Spankey

I would have to agree with you. I think we are both northern river rats. I love the fall fishing on the river and alway feel that it’s the time of year the big one is coming. Honestly it’s not a given nor does it always happen. But I’ve picked off some really nice Smallies during the so called dog days of summer.

Glad they work for you. Have caught countless river smallies on them. That shiner/carp version is a go to color for me also. Back a few years ago I caught a 30” carp on that shiner/carp pattern. Took quite awhile to get him in on 6# test.

Don’t overlook the Glass Shad Rap. They have a few great natural patterns. It fishes and run real well. I’ve never fished a rattling suspending (RS) version but feel I’d do well with it. Need to pick a few up sometime.

Might possibly be my most productive crankbait. I throw it from when I start my season until the last day of my season. For me water temp doesn’t effect it’s use. They can be a bit pricey, catch them on sale. This time of year. There are Plenty of sizes on this bait.

I'm not jumping in that big on Black Friday this year. A couple of bass things that I'm interested in I have to see and touch first. I did put a list out there to my family of some new baits, spares, terminal tackle and line that they can order up as a present if they wish to. A lot of stuff I want and need is not in stock and no backorder. I'm pretty sure I'll have at least a few new things to chase some river smallies with. I want to pick up a new 3 wt. fly rod for trout fishing. Can't do that sight unseen. And I'm pretty sure when I go to pull the trigger on it I'll pull off some saving or deal. Have fun shopping and have a great holiday.

I never had any interest in them to eat. I won’t even try one. As a kid a few Doctors would had myself and a buddy catch carp for them had taken some large suckers as well. They would grind them as well for fish cakes.

I agree, I use Bandit and Strike King blacks in clearer river water also. I believe it’s just a great profile color for a bait. And they rattle so that can draw attention. A lake I fish, black is not that productive. Even during those stained times. Natural shiner, Gizzard Shad’s and panfish patterns seem to work at most all conditions.

I’ll use a few black versions of crankbaits on the river when stained pretty heavy. Dark olive is another good color in the conditions.

I feel like we fish the same lake and run into the same ramp guys. I think you are fishing it correctly.

pdx, I will agree. Maybe there is not a clear answer to smallie markings. I’ve caught ones in that heavy matted grass that were dang near as black as a preachers hat. Others looked like a tiger. When a smallie is displaying his bars and stripes like I tiger, is that same pattern displayed his next time. And the time after. Thought maybe they were given a certain set of markings for life.

^^^^^^ Greatly Appreciated ^^^^^^ TN, thanks for going out of your way to post this info. I was going through some of my bass pics and the color difference in the smallmouths pic I do have is a wide range. The fish are from the same body of water (river) and at most in a 20 mi. stretch, most likely less. My PB Smallie had a bad eye. The fish was healthy as heck and didn’t look like it missed many meals because of its handicap. A few years prior in the same section of the river (3/4 mi. down river) I caught a beauty (smaller) also with a bad eye. I was comparing the pics to see if there was an outside chance the fish was the same fish. Looking for a distinct marking. After looking close it is most likely not the same fish. The small white mark on the edge of the gill plate are two different shapes. Just something that crossed my mind a few times.

I have to agree with the bigger/fatter ones seem to develop the tiger stripes. In my case I see that start at around 14”+ fish. Over the years I’ve caught a few 14-15” that were a beautiful solid bronze color. Not orange like some have posted on here. But a very unique bronze. Have always wondered if he will carry that trait. Or will he turn and not get that back.

I agree with you 100% have seen this my whole bass fishing career. But are you saying that the bars and stripes that it projects always stay the same?

It’s like a light switch got turned off up here in the North East. Winter has set in. Don’t have a lot on my get list. Handful of spare crankbaits, split tail grubs, tubes, spool of McCoy. Few other easy finds. Want to look at the SC Eyecon 7 ft. Medium, Moderate action, Crankbait Spinning Rod. Hard to find a St. Croix Spinning Rod with a soft tip.

Guy I’m not a biologist. Just a Smallmouth addict and junkie. I’ve caught many smallmouth from dinks, runts, respectables and BP’s which were beauties. I realize that depending upon stress levels and some of their surrounding their coloration can darken and lighten. Some smallies even at a respectable size don’t always have distinct spots, stripes or bars. I’ve caught big smallies that were dang near black. Others that had highly visible pronounced bars and stripes from the same hole. I have a million biological questions but does a smallie which has a very pronounced set of bars, spots and stripes keep them his entire life? These markings are developed as the fish matures? A smallie with a black birth mark will stay with him his whole life? Had a bunch of my smallie pics out today and variations were numerous. Just was wondering if the markings of a smallie stuck with him like the stripes of a zebra staying with him his whole life. Thanks for your opinions and thoughts.

Tough to rattle off specifics on all the model numbers but I have more than my share needed of St. Croix Rods. Mixed bag of Premiere, Eyecons, Avids, Mojo’s and a recent gift of a Victory. Majority of my Crankbait fishing over the last handful of years on Abu Garcia Veritas Winch and REVO Winch rods and reels.

Are there two different hook manufacturers that it makes that much of a difference as to how you pronounce it, to get what you’re after. I can see you wanting proper pronunciation, me I’ll stick to Gammy’s.

I’d be like a fish out of water at the depth you’re fishing.

This would be close to my fishing also. But I have days that I never pick up a spinning outfit as well as times a BC setup is not used.

No Fluoro for me. I have no complaints with using an XL or Stren mono. Has served me well. But over the last handful of years I’ve been using SunLine Super Natural mono and McCoy CoPoly. Been happy with it. Strength, castability, spool memory or lack there of.

Drop shot or split shot w/ a RoboWorm or PowerWorm. Berkley PowerTube or PowerGrub. I have no experience fishing a deep highland reservoir but I believe the above baits will catch me a bass where ever they be.

Largemouth Bass and Tidal Smallies are there.

Most of my old Bomber screw tails I won’t throw anymore. But a few I still do. Some patterns you just can’t get anymore. Maybe eBay has some but I’m not an eBayer. Bomber is on its way down the toilet. I have a lot of great patterns that that are not screw tail and long out of production. My old Wiggle Warts I put up and don’t fish anymore but in my opinion the newer Rapala Warts are better anyway, better pattern options. Fish as good. Maybe better. The Mepps spinner is a fantastic lure for sure. I’ve had some forever. They (Mepps) continues to put out a million versions. I think I stopped using the old Mepps when I started using the old Manns Baby 1- more and more. Only to use Bandit Footlooses and 100’s. I have some old Cottons but I never put any of them up. Just keep fishing them. Vintage for sure. I have no idea were Cotton is today as far as being a lure maker. But I’m not totally old school. I’ve had success with SPRO, 6th Sense, Zman, Googan, Rage and others. There is a lot of quality lures out there today.

I guess it’s all a mater of personal opinions. One thing I hate to do here is get too opinionated or spend someone else’s money. But I’ll stand on my opinion that the Premiere Series rods have a better feel and fish better than any Mojo Rod in my experience. If I didn’t own both I would not voice an opinion. Owning both prefer the Premiere.

I’m sure I’m older than you but my fishing had started the same way. I’m into some of the new wave stuff. But I remain pretty old school and fish many of my productive tried and true baits, I still throw them a lot. I believe and have confidence in my old Rapalas, Bombers, Bandits, Pop-R’s and others. Many of these can’t be bought today. I am all about fishing with a quality rod and reel. And I’m into matching a speed ratio to what I’m fishing. Especially crankbait fishing.