What is on the end of your line for smallmouth?

[tjm]

Seriously, I don't think there is any relatively large fly that won't catch SMB in my creeks, I just like the Gurgler because it's an easy tie and easy to cast. I used to use Seducer and Tap's Bug a lot, for the same reasons.

For example, I don't think that I ever caught any fish on a real popper, (I quit fishing them a long time ago) yet others say they are good. So one "fly"  that I would not even tie on is the go to for someone else, and there are likely some who would not think of a #2 Seaducer or Blonde.

When I used spinning rigs as kid, the same thing was more or less true, any Rooster Tail or any white marabou jig took fish. I've seen young men go down this creek with what appeared to be six different kinds of "rubber bait" and each was catching fish. One guy told me that a "wacky worm" was his most productive lure. 

[bfishn]

Since the question infers no rules...

2" softshell crawdad with a pea-sized split shot.

[Al Agnew]

22 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Creek/River smallies are too easy on "gear".   To the point that it's basically childsplay.  

I find that flyfishing for them is way more satisfying.  At least it makes it a challenge. 

For the life of me I can't understand guys like @Al Agnew that are truly good fishermen, that also are very proficient with fly gear......But yet choose not to flyfish for Smallies.    Its a head-scratcher, but to each his own 👍

I LOVE to fish.....but I really don't wanna catch 100+ fish everytime I go.   If I did then I'd get bored with it.   

 

I don't understand Crappie fanatics either......"Tick"....reel them in....."Tick".....reel them in, ect. ect. ad-infinitum😵‍💫 No fight, No jumps <sigh!>       I mean, good God.....just shoot me!   I'd rather stand under a street light and swat moths.  

Here's the thing with me, Wrench...I love using light baitcasting gear even more than I love using a fly rod.  And I love fishing for smallmouth the way I grew up fishing for them, using fast moving, high in the water column lures with baitcasting tackle, where most of the time I can SEE the fish hit.  I don't care how many I CATCH.  I just love watching them attack a lure the way only smallmouth can; the tug ain't the drug for me, the strike is.  Heck, I've thought about taking the hooks off my topwaters on days when they are really whacking them, and I might if it wasn't for the chance of catching a huge fish that I'd want a picture of.  And in the off season, when they are probably not going to come up and hit a topwater lure, I love the challenge of finding a few big ones in some wintering hole that will eat a jerkbait or a hair jig.  The other big reason why I don't enjoy using fly tackle on Missouri smallmouth is that I MOST love fishing from a canoe, in the canoe, drifting down the river...and that simply doesn't lend itself to fly fishing, especially when I'm fishing solo.

And regarding the original question...in the summer, I fish walk the dog topwaters every day, all day; probably 40-50% of my stream bass then are caught on the WTD lures.  Another 40-50% are caught on my homemade twin spin, my homemade crankbait, a regular spinnerbait, and a buzzbait.  I only fish low and slow when I can't catch anything high and fast, and that's only maybe 5% of the time in the summer.

Oh, and by the way...if you ever see me fishing a Nerd Rig, just shoot me.

[jdmidwest]

I will fly fish when wading all of the time.  But seldom in a boat or kayak.

Spin and bait cast gear easier to put down and control the vessel than fly gear.

[Mitch f]

Tackle Max craw…soon to be on the market combined with a Tackle Max Blitz jig. Caught these beauties on the Meramec recently 

DISCLAIMER: I own the company 😂

 

[nomolites]

5 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Tackle Max craw…soon to be on the market combined with a Tackle Max Blitz jig. Caught these beauties on the Meramec recently 

DISCLAIMER: I own the company 😂

 

First cast drop shooting a Cajun melon centipede yielded a 4# LM for me on LOZ.  Have not tried the shark tails yet…

Mike

[Mitch f]

1 hour ago, nomolites said:

First cast drop shooting a Cajun melon centipede yielded a 4# LM for me on LOZ.  Have not tried the shark tails yet…

Mike

If you got pics, will put it up on the website… Thanks buddy appreciate it

[ElkHairCaddis]

On 6/20/2023 at 7:51 AM, Flysmallie said:

Those finesse worms and Ned rigs usually work well. Plus….

square bill

floating worm

Mepps Aglia

Buzzbait 

Spook

You don’t need anything else. 

Mepps? I have a handful of those but have never caught anything. How do you fish them?

[ElkHairCaddis]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve gathered some good ideas. 👍

[FishnDave]

20 hours ago, Mitch f said:

Tackle Max craw…soon to be on the market combined with a Tackle Max Blitz jig. Caught these beauties on the Meramec recently 

DISCLAIMER: I own the company 😂

@Mitch f Is this a new endeavor/announcement?  I mean, you've obviously been working on it for awhile to get it where it is....  I just didn't know.  That's really cool!  Congratulations!!  Much success to you! 👍👍