Deep cranking is one of my favorite fall patters for smallies. The 6xd is not too big for a 2-3lb smallie. Try it.

If they aren't hitting and you want to down size...Another option is to use a 3 way swivel tied to your main line with 12" leaders. On one put a 1/2 oz weight & the other a shallow diving square bill 1.0 or 1.5.

& if that doesn't work drop shot a 3" senko

Rapala Shad Rap......any version.....I like the jointed version in fire craw color

The 6XD is one of my best smallie baits. Ive caught them anywhere from a few inches bigger than the bait to 6 pounds

 

I agree that 6xd is a solid producer -

 

btw - love to see a shot of that 6 lb smallie . . . . .

 

A-Jay

I agree that 6xd is a solid producer -

 

btw - love to see a shot of that 6 lb smallie . . . . .

 

A-Jay

The pic was on my phone that fell in the water so I no longer have it... But next time i catch one ill post a pic for sure

The pic was on my phone that fell in the water so I no longer have it... But next time i catch one ill post a pic for sure

 

Bummer you lost the photo.

 

Well here's a couple of 6's to keep you motivated.

 

A-Jay

 

 

That bottom one looks like she has a double chin belly.

 

Bummer you lost the photo.

 

Well here's a couple of 6's to keep you motivated.

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

 

Beautiful fish

Without a doubt the 6XD will catch smallmouth. But is that profile the most productive bait for that depth? I personally do not think so. I fish on smallmouth dominant lakes as well and I have had tremendous success with the 5XD and Little John DD at times but next to none with the 6XD, and similar profile baits. If I need to get those extra few feet of depth I will do as others have mentioned and longline/stroll either a 3XD or 5XD. Another reason I dont like the 6XD is that I prefer to fish deep cranks on 10# line but from my experiance this is too light for the 6xd which means respooling to 12# or 14#.

Just returned from Canada (Lake of the Woods) less than a week ago. While it may not always be the norm (seems to be the norm at LOTW), only one of the smallmouth we caught attacked a "normal" sized crankbait. The rest were caught on 1.5 ounce (as big as they come) Rattletraps or 7" and 9" Rapala Magnums. Even the smaller bass insisted on something really large. Depending upon where you are, therefore, I would not hesitate to go to a BIG bait. For the bigger baits, the only thing I'd change, if it doesn't affect the action, is to change out the hooks to a smaller size.

I have seen shad about 6 inch long and being eaten by smallmouth, so i put on  a Bill Norman middle n which dives 8 to 12 ft  in the shad pattern and they would eat it some two at a time just dive bombing that bait.   Smallmouth don't care how big it is if they are feeding they will eat it.