Bass-Addict

So you think you catch far more smallmouth using finesse lures than cranks and topwaters?

Ahh gotcha. So casting gear is easier to use? That’s what I imagined, why exactly is that?

Sort of a confusing response, I’ll enjoy casting gear more but have more fun with spinning? Lol. Why is spinning gear more productive?

d**n 1/16 seems so light, don’t you want it to sink quicker than that or do they hit it on the fall?

That’s a good system. What size Ned head would you say you use most frequently, and how do you fish them? Do you use the original presentation of light weight (1/10>) and letting it fall slowly or the Z Man mass marketed way of dead sticking and jigging off the bottom?

Interesting, so why do the people above say it is faster and more efficient for casting top waters and cranks in abundance? The whopper plopper I use isn’t huge but it is the 90.

Really? I was smackin em the other day on the whopper plopper. I found that much more efficient to use than finesse jigs, I covered infinitely more water. My plan wasn’t to eliminate spinning, as I said in my OP just to have casting to cover water in between spots when floating.

Isn’t low water ideal as they are easier to locate being concentrated in current?

How do you open the bail, pinch your line and cast with one hand??

What would you recommend for a good starter setup?

Now that I’m lure fishing and seeing the immediate benefit of water coverage I can’t help but think I would get even more casts in with a casting setup. Am I misunderstanding how they work or is it a much simpler one-handed action that would be far easier in a kayak than spinning which requires two? I envision just chucking those heavier turn em burn em style top waters cranks and spinnerbaits left and right seamlessly with a baitcaster as fish finders when I’m on the move and then using my spinning setup for finesse jigs like the Ned and grubs, and for tough days or when I just feel like throwing some live for old time’s sake or to switch it up. Is this what most smallmouth anglers do or do a lot of people still prefer spinning even for heavier cast and retrieve baits simply because it’s somehow better suited for creeks and rivers? Is there a major learning curve for baitcasters or is it fairly easy to get the hang of? I’ve heard it can spool up and be frustrating, is this any more of a headache than spinning twistups loops and tangles? Thanks!

Yeah that’s why I’m getting unpainted for my smoke shad swimbaits, the locally made swimbaits I have already have eyes so I didn’t want painted.

Chartreuse for any color plastic?

Eye or no eye?

Oh I’m already past the point of no return, the addiction has taken hold! Now it’s just a matter of minimizing it ?

Thanks! Yeah exactly, live is just very limited in many ways. Watch out for the monkey?

Today was a pretty big turning point for me, I had previously had intermittent success with a few lures but I threw artificial for most of my float today and it was way more efficient and fun. I covered exponentially more water and found fish in places I would’ve never previously considered casting as with live every cast is a big production. They were hitting the whopper plopper on practically every cast, I had the most success with this so I stuck with it. However, the Ned was productive as well when I used it. I’ve got the buzz now, I’m sold! Thanks for all of the help and encouragement, I’m ready to explore all of the different baits!

It seems like white/chartreuse is universally agreed to be the most versatile color. If I were to match the hatch I’d go white or gray as shiners populate most of my waterways, but I think the combo gives it more visibility idk.

I haven’t had one strike throwing a 5/16 white/chartreuse war Eagle finesse w the gold Colorado front and chrome Willow back. Awesome looking bait and I really want it to work but it just doesn’t get touched. Is it likely too big? I ordered a KVD Strike King mini king 1/8 and I’m hoping that makes a difference, I imagine it will. I really like the bigger one though as I can cast it much further.

What is there to know about using live bait in August? Yeah when the water is warm like this I typically change half the water in my Engle bait cooler with the water from the river, allows them to acclimate and saves the temperature shock.

All of the pros where I live seem to agree that the dog days of summer are tough going for bagging trophy smallmouth. Very few if any of them fish live bait, however. Would this be a way for me to overcome this obstacle (while still simultaneously using lures) or will it still be tough? Kind of sucks thinking that fishing has already peaked for the season, and that the short burst of excitement in the spring is as good as it gets. A while back I posted a thread comparing spring and summer productivity, I’ll have to revisit it but I thought I remembered it being pretty unanimous that summer was the best time for smallmouth fishing. So is it just the 18”+ pigs that become elusive?

Thanks man, great point about locating the fish! I now feel confident on any waterway catching smallies, and I continue to explore new stretches and rivers and catch every time. I think you’re right about the crutch but like you said I gotta keep it fun. I’m ok with the gradual transition, as this allows me to continue enjoying my time on the water in the meantime.

Tbh it’s been slow going, I like the idea of lure fishing and I really want it to work but it’s just not anywhere near as productive. There is no possible way I will be able to catch close to the quantity or quality I am catching now using lures. I’m going to continue practicing every time I’m out, but I’m not going to leave the minnows at home as my primary goal is catching fish not being challenged. Catching them with live is challenging enough some days.

Dude I didn’t ask you how you thought I should fish lol Yeah I’ve seen videos of smallies sucking them in and spitting them out, I think they do this until they get them tail first so they don’t get pinched going down maybe? Idk, I’m sure there’s a reason though.

This is quite possibly my favorite phenomenon of smallmouth fishing. It happened a bit more when I was exclusively using live minnows, but if I got a strike and didn’t get a good hook set, the next cast there is a sort of spastic splash on the surface during or directly after he takes the bait. I assume it has something to do with their feeding behavior, either their tail splashing the surface in an ambush strike or them attempting to flee after taking the minnow and getting hooked. Either way It’s a pretty awesome experience, especially knowing you’ve for sure got them this time. Seems to happen exclusively with bigger (18+”) fish. Experts, educate me!