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Old 02-07-10, 07:04 PM   #1
Dr G
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Default Jerks and Topwater sizes for smallies

Well it's finally time to start purchasing some lures so that's why I'm asking all these questions. So here's one about choosing sizes for some topwater and jerkbaits. I plan to be fishing for smallies in clear northern lakes, late summer. The advice I'm hearing is that for northern smallies, keep the lures small. I would like to get 1 or 2 Lucky Craft Pointers, Flashminnows, as well as maybe a Sammy. I can't afford to be buying 4 or 5 of each of these and frankly don't want to load down with a ton of hardbaits anyway. But if it's true that I want to keep my baits small should I be thinking about real small like 2" or more like, say a Pointer 100, which, while a popular choice, would be quite a bit larger at 4"? Again, I won't be able to take a ton of stuff with me to try out so I'm hoping by mining your collective experience I can get better idea of how to make some intelligent choices.
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Old 02-07-10, 07:40 PM   #2
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Don't be afraid to throw a 4" bait at smallies. Some people put way too much stock into downsizing for smallmouths.
While it's generally a solid idea, baits don't hafta be majorly downsized.
I catch 11" rock bass on a 2 3/4" Jitterbug.
If a smallies hungry, he'll smash a 4" bait
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Old 02-07-10, 08:40 PM   #3
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I do do nearly as well on Pointer 78s as I do on 100s and 112MRs. Same with X-Raps, the 10s seem to work the best. Depending on your lakes you might want to throw more X-Raps than Pointers since the pike love jerkbaits. Don't forget one or two deep divers like the X-Rap deep or Pointer DD. I even started using Husky Jerk 120 Deep Downs last fall to get WAY down there.

Same thing with topwaters. I really like Super PopRs, Super Spooks, Sammys, and Zell Pops.

"They" say to downsize when the bite is tough, but when I try that it doesn't seem to help. I normally have to switch techniques to catch some fish. If those reaction baits are not working make sure you have some tubes and some drop shot baits. I would venture to say that those 2 tactics are responsible for more smallies caught in Michigan than any others, especially on the clear northern lakes.
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Old 02-07-10, 09:02 PM   #4
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The lucky craft jerkbaits and the sammy are all in the correct area ,and should work fine.
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Old 02-07-10, 11:29 PM   #5
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I really wouldn't downsize at all for smallies. Stick with the pointer 100's. I've heard the LC staysees for great for smallie too.

For topwaters, I like Xcalibur Jimmy. It's like the Sammy, but cheaper. Walks the dog just as easily, and much better than any Zara Spook.

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Old 02-08-10, 06:42 PM   #6
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Don't know anything about northern smallies but around here there is really no difference in the sizes of a bait I throw when I am fishing for either 1 or the other. Like with jerkbaits and such I try to match the size of the bait to the forage.
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Old 02-08-10, 08:45 PM   #7
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I agree. Smallies are very aggressive and aren't shy about hitting larger lures. I'm not recommending muskie baits, but downsizing to small stuff is not at all necessary.
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Old 02-09-10, 12:37 AM   #8
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Believe it or not I often fish a lake just north of here that has a pretty good smallie population. Yes, that's right-smallmouth in south Texas. I've caught smallies not much longer than the lure I was using, so downsizing really isn't necessary IMO.
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Old 02-09-10, 09:46 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rebbasser View Post
Believe it or not I often fish a lake just north of here that has a pretty good smallie population. Yes, that's right-smallmouth in south Texas. I've caught smallies not much longer than the lure I was using, so downsizing really isn't necessary IMO.
Yeah, but that's not true everywhere. Those are born-n-bred Texas smallmouth, and they realize that everything is bigger in Texas...
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Old 02-09-10, 01:24 PM   #10
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Bass in general, large and small mouth can eat stuff pretty close to their own size... I usually start off with some larger 34" lures and if they aren't biting, then I will downsize... usually 5-6 lures of various colors and sizes will cover the bases for us weekend warriors...

It has been some years since I've had a chance at smallies...
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Old 02-09-10, 02:30 PM   #11
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I think a lot of it size wise is what their forage base is ,the ohio river its shiners a slender 3 1/2 in -4 jerkbait works fine,prespawn most will hop on any size used.
Same if they are feeding on say fathead minows they tend to eat what is available,if shad based normally larger but not always as some feed on butterbean shad 1 1/2 in long,there the lil crankbaits work better.
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Old 02-09-10, 04:04 PM   #12
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My friend caught a 5 pound smallmouth on a bucktail while fishing for Musky. They can hit the big baits.
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Old 02-10-10, 05:59 PM   #13
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Agreed. Smaliies are the greediest fish I've encountered. They'll even try to steal the food from each others mouths. I love using med to large jerkbaits for smallies.
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Old 02-10-10, 07:21 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BigBassin144 View Post
I've heard the LC staysees for great for smallie too.



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Staysees dive deeper than 100's and are almost as long. Big smallies act like largemouths sometimes, so don't afraid of throwing in tight to wood. I've seen them eat 6" swimbaits too.
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