Generally speaking, the river fishing experience is more relaxed and less complicated. “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. One great advantage to fishing for smallmouth bass in rivers is that fish are much easier to locate. Anglers that fish rivers with trout in them use Rooster tails as they will produce trout as well as bass. Big smallmouth bass lurk in Ozark streams. This puts the lure in the strike zone yet in most cases keeps it working above the submerged rocky bottom. “In the spring and fall, [use] a pop-pop-one-second-pause; and in the summer, just keep popping it,” he says. “In the spring, I’ll rig a jerkbait with a weighted 3/0 wide gap hook so that it will sink slowly, with soft twitches, down into current seams or boulder fields,” he says. 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 is a very simple lure that will catch just about every species that swims. This results in them being around $.50 or so per bait. To help others in their quest, I’ve put together a list of five of my best smallmouth bass baits. Required fields are marked *, ©2018 Sarasota Fishing Charters | Captain Jim Klopfer | 941-371-1390 | Websites By: 22nd Century Web Services | Web Hosting By: Web Planet Hosting. The Heddon Tiny Torpedo is number three on the list of the top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. These lures work best in a slow to medium current. Serious anglers buy the jig heads and the grub bodies in bulk. Fishing for Crappie, Bluegill, and Panfish, Fishing for Striped Bass – Tips, Tackle, and Techniques, Best 6 Topwater Plugs for Saltwater Fishing. Powerful fighters, they leave an indelible mark on the hearts of fishermen. Click this link to shop Amazon for Rapala X-Rap lures. It floats at rest and dives down 2 or 3 feet below the surface upon retrieve. Downsized Smallmouth Lures For Winter Bass Fishing Good choices are grubs , jig and craw, smaller spinnerbaits and crankbaits, Whirley Bee/Jimmy D, Sliders, tube jigs or Texas rigged , 4" straight worms like the Senko, and 1/16 ounce synthetic craft hair or duck feather jigs when Float-n-Fly fishing. This lure has a very erratic action which will trigger a strike from smallmouth bass. Conversely, dropping down to 4 pound test might be required in extremely low water. One of the most exciting lures to fish for river Smallmouth Bass is the Zoom Super fluke style soft plastic jerkbait. Smallmouth bass and other game fish will stage in these eddies waiting in ambush. Lure Specifics: Top colors include leopard frog and baby bass. Most rivers are shallow and rocky and baits that are dragged along the bottom will snag. Noisy rattles and a classic side-to-side walking action taunt smallmouth into … Anglers can read more about. Try using jerkbaits and crankbaits lures … With the rod tip low and near the surface of the water, the lure is brought back in using sharp jerks. The standard “lift-pause-flutter to the bottom” retrieve remains effective, adds Cundiff. Lure Specifics: Go with the classic Model 9 Rapala Original Minnow in silver. Rocks have another attraction when it comes to smallmouth bass as well; crayfish! A 1/6 ounce Rooster tail spinner is number six on the list of top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. It is a good idea to give it an initial twitch to get the blade spinning. A 1/6 ounce Rooster tail spinner is number six on the list of top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. To get the best results try to pick one that resembles the baitfish that the smallmouth feed on in the area you are fishing. 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 Wiggle Wart is great on steep banks with rock,” he says. Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear. These lures are fairly inexpensive to use. That is one reason why the best seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures are bit different than those used in lakes. BioSpawn VileCraw. Lures that are too big are a common mistake made on rivers when fishing for smallmouth. Top water baits are very easy to use and are a lot of fun to fish! Lure Specifics: Trail prefers a Size 8 X-Rap in olive green. Otherwise, the lure and it’s treble hooks can come flying back towards the angler. However, since most productive smallmouth bass rivers have rocks and other cover, anglers either use a weedless hook or Texas rig the worm on a 1/0 worm hook. The summertime river smallmouth angler’s arsenal should include both finesse and power-fishing lures. It’s one of my go to lures when I start out looking for smallmouth. After a hard jerk, anglers should point the rod tip right at the bait. The best approach is to cast 90° and then let the bait work downstream with the current while the angler keeps the tip up and gives the jig just a little bit of action. “The Bomber Model A is at its best from prespawn when water temperatures are in the upper 50s to late summer until the water becomes really low and clear,” he says. Shade pockets along the bank, current breaks midriver, slack water below rapids and aquatic vegetation are all targets. Unlike trout, smallmouth will rarely be right in the swiftest current. Smallmouth residing in rivers are not as fussy as fish in lakes can be. The design of the lure keeps the hook out of harms way. 13 to No. Click this link to shop Amazon for Rebel Wee Craw lures. “In the winter, retrieve an X-Rap with a ‘pop-pop-three-second-pause’ retrieve,” he says. Anglers simply cast across the stream and reel it in as slowly as possible using a steady retrieve. The smallmouth is such an awesome bass to chase. Get a closer look at the Johnston brothers' favorite lures for a day of smallmouth fishing. “As the summer warms up, I speed up my retrieve with faster twitching and only short pauses. However, it will not be very effective in fast current. The best smallmouth bass fishing lures are generally suspended lures that aren’t surface or divers. “Those are deep, rocky pools protected from the current. Here is my list of the best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures. This one is the perfect example. Little or no action is needed by the angler. Fall and spring, current seams between swift water are the best choices; in the summer, slicks below rapids and riffles.”. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”. Using a blade bait like a Heddon Sonar is a very effective tactic in extremely cold waters. The 4 inch Yamamoto Senko is a fantastic bait that will catch a variety of species in just about any environment. Light tackle will elicit the most strikes. This is a terrific bait for catching smallmouth bass anywhere, but particularly in rivers. The list is in order by season, basically in order of what lures work best … This realistically imitates a wounded and helpless bait fish and will draw reaction strikes from smallmouth bass. A 6 ½ foot light spinning rod with a 2000 series reel and 6 pound monofilament line is a great all-round combination. The 7 Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers There’s a reason former Field & Stream Fishing Editor, A.J. Is a time proven bait and a bit of a legend among experienced smallmouth bass river anglers. That means that anglers do not need to impart a lot of action. Originally published in Bassmaster Magazine 2019. The grub tail can be easily changed. JOIN TODAY! This will put slack in the line and cause the bait to hover there motionless. Chartreuse is very productive as well. Sarasota Fishing Charters | 941-371-1390. It comes in a half dozen colors, and all of them are productive. You can utilize them on a Texas Rig, a drop shot, a flimsy … After a hard jerk, anglers should point the rod tip right at the bait. Each time the jig head hits the bottom it kicks up a puff of sand or dirt, realistically mimicking a crayfish. With the rod tip low and near the surface of the water, the lure is brought back in using sharp jerks. Once again, light colors work best in clear water while darker colors work best in stained or dark water. They work best in shallow stretches of the river with a little current. It will snag occasionally but not too bad. “I’ll retrieve a Model A pretty slowly around humps and spawning banks early on. Eddies during the day and shallow, rocky riffles in low light are great areas to try.”. Your email address will not be published. One caveat, continues Trail, is that for whatever reason, summertime days exist when smallmouth won’t chase a buzzer. Your email address will not be published. In the slower, deeper pools, the bait is simply dragged slowly across the bottom. 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 … Boulders and rocky ledges provide refuge from the current. The beauty of these lures is that they can be used in both fast and slow water and rarely hang up. This selection of … They can dart out into the current to feed while not expending a lot of energy. Lure Specifics: It’s hard to beat a grub in smoke flake. “I’ll use 3 3/4-inch Case Salty Tubes then, starting off with a slower retrieve and keeping contact with the bottom. Also, rivers run clear and low in summer and early fall. Lure Specifics: Case tubes in green pumpkin, watermelon gold/purple flake and smoke purple flake on jigheads between 1/4 and 5/8 ounce, depending on current. Debris that washes downstream such as fallen timber will tend to collect in these areas. “It’s one of the oldest crankbaits, and it just might be the best one for river smallmouth,” says the Virginia guide. 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.”. Regardless, you can’t go wrong fishing … There are many different Rooster tail colors to select from. 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. 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. “Deep-water ledges are a great place to work an X-Rap year-round, especially in the winter. This is a very simple lure that will catch just about every species that swims. As I said above, make sure you get the line size right … Rebel Pop-R. One of my all-time favorite topwater lures to target smallmouth bass with is a … The lightest weight plastics like a Texas Rig or jig head need just enough weight to make bottom … The best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures are; These seven baits will produce smallmouth bass and rivers throughout the country. “Two keys: Cast beyond the target, and make sure a buzzer is churning the moment it hits the water,” he says. This will put slack in the line and cause the bait to hover there motionless. Anglers mostly wade or drift in small boats. “Fish it at a slow to medium pace, keeping contact with the bottom.”. Football and Swinging Jigs. Jerkbaits, spinner baits and buzz baits can all be used for smallmouth fishing. “The Big O’s wide wobble is key. Instead, they will find an eddy or bit of slack water where they can rest comfortably without expending a lot of energy yet be in a prime position to feed. Outside bends in the river channel are smallmouth bass hotspots! It is best to use the Rebel Crawfish in the slower, deeper pools and holes. Click this link to shop Amazon for Mister Twister lures. While smallmouth bass are found in lakes, many anglers associate smallmouth bass fishing with rivers. Many of the spots also have an undercut bank. The most productive retrieve is to cast it out towards a likely looking spot. These are the preferred forage of smallmouth bass in both lakes and rivers. https://fishinglidokey.com/best-7-river-smallmouth-fishing-lures It is important that when a fish strikes this lure the angler waits until the weight of the fish is felt before setting the hook. A jig bouncing erratically off the bottom is an excellent imitation of a crayfish. Anglers can bump the line up to 8 pound test in the spring when the water is higher and has some color. A gold blade with a bright green/pink body works great on cloudy days or 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 … Anglers that fish rivers with trout in them use Rooster tails as they will produce trout as well as bass. Cordell Big O. Britt Stoudenmire, owner of the New River Outdoor Co., raves about the Cordell … I'll … Here's a sneak peak at my top 5 favorite smallmouth bass fishing lures for summer! I set no restrictions on the number of lures that could be listed, the only stipulation being that participants would list lures until all present were satisfied that they had enough choices to be able to fish successfully throughout the year. Like the inline spinners, spinnerbaits work best with a slow, steady retrieve. Less really is more when fishing this bait. The guide emphasizes that the Torpedo can be dead drifted when bronzebacks are lethargic, retrieved moderately with lots of pauses when smallmouth become active and ripped across the surface almost like a buzzbait when fish chase minnows. This will realistically mimic a fleeing crayfish. Small River Smallmouth Bass Fishing: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAn10MBzyX9Sv19PvOaWOIjC4B9kjC8bE Where to Catch Smallmouth in Creeks and Rivers… In the confines of a river, likely fish holding spots are much easier to identify as opposed to a large open body of water. My goal is to get you “Kraken” more smallmouth bass! Roostertails are very simple and easy to use. The floating Rapala may be the best overall crankbait for smallmouth bass, but it won’t cover every situation. The bluegill colored one is usually a good choice for a lot of areas. This realistically imitates a wounded and helpless bait fish and will draw reaction strikes from smallmouth bass.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'fishinglidokey_com-box-4','ezslot_5',134,'0','0'])); The best color to use will depend on river conditions. Zoom Bait Salty Super Fluke Baits. Lure Specifics: prespawn, a Model 7A in any crawfish pattern, especially brown postspawn, a Model 7A in any shad or baitfish color. Tactics for pursuing smallmouth bass and rivers are a bit different than when fishing in lakes. Here’s how these guides, experts and the seminar audience as a whole ranked the lures from No. The soft plastic lures are in the family of what many anglers call “finesse baits”. There is no wrong time of year to be fishing for smallmouth with a some kind of a jig. The lures do not weigh much and light line and tackle is required to cast them. Lure Specifics: A Cordell Big O in a crawfish pattern — enough said. fly rod, black or olive woolly buggers and balsa, foam or hair poppers. Plus a bonus bait at the end. (Strike King Menace Grub is definitely one of my go-to smallmouth river … Jigs can be fished in swift water as well. “In the summer, I go weightless with a 2/0 wide gap hook and twitch a jerkbait back and forth as it falls. Generally, white with a silver blade works well on bright, sunny days in clear water. Often times, the smallmouth bass will attack it as it sits there motionless. In the winter, hop one on a 1/4-ounce head right above a rocky bottom. Click this link to shop Amazon for Beetle Spin lures. Once it gets near the bottom, the lure is retrieved with short hard twitches, a bit less aggressively than a jerk bait. As mentioned above, one advantage to fishing for smallmouth bass and rivers is that likely spots are easy to identify. Smallmouth bass love rocks! Anglers should use just enough to keep the jig up out of the rocks of possible. Current breaks and eddy pockets are just as good.”. Depth is pretty much a non factor as most smallmouth rivers are fairly shallow. The Middle Wee Craw is extremely effective when worked over submerged rocky ledges and boulders in 3 foot of water to 5 foot of water. Click this link to shop Amazon for Senko lures. When it’s a wide-wobble day, tie on the Big O.”. 1. The jig and grub combo is very easy to use. What are the go to lures for smallmouth bass in small rivers and streams 5wt. 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. fishing with spinners in rivers and streams. Plus, I’ve included descriptions on how to use them. Lure Specifics: Stoudenmire’s 1/4-ounce Undulator consists of rabbit hair with round rubber for legs. The most productive retrieve is to cast it out towards a likely looking spot. They are high in protein and fairly easy to catch. This bait can be effective in both the deeper pools and the faster running water. These polls between riffles are prime spots for smallmouth bass, particularly if fallen trees and rocks are present. Lure Specifics: Skirt and blade colors really don’t matter during the day, Trail says, but go with all black buzzers at night. Anglers can read more about fishing with spinners in rivers and streams here. … We will list the top seven river smallmouth bass fishing lures in this article. In calm and slack water, the lure is cast out towards shoreline cover or submerged rocks or ledges. A 1/4 ounce Beetlespin spinner bait is an extremely effective lure for smallmouth bass and other species. Since the Tiny Torpedo is a top water bait and virtually 100% snag proof, it can be used in any depth of water. The best smallmouth bass fishing tackle is a light spinning rod and reel along with a good selection of lures would include spinners, spoons, plugs, and jigs. The simple yet extremely effective jig is bait number five on the list of the top seven river smallmouth bass fishing lures. It is the perfect size bait for river smallmouth and is another tried-and-true producer of smallmouth bass in rivers. These are prime spots as well. “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. Many anglers enjoy chasing smallmouth bass in rivers. This is a top water plug. This lure has a very erratic action which will trigger a strike from smallmouth bass. Once the list was created, I asked some of the best river smallmouth anglers I know how, when and where they fish these baits. (Photo by Jeff Knapp) “A Mister Twister Twister Tail or a Zoom Fat Albert is about the simplest bait you could ever use, but it’s an extremely effective bait from spring through fall,” he says. Smallmouth fishermen are a dedicated lot. Best Smallmouth Bass Baits Experiment with retrieves and jighead sizes the rest of the year, and you’re set.”. Top 6 Smallmouth Bass Lures. Anglers River smallmouth fishing should never overlook these outside bends. While live bait produces plenty of fish, the majority of anglers opt to use artificial lures. In swift water, the bait is cast out into the deeper runs and just allowed to sweep downstream in the current. By: Bill Cooper. White and olive are good all-around choices. Often times there will be holes in the slack water area right behind a large boulder. “Smallmouth are very aggressive toward a topwater bait hovering over their heads during this period, so a bait that can stay close to the surface is extra effective,” he says. Lure Specifics: Any minnow hue will do; Tex-posing is the norm. It will tend to turn sideways in heavy current and will also snag the bottom in shallow water. Lure Specifics: Rebel Pop-R Plus in red eye perch. 3 “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. Outkast Tackle Touchdown 2 Football Jig. Lure Specifics: 2-inch, 3/4-ounce Wart in any crawfish pattern. The Rebel Middle Wee Craw will float at rest then dive down upon retrieve. Techniques to target smallmouth through the seasons, 3 things a southern angler learned about northern smallmouth. It is allowed to sink to the bottom then retrieved back in using a series of short hops. Some days, the smallmouth want a crankbait with a wide wobble, and sometimes they want one with a tight wobble like the Wiggle Wart. Light spinning tackle is the best choice for anglers fishing rivers for smallmouth bass. It is an extremely effective lure when pursuing river smallmouth bass. In all honesty, every color will produce fish. In open water, these can be rigged on an open hook. That is a good thing as many will be lost in a day of fishing for smallmouth in rocky streams. Anglers can slide on a very small 1/8 ounce sliding sinker if necessary. These highly productive spots include holes or pools where the river slows down and increases in depth. The heads and tails of pools and riffles can also be good spots to try for smallmouth bass. They will hang up if used in very shallow water. “Burn it right under the surface in riffles and slicks on a 1/8-ounce jighead in the summer. A five-inch bait is fine for largemouth but a smallmouth will generally pass them up. Click this link to shop at Amazon. The most popular combination when fishing rivers for smallmouth is a 1/8 ounce round black head with a 2 inch to 3 inch root beer or green body. And secondly, jigs … 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. “When the water temp reaches about 65 degrees, I’ll throw a 1/4-ounce Cavitron buzzbait parallel to grassbeds and banks with any kind of cover. Anglers can keep it simple with this selection of lures.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'fishinglidokey_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_8',106,'0','0'])); Number one on the list of the top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures is the #8 Rapala X-Rap Slashbait. Proposing to name the best smallmouth streams in the Ozarks is a surefire way to start a heated conversation. Baitfish are King in Fall. Click this link to shop Amazon for Rooster Tail lures. The flashing blade and vibration along with the colorful tail will draw a lot of strikes! Recently, while giving a river smallmouth seminar, I asked the attendees which lures every stream smallie fanatic should own. “People do fish a hair jig year-round for trophy smallmouth, but I mostly fish it when the water temperature is under 50 degrees to as low as the upper 30s, when smallmouth are in their winter holes,” he says. The idea is to get it down near the bottom and even bouncing off the rocks on occasion. It works great with or without a trailer. Silver blades and a 2” white, green, rootbeer or black grub work well in most rivers. The ideal river habitat for smallmouth bass are rivers with cool, clear water and a lot of gravel and rocks. It is also why finesse lures are very popular in smallmouth fishing. It’s best then to select other topwaters. Countdown Minnow. There have already been lots of great river smallmouth baits mentioned and I use most of them. You'll have a blast! It is #7 on the list of the best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures. It is in the family of lures that anglers term “jerk baits”. Anglers will not need to impart too much action as the jig will look very natural just drifting with the current. In the fall, I employ a combination of both methods. A 2000 reel on a 6′ medium light rod is an excellent combo. Here are six examples of good smallmouth bass lures and how to fish them. Anglers will often times find that the smaller fish are found in these shallow waters with a bit a current. The Rebel Middle Wee Craw is number two on the list of the top seven River smallmouth bass fishing lures. https://1source.basspro.com/news-tips/bass/5699/best-baits-river-smallmouth Often times, the water is deeper as well as the current gouges out a whole. Jigs are the most popular and best overall smallmouth bass lure, for two main reasons. Just let that rabbit hair pulse with the current as you crawl the jig ever so slowly across the bottom.”. The Senko is very supple and will have a very lifelike action and the water. If that’s not working, I will snap my tube with quick pops and then allow it to rest. If you’re fishing deep rivers … McClane called the river smallmouth “the greatest freshwater gamefish of all.” If you’ve come under this fish’s spell in its river … Lure Specifics: Texas rig with a 1/0 wide gap hook and a sliding 1/8- or 1/4-ounce bullet sinker; color: pumpkin pepper. Heddon Spook. Smallmouth bass have a pretty diverse diet year-round but when the … Light-colored lures work best in clear water while darker colors work better in stained water. It has a tapered nose and a propeller on the rear. Smallmouth can be found in a range of habitats. They cast a mile, land softly, and Smallmouth hammer them. Click this link to shop Amazon for Tiny Torpedo lures. Anglers can swim it back using a steady retrieve to imitate a minnow. , summertime days exist when smallmouth won ’ t cover every situation a surefire way to start a conversation... Is one reason why the best 7 river smallmouth bass light spinning with... 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Number two on the list of five of my best smallmouth bass get a closer look at the brothers. Buggers and balsa, foam or hair poppers jig heads and the grub in... Winter, hop one on a very simple lure that will catch variety. Comes in a slow to medium current the smaller fish are much easier to locate of,! Rod with a 2/0 wide gap hook and a 2 ” white, green, or. Name the best 7 river smallmouth bass river anglers wobble is key is one why! To 4 pound test might be required in extremely low water or in water! Rocky riffles in low light are great areas to try. ” their quest, I a! The colorful tail will draw a lot of areas a bit less aggressively than a jerk bait a large.... Classic Model 9 Rapala Original minnow in silver bottom is an extremely effective lure when river! 'Ll … the smallmouth is such an awesome bass to chase has very... Different than when fishing in lakes about best lures for smallmouth bass in rivers environment low in summer early. Particularly in rivers is that for whatever reason, summertime days exist when smallmouth won ’ t surface or.. Anglers that best lures for smallmouth bass in rivers rivers with cool, clear water and rarely hang up Rebel crawfish the... Is another tried-and-true producer of smallmouth bass in rivers are fairly shallow be the best river...