I have caught big smallie & Pike when catching lots of perch in the same quiet place from a boat. They will grab a struggling Perch in a heartbeat.

 

 

I use Shad & Perch patterned lures of course.

Swim a double tail grub on the lightest jig head you can get away with right along the bottom. If that don't produce drag a tube, again, lightest weight possible.

My favorite to throw for smallies has bar none been the Big Hammer swimbait.  Check em out here:

 

http://www.swimbait.com/home.htm

Have to remember.

 

It is the person that catches the fish.

 

The lures catch the person.

 

That never changes.

 

My 6 year old daughter was catching trout on a bare Gold hook.

If I had to pick one bait for fishing smallmouth it would probably be a finesse jig, either 1/4 or 3/8oz. Any crawfish imitator would most likely do well when fishing smallies unless they're really tuned into baitfish, in that case a crankbait or jerkbait would be my pick. A dropshot if they're finicky. Apparently I can't just pick one, haha.

In the clear water in the Northeast, I would say a white spinnerbait with copper blades, but never fish a river

without a yellow mepps spinner when targeting smallies.

Saturday, 5" YUM Dingers in black, and XCalibur One Knocker in Royal Red were the ticket: http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/117591-take-a-soldier-fishing-oneida-lake/

Smallmouth: I've caught hundreds of 5 lb or more on 1/16 oz jig head with the original Bobby Garland Fat Gitzit (tube lure). The original 136 color. (Chartreuse/red flake with smoke/red flake tail.)

Mine has to be a 2 1/2" rattlin' rapala in blue shad. It absolutely killed spawning smallies in door county

Find a tube bait that is as close to the color of the crawfish in your steam and fish it with the smallest tube jig that will keep you on the bottom. Best smallie bait that I know of.

I guess my screen name says what I like the best. I agree with plumworm. This time of year in my area, white and olive/smoked red sparkle seem to shine. On weight, I use the lightest that I can get away with.

When i fished Ohio River last 2 years fat ika's was easily the best bait i used...glad i brought them cause no local place carried them

I either fish a Senco wachy style (green pumpkin 3in or 4in) or a Winco River Darter again 3in or 3.75in.

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.wincoscustomlures.com/Yesterday/tnmasterpics/darter_softjerkbait.jpg

If your fishing beds a tube..

A watermelon red flake tube. Weight of jig head depends on current speed

I found out as well that small tubes (pumpkin) worked really well.  I found out that the smallies were hanging out in a pondish area that was a run off from a lake that flowed into a creek.  I would throw the tube weightless against the current and left it flow to where the smallies were at.  Worked every time!  

 

When i fished at night, i would catch a lot of smallies using the black night terminator with the single colorado blade.  I am not sure if they make those anymore but thats a must have if you fish for bass at night.  Great for smallmouth and largemouth.

Find a tube bait that is as close to the color of the crawfish in your steam and fish it with the smallest tube jig that will keep you on the bottom. Best smallie bait that I know of.

 

 

I agree. Tubes are probably the most productive Smally lure ever made. HOW-ever, I'd say a Flicker Jig with a 4-5" Senko to be a close second.

Lately, a rapala crank has been great for me....jointed....

I really like the fat ika but so darn expensive either wacky rig senko, keitech mono jig and drop shot

Gitzit

It's very hard to catch smallies were I fish. One day at one of my spots during a light warm rain the bass turned on. I caught 19 bass standing in one spot by fan casting using a joesfly in firetiger apache his 1/4oz bass size. On the way home I hit my second spot where I never seen a smaller in over a decade of fishing there. I caught two smallies that we're 3lbers. Again the 1/4oz joesfly in fire tiger apache did earn it's keep.