait, Crankbait(be careful, work erratic) DON'T be a slave to a brand...best action/ lure is one that YOU impart the action. "Budwiesher" lure will catch fish IF worked properly, knot great, hooks sharp. Do you trust YOUR sharp hooks? Do you trust your KNOT? From the package "they sat our hooks are sharp". Sharp hooks(YOU sharpen the hooks), great action(YOU impart the action). Top Ten lures? My imagintion...MY IMAGINATION..a Senko...a Sluggo...a CRANK!!... Imagination catches fish...a Thoreau moment catches fish. After a half a lifetime fishing for money(sponsors...life on the line) it is THE ACTION YOU IMPART THAT IS THE DIFERENCE...not Rap,Strike King...not Lurh Jensen. Fish in das boot is sharp hooks, great knots, fresh line. Think of all the BIG fish WE have all lost at the boat... Please, all of us, DO NOT BECOME BRAND WHORES...lot's of lures catch fish...impart action, sharpen hooks, use fresh line. WE will all lose good fish...fault ours, fault not ours...please strive to eliminate our faults |
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Basspro69 |
quote Sobi: "Loads of senko lovers here.Nice smallie ! |
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mr.barley |
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Bdubguy |
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mc2mens |
quote QueticoMike: "quote mc2mens: "1.Bobber, hook, slip shot and a leech I know that. I was just being a smartass. |
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Bdubguy |
Mr Barley asks a simple question, what doesn't catch SMB's. Seems to be referencing all the different ideas posted. There is no one answer. There's lots of different thoughts, ideas, experiences and opinions. That's what makes it fun and why I enjoy this site. |
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QueticoMike |
quote mc2mens: "1.Bobber, hook, slip shot and a leech Yep....that is why the thread list is for the top smallmouth lures and not the top live bait. This is just to help people who can not use live bait in Quetico or are looking for an alternative to live bait. Sometimes live bait can't be beat and other times I will kill with lures when nothing is hitting live bait. Top live baits for smallmouth in no particular order: Crawdad ( mud puppy, crawfish, crawdaddy, crayfish, mini lobster ) Leech ( notice that there is no A in Leech (LeAch)....bugs me when people can't spell LEECH ) Cisco Creek Chub Night Crawler Grass hopper Cricket Frog Minnow Shiner |
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QueticoMike |
quote Basspro69: "quote mc2mens: "1.Bobber, hook, slip shot and a leechIve had to use leeches maybe 3 times in 30 years to catch smallies, you just dont need em for smallmouth, now walleyes are a different story . p.s. However it is fun occasionally to toss a bobber and leech just to watch the bobber go down for smallies ." They aren't called "bobbers" anymore, I was watching Roland Martin one day and he called them "strike indicators". Big, round, red and white strike indicators with a big ol' shiner on the hook. Thought that was funny, so now when people say did you use a float or bobber, I just tell them I used a strike indicator. I used an actual strike indicator on fly line before while fly fishing and that was the only time I had heard of them until Roland started calling bobbers strike indicators. Still find that funny. |
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QueticoMike |
quote Arlo Pankook: "quote mr.barley: "I'm looking for something that DOESN'T catch SMB. Please help me."Fair comment." Sounds like Mr. Barley needs to start his own thread...LOL :) He could try throwing one of those huge musky, double bladded, bucktail lures. I never caught a smallmouth with one of those. He might get a pike though :) |
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toddhunter |
quote QueticoMike: "quote Arlo Pankook: "quote mr.barley: "I'm looking for something that DOESN'T catch SMB. Please help me."Fair comment." My best sm bass last year in the BW was on a large Mepps bucktail. Not quite a musky bait, but a surprise nonetheless. It would be hard to find a bait they wouldn't at least try to hit (sometimes). Then there are times they won't hit anything. |
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BearBrown |
Culprit 4" ribbon tailed worm. Red belly, black back. Wonderful action on these and can be worked an endless number of ways. Berkeley powerbait, 4" curly tailed grub. Brown, black, white or chartreuse. Tried a lot of different brands/styles of this style bait, these have worked the best. Original floating black/silver rapala. Tried and true multipurpose lure. Have had insane fishing with these lures. Storm popper, any color, skirted rear treble hook, rattles. Great topwater bait, like this one particularly because the rear of the bait drops under the surface which seems to cause more strikes and better hooking percentage. |
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Arlo Pankook |
quote mr.barley: "I'm looking for something that DOESN'T catch SMB. Please help me."Fair comment. |
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Basspro69 |
quote mc2mens: "1.Bobber, hook, slip shot and a leechIve had to use leeches maybe 3 times in 30 years to catch smallies, you just dont need em for smallmouth, now walleyes are a different story . p.s. However it is fun occasionally to toss a bobber and leech just to watch the bobber go down for smallies . |
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Sobi |
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CrappieDay |
I'm curious about your "1. 4 inch Berkley Powerworm Black On 1/8 ounce Charlie Brewer Spider slider head, My number one by far for numbers of fish and big fish, responsible for 30 to 35 smallies over 5 pounds. Use it in clear water mostly." How do you work that. I'm assuming on the bottom. Do you work it slow and just pull along and keep a tight line to feel the lure, or do you try to keep in in one place and shake it? I haven't tried this method, but I could see it being productive. Thanks for any advice you can give. |
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CrappieDay |
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Basspro69 |
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bwcasolo |
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Ray59 |
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Basspro69 |
quote CrappieDay: "Question for Basspro69:Cast out let it hit bottom and bounce hop bounce for about 10 feet or so, if not hit by then I just swim it back. If they are really active I swim it with twitches, very effective smallie lure . p.s. If theres been a major cold front I let it sit for up to a minute before I move it, and then very small subtle movements afer that. |
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toddhunter |
quote QueticoMike: "quote Basspro69: "Last year I brought drop shot rigs but never used them. A little fussy for canoeing, and snaggy, but I think the fish would annihilate themquote CrappieDay: "Question for Basspro69:Cast out let it hit bottom and bounce hop bounce for about 10 feet or so, if not hit by then I just swim it back. If they are really active I swim it with twitches, very effective smallie lure . p.s. If theres been a major cold front I let it sit for up to a minute before I move it, and then very small subtle movements afer that. " |
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CapitalCity |
Hoola Popper Jig and a leach Spinner bait with double willows. Mepps No need for 10, if they wont take any of these than I dont want to catch them! |
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QueticoMike |
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Basspro69 |
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