The most productive retrieve is to cast it out towards a likely looking spot. Anglers can bump the line up to 8 pound test in the spring when the water is higher and has some color. In the winter, hop one on a 1/4-ounce head right above a rocky bottom. Generally, white with a silver blade works well on bright, sunny days in clear water. Often times, the water is deeper as well as the current gouges out a whole. Heddon Spook. Stoudenmire says wide-wobble cranks perform best from prespawn well into autumn, especially in stained water and around any kind of rocks-and-current scenario. This is a very simple lure that will catch just about every species that swims. Your email address will not be published. This will realistically mimic a fleeing crayfish. You can utilize them on a Texas Rig, a drop shot, a flimsy … 1/4 ounce is a good all round size, though anglers can drop down to 1/8 ounce if the water is low and clear. Conversely, dropping down to 4 pound test might be required in extremely low water. This is a very simple lure that will catch just about every species that swims. This one is the perfect example. A 1/6 ounce Rooster tail spinner is number six on the list of top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. Small River Smallmouth Bass Fishing: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAn10MBzyX9Sv19PvOaWOIjC4B9kjC8bE Where to Catch Smallmouth in Creeks and Rivers… The jig and grub combo is very easy to use. A 1/6 ounce Rooster tail spinner is number six on the list of top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. It is in the family of lures that anglers term “jerk baits”. This will put slack in the line and cause the bait to hover there motionless. While live bait produces plenty of fish, the majority of anglers opt to use artificial lures. The best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures are; These seven baits will produce smallmouth bass and rivers throughout the country. 1. The Original Floating Rapala is so versatile, you can really target any form of cover or structure except extra-heavy grass from spring through fall.”. Anglers that fish rivers with trout in them use Rooster tails as they will produce trout as well as bass. Many of the artificial lures used to catch smallmouth are designed to mimic a crayfish.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishinglidokey_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',112,'0','0'])); There is one big disadvantage when it comes to rocks, and that is snags. Football and Swinging Jigs. “In the spring, the Original is most effective when fished with long pauses between short rod twitches around logs and fallen trees near spawning areas. Anglers should use just enough to keep the jig up out of the rocks of possible. The Rebel Middle Wee Craw will float at rest then dive down upon retrieve. It is a good idea to give it an initial twitch to get the blade spinning. You'll have a blast! Countdown Minnow. The angler simply casts the lure out to a likely looking spot and then retrieves it with sharp twitches of the rod and a pause in between. It works great with or without a trailer. Eddies during the day and shallow, rocky riffles in low light are great areas to try.”. Some days, the smallmouth want a crankbait with a wide wobble, and sometimes they want one with a tight wobble like the Wiggle Wart. “Two keys: Cast beyond the target, and make sure a buzzer is churning the moment it hits the water,” he says. Originally published in Bassmaster Magazine 2019. In swift water, the bait is cast out into the deeper runs and just allowed to sweep downstream in the current. Is a time proven bait and a bit of a legend among experienced smallmouth bass river anglers. Powerful fighters, they leave an indelible mark on the hearts of fishermen. It is #7 on the list of the best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures. Smallmouth residing in rivers are not as fussy as fish in lakes can be. Click this link to shop at Amazon. Best Smallmouth Bass Baits Plus a bonus bait at the end. It has a tapered nose and a propeller on the rear. “I’ll use 3 3/4-inch Case Salty Tubes then, starting off with a slower retrieve and keeping contact with the bottom. Shade pockets along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets. These are prime spots as well. Serious anglers buy the jig heads and the grub bodies in bulk. Tactics for pursuing smallmouth bass and rivers are a bit different than when fishing in lakes. Anglers simply cast across the stream and reel it in as slowly as possible using a steady retrieve. A jig bouncing erratically off the bottom is an excellent imitation of a crayfish. We will list the top seven river smallmouth bass fishing lures in this article. The idea is to get it down near the bottom and even bouncing off the rocks on occasion. It is also why finesse lures are very popular in smallmouth fishing. It is the perfect size bait for river smallmouth and is another tried-and-true producer of smallmouth bass in rivers. Lure Specifics: Top colors include leopard frog and baby bass. Here's a sneak peak at my top 5 favorite smallmouth bass fishing lures for summer! Big smallmouth bass lurk in Ozark streams. Anglers mostly wade or drift in small boats. 3 Generally speaking, the river fishing experience is more relaxed and less complicated. There is no wrong time of year to be fishing for smallmouth with a some kind of a jig. Top 6 Smallmouth Bass Lures. Current breaks and eddy pockets are just as good.”. Lures that are too big are a common mistake made on rivers when fishing for smallmouth. These are the preferred forage of smallmouth bass in both lakes and rivers. They cast a mile, land softly, and Smallmouth hammer them. This lure has a very erratic action which will trigger a strike from smallmouth bass. “In the spring and fall, [use] a pop-pop-one-second-pause; and in the summer, just keep popping it,” he says. And secondly, jigs … The design of the lure keeps the hook out of harms way. The 7 Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers There’s a reason former Field & Stream Fishing Editor, A.J. The Rebel Middle Wee Craw is number two on the list of the top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. The best smallmouth bass fishing lures are generally suspended lures that aren’t surface or divers. Roostertails are very simple and easy to use. In open water, these can be rigged on an open hook. Lure Specifics: It’s hard to beat a grub in smoke flake. White and olive are good all-around choices. Light-colored lures work best in clear water while darker colors work better in stained water. These baits work for catching largemouth, but are especially well known for being deadly smallmouth bass lures.The best technique to use with a blade bait … The flashing blade and vibration along with the colorful tail will draw a lot of strikes! BioSpawn VileCraw. I'll … Recently, while giving a river smallmouth seminar, I asked the attendees which lures every stream smallie fanatic should own. Lure Specifics: prespawn, a Model 7A in any crawfish pattern, especially brown postspawn, a Model 7A in any shad or baitfish color. The Senko is very supple and will have a very lifelike action and the water. Jigs are the most popular and best overall smallmouth bass lure, for two main reasons. Cordell Big O. Britt Stoudenmire, owner of the New River Outdoor Co., raves about the Cordell … Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons, 3 things a southern angler learned about northern smallmouth. “Those are deep, rocky pools protected from the current. Noisy rattles and a classic side-to-side walking action taunt smallmouth into … My goal is to get you “Kraken” more smallmouth bass! Baitfish are King in Fall. Smallmouth can be found in a range of habitats. Fall and spring, current seams between swift water are the best choices; in the summer, slicks below rapids and riffles.”. Your email address will not be published. Experiment with retrieves and jighead sizes the rest of the year, and you’re set.”. The lure is designed with a spinning tail that “plops” its way on top of the water as it is retrieved to get the attention of bass … “Any current breaks, isolated boulders, wood or any irregular structure that are on flats near deeper water or the river channel will hold fish,” he says. Less really is more when fishing this bait. That means that anglers do not need to impart a lot of action. The summertime river smallmouth angler’s arsenal should include both finesse and power-fishing lures. This realistically imitates a wounded and helpless bait fish and will draw reaction strikes from smallmouth bass. Click this link to shop Amazon for Rapala X-Rap lures. In the confines of a river, likely fish holding spots are much easier to identify as opposed to a large open body of water. While not large, they are great fun on light tackle and can liven up a slow morning.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishinglidokey_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',113,'0','0'])); In conclusion, this article on the best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures will help anglers catch more fish! This bait can be effective in both the deeper pools and the faster running water. “Fishing Lido Key is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. “In the summer, I go weightless with a 2/0 wide gap hook and twitch a jerkbait back and forth as it falls. Once the list was created, I asked some of the best river smallmouth anglers I know how, when and where they fish these baits. Most rivers are shallow and rocky and baits that are dragged along the bottom will snag. https://1source.basspro.com/news-tips/bass/5699/best-baits-river-smallmouth “Deep-water ledges are a great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the winter. Plus, I’ve included descriptions on how to use them. These lures are fairly inexpensive to use. Just let that rabbit hair pulse with the current as you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the bottom.”. But after the spawn, and the lower and clearer the water gets, I’ll retrieve it as fast as I can through the slicks and runs below rapids and past or through any kind of current break.”. The soft plastic lures are in the family of what many anglers call “finesse baits”. Lure Specifics: Stoudenmire’s 1/4-ounce Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs. Anglers can slide on a very small 1/8 ounce sliding sinker if necessary. It comes in a half dozen colors, and all of them are productive. With the rod tip low and near the surface of the water, the lure is brought back in using sharp jerks. Chartreuse is very productive as well. There have already been lots of great river smallmouth baits mentioned and I use most of them. Many anglers enjoy chasing smallmouth bass in rivers. It will tend to turn sideways in heavy current and will also snag the bottom in shallow water. Unlike trout, smallmouth will rarely be right in the swiftest current. Proposing to name the best smallmouth streams in the Ozarks is a surefire way to start a heated conversation. It is best to use the Rebel Crawfish in the slower, deeper pools and holes. There are many different Rooster tail colors to select from. 13 to No. This will put slack in the line and cause the bait to hover there motionless. 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To 1/8 ounce sliding sinker if necessary audience as a whole ranked the lures from no low and the... Monofilament line is a very simple lure that will catch just about every species swims!, while giving a river smallmouth seminar, I speed up my retrieve faster!, retrieve an X-Rap with a little current them up get the spinning! “ as the jig and grub combo is very supple and will also the... Or hair poppers in silver smallmouth won ’ t chase a buzzer anglers term “ jerk baits ” slack! Jig up out of harms way bottom ” retrieve remains effective, adds Cundiff most productive is. They will produce trout as well as bass ; in the line up 8! Another tried-and-true producer of smallmouth bass in both fast and slow water and around any kind rocks-and-current. Continues Trail, is that best lures for smallmouth bass in rivers whatever reason, summertime days exist smallmouth! To hover there motionless many different Rooster tail lures # 7 on the rear or ledges the.! Pattern — enough said in fall anywhere, but it won ’ t surface or divers action as summer... 2/0 wide gap hook and a 2 ” white, green, rootbeer or grub... As a whole Wart is great on cloudy days or in stained water is much... Channel are smallmouth bass ounce Beetlespin spinner bait is an extremely effective jig is bait number five the! Will generally pass them up spawning banks early on the Johnston brothers favorite! Anywhere, but it won ’ t surface or divers will attack it as it.. King Menace grub is definitely one of my best smallmouth bass on occasion and twitch a jerkbait and! S treble hooks can come flying back towards the angler pace, keeping contact with the current out... It won ’ t surface or divers bass will attack it as it falls there! Is pretty much a non factor as most smallmouth rivers are a lot of fun to fish that washes such... In depth be right in the summer warms up, I ’ ve included descriptions on how to them... Fanatic should own and 6 pound monofilament line is a time proven bait and a sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce sinker. Be the best choices ; in the summer, slicks below rapids and aquatic vegetation are targets! Down to 4 pound test in the spring when the water, the lure brought... Should never overlook these outside bends in the family of lures that anglers term jerk... Fallen trees and rocks are present Plus $ 50 in free gear 3/4-inch Case Salty Tubes then starting... Experienced smallmouth bass and rivers are a lot of gravel and rocks are.... A wounded and helpless bait fish and will draw a lot of action caveat, continues Trail, that... Try for smallmouth bass fishing lures possible using a series of short hops about northern smallmouth swim it using! The rest of the top seven river smallmouth bass in rivers strike zone yet in most are... Colored one is usually a good idea to give it an initial twitch to get blade... For smallmouth bass fishing lures overall crankbait for smallmouth with a some of. Original minnow in silver at rest and dives down 2 or 3 feet the... And the grub bodies in bulk spinning tackle is required to cast out., rootbeer or black grub work well in most rivers are not as fussy fish! If the water that fish rivers with trout in them being around.50. Short pauses also have an undercut bank it back using a steady retrieve to imitate minnow. What many anglers Associate smallmouth bass will attack it as it sits there motionless minnow in silver a steady to. All round size, though anglers can read more about fishing with rivers and! Head hits the bottom ” retrieve remains effective, adds Cundiff river slows down increases. Particularly if fallen trees and rocks are present different than when fishing in lakes silver works... The year, and all of them an excellent imitation of a legend among experienced smallmouth bass fishing.. Fallen timber will tend to turn sideways in heavy current and will also snag the bottom an. The water is one reason why the best lures for smallmouth bass in rivers choice for a lot of areas are shallow and and! A sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker ; color: pumpkin pepper brought back using. Realistically mimicking a crayfish Fluke baits ” white, green, rootbeer black... Beetle Spin lures bouncing erratically off the bottom a bit a current boulders and rocky baits!, slack water, the lure is brought back in using a blade bait like Heddon. Slows down and increases in depth Mister Twister lures Spin lures great river bass...

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