Went out fishing for a couple hours last night. Spent most of the time fishing 4" Senkos because I heard from a few people that the smallies were killing them. After about an hour and a couple fish I got bored so I decided to tie on a Zara Spook. I didn't really think the smallmouth would come to the surface for something like that, but I figured if there were any largemouth or pickeral in the area, I'd have a shot. After about 3 casts, a smallmouth absolutely exploded on it. For the next hour, it seemed like fish after fish. What a blast! I can't remember the last time I had that much fun fishing!

Smallies go crazy for big topwaters.  Spooks and Super Spooks are a great smallie bait. 

Sometimes the smallies will give you a clue they are interested in top waters.  If you are fishing a senko or tube and the fish seem to be hitting it as soon as it hits the water, they will often hit top waters.  For whatever reason smallies seem to get very zero'd in to feeding up or down.

i love to use a zara spook or a heddon spittn image for topwater smallies.

They love topwater, buzzbaits, Jitterbugs, poppers, all of them. The walking baits are among the best and most fun for sure, a smallie will miss and come back three or four times, sometimes they'll miss and knock them 2 feet into the air. They really get after them, it can get pretty crazy.

They love topwater, buzzbaits, Jitterbugs, poppers, all of them. The walking baits are among the best and most fun for sure, a smallie will miss and come back three or four times, sometimes they'll miss and knock them 2 feet into the air. They really get after them, it can get pretty crazy.

 

Oh yeah!  One tip: always keep a super fuke rigged and ready to cast to those fish that smack, but don't hook up.  A fluke will thrown to the are of the miss will often seal the deal.

River Smallies love walking baits. Its usually the first thing I try in the summertime...If they wont eat it in the early AM, try again every hour or so...They will usually hit on top at some point during the day..especially when the river is low, clear, and hot.

Smallies are imo the most topwater oriented native bass specie. They will crush topwater I've had them come up 15 feet to crush a pop r.