29 replies to this topic

[wapsi smallmouth]

since im most likely getting a kayak soon, my fishing budget is down. what is the top five must haves for river smallies.

thanks, Wapsi smallmouth

[NoBassPro]

As a general rule, a couple floating minnow baits and some inline spinners are all I have ever needed for summertime river smallies. What is the river like you are fishing?

[wapsi smallmouth]

As a general rule, a couple floating minnow baits and some inline spinners are all I have ever needed for summertime river smallies. What is the river like you are fishing?

its the wapsipinicon river. average depth is 5 feet, but its very low and its expected to continue to be low for awile unless some big storm comes.

[grimlin]

Here's my top 5

fat albert grub
Mizmo 3.5" tubes
Black ***(stickbait)
1/4 oz siebert's jig rigged with a small craw trailer of choice
#4 inline spinner

[VolFan]

3" Curly tail grubs in a brown or green color of your choice with 1/16 to 1/4 oz jig head
Tube jigs of a similar or slightly larger size, same jig heads
Roostertail inline spinners in 1/8 oz ( I like the "grasshopper" color)
Baby Rage craws (you can use the jigheads above)
Maybe a small Spook

That should get you covered and be well under $30 for everything.

[Packard]

Grubs
Tubes
Senkos
Spinners
Baby Rage Craws
Heddon Tiny Torpedo
Rapala X-Rap
Hair Jigs

[Crestliner2008]

3" curly tailed grubs on a 1/8 oz. plain jig head; white, smoke and chartreuse. You're good to go.

[Dave T.]

River smallmouths are not that finicky, and the guys have given you great options... small plastics, inline spinners, jerk baits... etc. Just pick what you can afford, and go catch some.

[RyneB]

I have been fishing a small river for smallies for about 20 years. If you gave me one bait to use, id pick a grub, hands down. Everyone already gave you great smallie baits. A Yum Crawbug and baby Rage craw are smallie magnets.

[roadwarrior]

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Shadalicious, Hollow Belly and Keitech Swing Impact Fat.

[Crestliner2008]

Rage Tail Baby Craw, Shadalicious, Hollow Belly and Keitech Swing Impact Fat.

Funny thing roadwarrior, I've tried and tried to catch smallies on the Impact, but all I ever get is pickeral! LOL! They (smallies) crush the larger 5" size Shadalicious baits, but not the Impact - for me anyway. Hands down though, the cheapest, most effective piece of plastic out there is the grub. At least on the large river I fish.

[roadwarrior]

Agreed, the grub is still #1.

[robdob]

As a general rule, a couple floating minnow baits and some inline spinners are all I have ever needed for summertime river smallies. What is the river like you are fishing?

throw in some smoke colored grubs and thats every lure i owned till i was about 16 or 17 and i caught plenty of smallies on just those few lures

[Nick]

From what I've seen of this river in Iowa, get some darker baits. The river appears to be quite dark comjpared to some streams both north and south of you. Reckon it's that Iowa farmland that surrounds it. I'd add some small 1/4 oz. spinnerbaits with at least a #4 blade either willow or Colorado. The trouble with in line spinnners is that they snag so easily whereas the spinnerbait can fish through lots of wood cover. Look for sales on spinnerbaits and other stuff. I really like the Lurenet site because they constantly run some good specials, charge no shipping and very little tax with orders of $35 or more. Walmart also has some cheap spinnerbaits that do catch fish for less than $2.
WIth the grubs, worms, and other soft plastics, go with darker shades as well. Just a rule of thumb---darker the water darker the lure.

[J Francho]

Most economical bait? Crankbaits and hard jerkbaits. Get a plug knocker, too. You can catch a 1,000 bass on one crank.