What is your favorite Smallmouth bait?

[RSBreth]

Fly rod- it's easy: Clouser minnow.

But you said not fly, so its hard.

Soft jerks ( Fluke, Jerk Shad, etc.) account for some of my biggest stream smallies each year.

Small, shallow cranks are good.

Compact spinnerbaits are way overlooked, especially in high, off color water.

Try a finesse worm, with 1/16 or 1/8 weight, Texas rigged. Always a killer.

I can't pick just one, as you can see. That's why I normally carry 4 or 5 rigged rods in the canoe, covering all the options.

[jcoberley]

Well real worms with out any weight works well for me. But I am a slow fisherman so what could I know. LOL

[Kicknbass]

I can't believe the absolute best bait has not been mentioned.......

A live Helgramite is automatic any time of year. I haven't fished with them for years, due to the trouble it takes to obtain, but with out a doubt, these out produce any other bait 2-1. For live bait, after the helgramite, I would choose a Blue tail minnow, then crawfish, then worms for in that order for live bait.

For artificial bait, it depends on the conditions.

If moderate current is present, a fluke or worm fished on a split shot rig is hard to beat

Still water a jig around structure

Active fish w/ stained water - spinnerbait

Active fish clear water - crank bait

Heat of the day in the summer go swimming

Cold water - go trout fishing.

[Tightline]

Single spins in faster water,madman craw,fish doctor on split shot rig in the slower pools.But like RS I have several others to fall back on.In July and August the Old Jitterbug is about as reliable as anything early and late.

[gonefishin]

Actually after givingthis some serious thought.......

I have decided my favorite bait is what ever they are biting on.

[taxidermist]

Depends on the water and time of year.

Winter and low water I will take the smallest white Road Runner on 2lb test and drift it into the front end of deep pools.

Spring when the water is just clearing up from a nice rain. I like a CD-3 Rapala in Gold sides, black top.

Spring, summer and fall Clear water two colors of Rebel Craws the deep diving ones. There is not anything that is single best.

Sometimes a clear Ozark Crappie minnow is killer, Carloina rigged with 1/16th once weight and 2 feet of 2 lb leader.

If I have to pack light for a river trip those are what I would take.

[jdmidwest]

Gold and Black Floating Rapalas, solid or jointed.

White or Black Twintail jigs.

Yellow or White Sonic Roostertails.

Firetiger Rapalas.

Shad Raps, Copper color or Crawdad color.

[Gavin]

I like to fish a bait I can see, Sammy or Spook, Buzzbait, or Fluke. If they wont come up..Spinnerbait or Wee Craw for mid water, Zoom Fat Albert, Finesse Worm, or 4" Chompers on the bottom.

[jcoberley]

Did I hear GF say Houla popper? LOL

I still vote for real alive worms!

[gonefishin]

Crawdaddys