Smallie Plastics

[Down to Earth]

I'm down in Southeastern Minnesota here and we have a pretty decent smallmouth lake in Lake Zumbro. I'd like to spend some time this summer targeting the smallies and would like to know a good starting point as to what size plastics and jigs to go with. Also any other lure recommendations would be nice to.

Thanks.

Andy

[Slyster]

From my limited experience I can say I did my best smallmouth fishing using 4" tubes. Dark colors, green and black, whites were good. But I am sure many more can add more than this tidbit. Mr. Tister exude tubes should be great this summer! I stocked up.. and remember.. if you order online we get a Fishubg MN discount.

[river rat316]

I generally try not to donwsize anything from Greenie baits, You may not catch as many but the ones you do will be pigs. 4" tubes 5.25 senkos, 3/8 ounce jig and pigs (these can be downsized with still good success)

[musky hunter]

While tubes are going to work well, don't overlook the crayfish imitations! It might not be as exciting as a surface explosion, but smallies love crayfish. I discovered these last year and they work well. Even if they aren't your favorite go-to lure, having one or two in your boat for insurance when the traditional stuff isn't producing might be a trip saver.

[Stelz]

I fish that lake quite often.. there are some good smallies in there no doubt.. but it can be a humbling body of water, you have to work for your fish.. Use what you would always toss for bass. deep cranks and such to target deep water fish, and your run of the mill tactics for the shallow bays and shore lines... work things slow and use a variety of tactics, and you will find a goode niche for yourself out there.. I have been fishing it for a few years now hard and am just getting a handle on it.. its a challenging lake with excellent habitat and fish...

just be sure and remember one thing..

BEND YOUR KNEES...

The rec. boat traffic out there is enough to make any fisherman cuss....

Good luck

STELZ

[river rat316]

Tubes (when fished on the bottom) are about the best crayfish imitator there is, every study Ive read says a bass will take a crayfish without its claws everytime over one with its claws, if you look at a tube that is what this bait imitates. Im not saying realistic crayfish imitations dont have there time and place, but as far as that type of fishing goes, there about 5th on my list as to what I try first! But thats just me, some people do alot better with em then I do!!

[Stratosman]

I like the 3 and 4 inch tubes as well, a jig and grub can be an awesome choice too, also the jigworm with a finesse style worm like the yum dinger, I have had some good catches on the Croix as well as Mille Lac using these presentations.

[musky999]

What is the best way to rig those tubes?

[Mr. Pike1]

Tubes and Senko's. I like watermellon, sand, or any natural color that imitates crayfish.

For the Senko's I think any color works. I like the colors in this as well with Rootbeer being my all time favorite. Baby Bass and cinnamin with green speckle are others that I like.

I have also had success with the simple jig and and the Lindy munchies in green w/orange tail or the white with pink tail in the glow version. Walleyes will hit on this presentation as well.

Do not over look a nice crank bait, spinner bait, or the good old rattle trap to cover water and find the active fish.

This statement could change but up until now I have never fished for smallies with a Senko and not caught fish. In most cases many many many small mouth. The senko does not look like much and is easy to fish. You will be amazed at the results. No I am not a Gary Yamato Senko sales rep. Just love the bait thats all

[Cooter]

Mr. Pike, how are you riggin the Senkos?

[Mark Christianson]

Senkos for smallies.

Wacky, wacky or wacky rigged. All 3 are great!

Dead serious too. Its the only way I fish smallies with a Senko style bait.

And dont waste your money on the Yamamoto Senkos. Go find one of the MANY imatations out there and save yourself a gob of money.

[Slyster]

Again.. Mr. Twister exude comes in 'senko' styles.. they seem really good and I can't wait to try them out and they were sure a lot cheaper than the real thing.

They are called "comidas"

[Mr. Pike1]

Cooter, I fish the smallies on the river and at the cabin on lake Vermillion. I rig the Senkos on a number 2 or 3 owner hook but Gamo's or any brand will do. I hook it weedless and weightless with the bait basically laying strait on the hook. I do the wacky rigging with Senko's that have been torn or ripped loss. The wacky style works but on Vermillion it is very rocky and the the river holds lots of structure so I prefer to rig it weedless and weightless. The slow fall triggers the bite and the soft salty plastics gets them to hold on tight.

[Boedigheimer]

Down to earth, Thats a whopper of a question.

All the walleye presentations I use over the course of the season fits in one large tackle box. My smallmouth plastics alone fill 4 tackle boxes. 2-5" Tubes, grubs, jig-worms, jerkshads, and swimbaits in white, pumpkinseed, watermelon, or clear,crankbaits (smaller) and spinnerbaits (any color as long as its white). My tackle expenditures got me in alot of trouble once I became a serious smallie chaser....BE WARNED!

[Ray Esboldt]

I don't know who said it in this post earlier, but the same baits that catch largemouth are good smallmouth baits. I can't say I have caught many smallmouth out of slop, so I doubt I have caught many on a Scum Frog over the years. However, just about every other style of bait has produced for me. I have found some baits that smallmouth seem to be inclined to eat more than others - fluke style baits (white or silver colors), tubes and craws no doubt (greens, browns, dark blues), Pop-Rs with a rattle, Wiggle Warts, and inline or traditional spinnerbaits with copper blades. I guess if someone was going to limit me on baits and I was on a smallmouth only lake, those are the type of baits I would take with me.

[Down to Earth]

Thanks for all the help guys. Looks like some tubes and 3/8oz. internal jigs will be a good starting point. Gonna have to start out small and go with it from there.

Andy

[Cooter]

Thanks Mr Pike, will try this summer.

[st.crioxfishin]

If you don't mind wading or floating the Zumbro River there are many opportunities for some great smallie fishing there as well. I have done best on the river with wieghtless white tubes. Let them flutter down into the deeper holes and around rip rap. The original floating rapala can be good too.

[Mr. Pike1]

I will also add for the Vermillion and river smallies I have had my best success with the tubes made by Gitzit. They are 3 or 4" long but have a much thinner profile that other tubes and really work well on a 1/8 or 1/4 weight. The colors I like are chartruse salt and pepper, crawfish with green flake, motor oil, and strait white.

Of course I use the other standard tubes and they do work. I just find the thinner profile of these and lighter weight give them a different action that works for the smallies...Try them yourself and see if you catch increases.

[Banger]

I really enjoy fishing with a hard jerkbait. I have found the Lucky Craft to be an excelent choice. The only problem is that the northerns seem to like them also. They get spendy at $15 a bait. Also as mentioned the tubes in various sizes work well. However my all time favorite way to fish for brown bass is with a top water bait. Skitter pops and Frenzy topwaters are my favorites.

[benelli_dude2002]

I fished lake of the woods my whole life. I normally use 3-4 inch tubes dark in color that looks natural like crayfish when fishing deeper water. I also keep a rod with a spinnerbait close by when I come up to a submerged or fallen tree which also seem to hold smallies. Hope to get out for smallies again this year. good luck fishing! Brian