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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Fishing Forum :: What am I forgetting for smallies?
 
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shouldertripper
07/15/2024 01:52PM
 
cwallace: "Going through and feel like I’m forgetting something for smallies.


I have choppos, ploppers and torpedos for top water. A couple of buzz baits and spinnerbaits, plenty of zulus, ned rigs and a decent assortment of drop shot stuff. I have plenty of my double tail and hula grubs I make.


Just seem like I’m forgetting something else, any ideas?"

I won’t pretend to be any kind of expert but I always have a couple rapalas with me when after smallmouth. I particularly like a joined rap.
 
MidwestMan
07/16/2024 07:11AM
 
Nightcrawlers
 
KarlK
07/16/2024 09:02AM
 
X -rap or other suspending jerk bait is great if you get a cold front and need to really slow down.
 
cwallace
07/16/2024 09:58AM
 
MidwestMan: "Nightcrawlers"
Picking up 3 boxes and some leeches if available.
 
Savage Voyageur
07/16/2024 07:38AM
 
You are forgetting Senko worms, Heddon Lucky 13, Zara super spooks jr’s, and PopR’s. You have a great start with the ploppers and spinner baits. Glad luck
 
cwallace
07/16/2024 09:57AM
 
moray: "My favorite smallmouth bait is a Senko style bait.They can be fished wacky style,Neko rigged or on a jig head. Watermelon black flake is my go to color."


Are you rigging them weighted wacky style?
 
cwallace
07/16/2024 09:57AM
 
Savage Voyageur: "You are forgetting Senko worms, Heddon Lucky 13, Zara super spooks jr’s, and PopR’s. You have a great start with the ploppers and spinner baits. Glad luck"


Forgot about them, I have spooks, and some skitter pops. Don’t have any lucky 13s
 
cwallace
07/16/2024 09:59AM
 
KarlK: "X -rap or other suspending jerk bait is great if you get a cold front and need to really slow down. "


I have a couple of Mavriks, visions, krejs and finishers packed on the walleye side of things but I’ll try to not forget about them!
 
moray
07/16/2024 05:19AM
 
My favorite smallmouth bait is a Senko style bait.They can be fished wacky style,Neko rigged or on a jig head. Watermelon black flake is my go to color.
 
scottiebaldwin
07/16/2024 12:51PM
 
OK, here's a solid answer...


Fish horizontally with Whopper Ploppers, X-Raps, whatever gets you through the water column from top to bottom until you get on the bite.


Only then do you switch to a vertical presentation like a wacky rig with Senkos, etc.


Don't forget to use some heat shrink in the middle of your Senko to extend the life of your bait.
 
Hoaf
07/16/2024 04:02PM
 
IMO, you're overthinking this. They hit everything and anything. No challenge to catch smallmouth!
 
trick491
07/16/2024 10:02PM
 
Crawler or leech on a jig, they hit it on the pause
 
fun4dad2
07/16/2024 05:37PM
 
I had fantastic luck with a deep diver (don’t remember the brand) that was dark. Used it like a top water lure. Jerk it to make it dive about a foot, then let it go slack and float up. It looked like a wounded fish and we were nailing them! It also was great for trolling as we traveled.
 
cwallace
07/16/2024 07:57PM
 
Hoaf: "IMO, you're overthinking this. They hit everything and anything. No challenge to catch smallmouth!"


I certainly am over thinking it. I’m currently in the middle of a career change and away from home for the last 7 weeks. So my time spent in the hotel room after hours is researching, planning, going to scheels, cabelas, Omnia and local bait shops ha.

 
moray
07/17/2024 06:26AM
 
cwallace: "moray: "My favorite smallmouth bait is a Senko style bait.They can be fished wacky style,Neko rigged or on a jig head. Watermelon black flake is my go to color."



Are you rigging them weighted wacky style? "



If I am using them with a weight I like to fish them Neko style. Unweighted I will fish them wacky style.
 
cwallace
07/15/2024 02:09PM
 
shouldertripper: "cwallace: "Going through and feel like I’m forgetting something for smallies.



I have choppos, ploppers and torpedos for top water. A couple of buzz baits and spinnerbaits, plenty of zulus, ned rigs and a decent assortment of drop shot stuff. I have plenty of my double tail and hula grubs I make.



Just seem like I’m forgetting something else, any ideas?"

I won’t pretend to be any kind of expert but I always have a couple rapalas with me when after smallmouth. I particularly like a joined rap. "



Got those in the walleye boxes haha!
 
shock
07/30/2024 12:50AM
 
The shadows of down trees in the water , these are my 2 favs for this application.
 
Sparkeh
07/24/2024 05:16AM
 
The yamamoto fat ika.
 
bobbernumber3
07/24/2024 05:30AM
 
Hoaf: "IMO, you're overthinking this. They hit everything and anything. No challenge to catch smallmouth!"


+1


1/4 ounce jig with a twister tail.
 
mapsguy1955
07/24/2024 01:52PM
 
Agree.. If they are hungry they will hit it. Hoaf: "IMO, you're overthinking this. They hit everything and anything. No challenge to catch smallmouth!"
 
GunflintTrailAngler
07/19/2024 04:34PM
 
#3 mepps spinners
 
cwallace
07/15/2024 11:45AM
 
Going through and feel like I’m forgetting something for smallies.

I have choppos, ploppers and torpedos for top water. A couple of buzz baits and spinnerbaits, plenty of zulus, ned rigs and a decent assortment of drop shot stuff. I have plenty of my double tail and hula grubs I make.

Just seem like I’m forgetting something else, any ideas?
 
WesternHills
07/18/2024 08:48PM
 
cwallace: "Just seem like I’m forgetting something else, any ideas?"
Other than jerkbaits (that others have already mentioned), you could add hair jigs, inline spinners and crankbaits....but this all seems like overkill to me. With the baits you mentioned you already had, you should be all set to catch fish.