surefire baits for smallies?

[mjk86]

Loose rule of thumb

Clear water fish very top and very bottom (topwater, jigs)

Murky water fish the middle water column (crankbaits, spinnerbaits)

Never heard that before? Care to explain the thought process behind that?

[Mitch f]

Never heard that before? Care to explain the thought process behind that?

You don't want them to get a good look at the lure in clear water, therefore on top you will be splashing and using the turbulence and the sun to your advantage. With the jig you're using the bottom color/ composition to your advantage.

In murky water they can swim and follow right next to the lure getting a good look at it. The rattles in a crankbait, and vibration and flash of a spinnerbait help them locate the bait.

There are a couple of exceptions to the rule, mainly being hard and soft jerk baits

[trythisonemv]

Out of curiosity, would frog fly work for smallies like it does on bucket mouthd?

[mjk86]

You don't want them to get a good look at the lure in clear water, therefore on top you will be splashing and using the turbulence and the sun to your advantage. With the jig you're using the bottom color/ composition to your advantage.

In murky water they can swim and follow right next to the lure getting a good look at it. The rattles in a crankbait, and vibration and flash of a spinnerbait help them locate the bait.

There are a couple of exceptions to the rule, mainly being hard and soft jerk baits

never thought of it like that. thanks.

[Flysmallie]

Out of curiosity, would frog fly work for smallies like it does on bucket mouthd?

Yes

[joeD]

1099gl- As Denzel Washington said in "Crimson Tide:" I concur.

Which brings me to my point: Advise was asked. Advise was given. Please follow up with a report on your trip.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

Excellent point Joe. So often some one will ask for advice and never return except to request additional advice.

[JustFishin4Fun]

Only things I would take is a top water Ned rigs galore aND flukes lol about all you need

[Al Agnew]

You're right, it probably would be all you need, but what's the fun of just fishing a couple types of lures? Gotta carry a tackle box full of them.

Actually, when I go wade fishing on one of my usual creeks, which I know will be small and clear, I DO just take a few lures. A couple of walk the dog topwaters and a popper type, a small buzzbait or two, and maybe one of my twin spins, and I'm good. Chances are I'll end up ONLY throwing one or two topwaters the whole time.

But when floating, I carry five rods, all with different lure types on them, and use them all. Why? Because as you're drifting along, you're continually encountering different water types and situations, and a lure that is perfect for fishing one situation is not so good fishing a different one. For instance, walk the dog topwaters are not easy to fish in strong current, so when I come to the fast water I put down the topwater rod and pick up the rod with the buzzbait or twin spin on it. Or if I'm doing my usual move along and fish fast type of thing, and come to a long stretch of sloping rocky bank, I might put down the topwater rod which is a bit slower to work, and pick up the rod with my homemade crankbait on it to comb that bank with lots and lots of casts. Or if I come to a nice rootwad that looks like it should hold some fish, with fairly heavy current hitting it, I might opt for dunking a jig or tube all around it. Or I come to a stretch with a lot of overhanging limbs, I'll pick up the spinning rod with the fluke on it and skip it under the limbs. It seldom is a matter of picking the one lure that the fish are hitting the best that day, but picking the lure that's the perfect tool for each situation as it comes up.

[Norm M]

My last high water venture stuck a couple chatterbaits, ewg hooks, trailers for the chatterbaits and a few swimbaits in a Ziploc bag. All I needed for that trip.

Only lure I use regularly that I don't recall seeing mentioned is a rattlebait. Awesome lure for river fishing .