Smallmouth Lures

[Al Agnew]

Just decide what kind of stuff you like to use the most, stock up on it, and maybe get a few of the other stuff just in case. Just about any lure designed for bass will catch river smallmouth, but size is a bit important. Optimum size of anything that's supposed to roughly imitate a crawdad, including fat-bodied crankbaits, should be from 2 to 3 inches in length...including the bill if the bill isn't real clear. Anything that's supposed to imitate a minnow, including not only minnow type lures but also most topwater lures, should be 3 to 5 inches. Stuff that's bigger than that and smaller than that will catch fish, but those are the optimum sizes.

The really well-rounded river smallie angler will have lures that cover the water column from top to in-between to bottom, but you don't have to have a 40 pound tackle bag full of stuff. To cover the top, a couple of walk the dog and prop baits and a few buzzbaits will cover you in most situations. For mid-depths, a couple of wobbling minnow lures, some fluke type soft plastics, and a few rather compact spinnerbaits will do it. For fishing on or near the bottom, a couple of deep-diving crankbaits, some tubes, and maybe a few jigs with trailers are all you really need, but you can substitute lots of other soft plastics if you want to.

Or if you want to have one lure that does almost all of it other than fishing the surface, just get a bunch of jig heads and curly tail grubs to put on them. Won't be the best lure in all circumstances, but you can fish it fast and high, slow and low, and anywhere in between. I don't even fish curly tail grubs except as trailers on spinnerbaits and buzzbaits, but if I had to limit myself to one lure that's what it would be.

[jbooth24]

Thank you guys for all the post. It has really helped me with getting lures I have some o the lures you guys mentioned. And I won't have to spend all that much money on lures. Thank you guys for all the advice and tight lines everyone