A bass is a bass regardless of mouth size. Same lures in the same sizes.

KVD series 1 square bills.....Rapala Crankin Rap Square bills......Shad Raps......Minnow Scatter Raps......and all other previously listed soft plastics.

Jerkbait, rattle trap, tubes, grubs, spinnerbait, finesse jigs and cranks.

Rapala jointed shad raps, grubs and rebel craws for my local river fishin'

Sheer numbers =>  'Jig & Curly-Tail Grub'  (it began with Mister Twister grubs at Bass Islands, Lake Erie)

Another favorite=>  'Lindy Fuzz-E-Grub'     (when nothing else is working, tip it with a live worm segment)

A gentleman in Pennsylvania lands bronze cows using 'Jerkbaits'  

 

Roger

My first smallie was caught on a yellow Mr. Twister grub, and that was before a knew that smallmouth bite many different lure designs. I came in first on the first day of a two day tournament, on the Mohawk River in central NY, using a large willow leaf bladed spinnerbait, jig and pork trailer, plastic Sidewinder worm and crankbait. I came home the next day and killed them on a Rebel popper, fishing a shallow local River.

My partner and I killed them on jigs and pork near barges in the Hudson River.

 

There is no such thing as a smallmouth bait that isn't a largemouth bait.

There is no such thing as a smallmouth bait that isn't a largemouth bait.

 

A few years back, I remember 'Crestliner' informing me that smallmouth bass were more aggressive than I suspected,

and the accomplishments of Dwight Hottle on Lake Erie echo that same notion. Back in the 60s, Billy Westmoreland

and Charlie Brewer touted finesse deliveries using 4-lb line and 1/16 oz lures. Very recently however, I read an article

stating that smallmouth bass sieze baits as big as largemouth bass of equal weight. That flies in the face of Mother Nature's

master plan, who gave bronzebacks an oral cavity 2/3 the size of mossbacks. Be that as it may, I now buy into the notion

that the difference in bait size between smallmouth & largemouth bass is much closer than I once suspected. 

 

Roger

Keitech shad impact, Strike King 3xd or 5xd, Rapala xrap and xrap shad, Zoom finesse worm, drop shotted.

For some reason I've found that smallmouth like bright colors when it comes to cranks, spinnerbaits, grubs etc other than jigs. A chartreuse grub or chartreuse crankbait or spinnerbait believe it or not will produce big smallies in crystal clear water no matter the time of year or water temp. Only thing I leave natural when smallmouth fishing is really only jigs. Also hair jigs are a great smallmouth bait in the winter along with the float and fly especially on dale hollow (it's an hour and a half drive from my house) lol

4 inch senkos are my favorite. I've never tried these myself, but some friends of mine say they slay river smallies with in-line spinners.

Since I did not see it I will suggest spoons

Try a Mepps Agila spinner. I know it's kinda of a trout bait but if you get the variety pack Mepps sells there are some good colors. Also, Booyah Pond Magic spinnerbaits are good for throwing on spinning gear with 8lb. line. I guess it's kinda how deep your fishing in too. I like to crank ledges with wiggle warts in the summer. So, maybe look at it from a top down approach. Someone mentioned spook in bone and orange belly and I like it. I use the puppy version. Don't get me wrong, I like to fish with Med Hvy gear with 17# fluoro. Lately, all my smallmouths were caught on 12lb line or less.

 

 

I Having fished DHL for the past four years, off and on, my go to baits in the fall are jig (camo, PBJ, green pumpkin) with matching paca trailers; tail spinner; silver buddy; FNF (later in the winter - going tomorrow and will fish mostly) and swimbait.  As the water cools (i.e. late November and December) you need to slow it down, I mean painfully slow.  I try to fish my jigs where I feel every bump on the bottom paying particular attention to get slightly hung on the rocks.  When it pops off that rock, reel down and be prepared to set the hook at the slightest tap.  Tailspinner you also need to bounce off the bottom ("slow rolling") with swift pops of the rod, keeping in contact at all times with the bait because they will hit it 90% of the time on the down fall.  You can work the silver buddy the same way, but will get hung a bit more.

 

I agree that DHL is a VERY tough lake to learn and be successful as a beginner.  I have walked off the lake skunked with tail between my legs many times.  I suggest going with a friend and hiring a guide for you first trip, at least.  There are many good ones down there, look on smalljaw website to find some of the best on the lake.  Good luck and let us know how you do, if you have not already gone.

Tubes, jerk baits, jigs with trailers, senko's and wiggle warts......

If my life depended on catchng a smallmouth. I would have the following rigged up and ready to go:

 

4" Senko  on a wacky jig

 

4" finesse worm on shaky head

 

3.5" Tube

 

3" gulp leech on a drop shot

Shakyhead with finesse worm and 4 inch swim shad on a darter head. I'll usually have a football jig rigged up also.

Try tubes and grubs on jig heads I fish for mostly small mouth And these two baits have gave me the most success and also you can actually fish most small soft plastics I have actually had success on small Texas rigs or even a small drop shot you can try any of these but I try to stay away from crank baits they don't help that much for smallmouth and the last bait that you can use Is a spinner bait! I've been to some places where the biggest smallmouth bite spinnerbaits so try these few things and you'll have most success and don't give up the first few hours it could take a day to figure it out it took me a couple fishing trips.

On the river's I fish, it's more about the location you are fishing than the bait as to whether you will catch smallmouth or largemouth. Slower water = more largemouth and swifter water/current breaks = more smallmouth. As for bait's, I rely on a finesse jig, 4" tube and a trick worm/fluke more than anything.

A few years back, I remember 'Crestliner' informing me that smallmouth bass were more aggressive than I suspected,

and the accomplishments of Dwight Hottle on Lake Erie echo that same notion. Back in the 60s, Billy Westmoreland

and Charlie Brewer touted finesse deliveries using 4-lb line and 1/16 oz lures. Very recently however, I read an article

stating that smallmouth bass sieze baits as big as largemouth bass of equal weight. Let's face it, that flies in the face

of Mother Nature's master plan, who gave bronzebacks an 'oral aperture' only 2/3 the size of mossbacks. Be that as it may,

I now buy into the notion that the bait size between smallmouth & largemouth bass is far more similar than I once believed.  

 

Roger

 

 

Seems like what they lack in size of mouth they make up for in attitude. I love watching the videos and I havent got to see it yet is when a guy has a smallmouth hooked and other smallmouth are beating the hell outta him trying to get that bait out of his mouth for them to eat LOL

Did not see it mentioned yet, but from ice out until the spawn, you can't beat a blade bait for some really big smallies and lakers.

I've found that smallies will generally hit anything a largemouth will as long as it matches the forage in that particular body of water

 

Also, I feel like you can't ever go wrong with a finesse jig, craw or creature bait

I will after reading all the upabove posts I will  keep hand poured reapers my secret.

Live hellgramites, if you cant have that they seem to like purple

My all-time favorite smallmouth lure is the Storm 2.5" Rattlin' Chugbug in Tennessee Shad color, provided of course the conditions are right for topwater. Senkos and Hula grubs always work as well.

Lets add Berkley Chigger Craw.

I have never caught a small mouth but I am going to get one this year.I read all these posts and I have all the baits talked about and I am sure to get my first one this year.By the way, my buddy caught a 4lb smallie on a piece of shrimp while he was cat fishing.Some guys have all the luck