Whats a good cold water bait for smallies?

try suspending jerkbait

Suspending jerkbait, in deep water and real cold water use a deep diving model. Don't neglect a tail spinner either.

If youve got a rocky bottom swim a grub on a jighead. Deadly on smallies!

The Hank Parker Special for smallies.

 

I seen Hank Parker on TV in New Hampshire on lake winne. I can't spell it.

But he was killing smallies on a Mann's baby 1 or baby 1 minus crankbait in Browncraw. It's the standard browncraw with the red/Orangey bottom.

 

After the tv show was over we were in a snow storm here and I was so impressed with the Hank Parker Special crankbait I drove down to the walmart and bought the whole rack of them. That spring the Hank Parker Special made me look like a pro. It taught me how to use a crankbait in any situation and presentation. I purchased extra and gave them to my son's. They have had nothing but success to this day with the Hank Parker Special.(Mann's crankbait)

 

Another hot one is the Rapala Orginal Floater F7 in blue. This one we call the blue max. It's another smallie killer just reel it slow.

 

My last one is the Joe's Fly in his 1/4ounce bass size. The smallies love  the firetiger apache color.

 

With any of these lures please do a retie often. These smallies will try to rip it off your line every time.

 

A shot of YUM SHAD SCENT helps too.

How cold is the water?

A Suspending Jerk bait is a good  cold to cooler water bait for me.

 

Didn't matter if it was Cold and warming in the spring or Cool and getting colder in the fall.

 

One thing that does matter is water clarity - the clearer the better.

 

Dirty cold water as rarely been a formula for success for me with jerk baits - or any other bait for that matter.

 

A-Jay

How cold is the water?

Not real sure, Ice just melted a few days ago. Mornings are still cold but afternoons have been in the 50's and 60's.

silver buddy or other blade bait - hair jig with or without float - silver buddy or other blade bait - jerk bait - silver buddy or other blade bait

I'd also go with the Silver Buddy (or other blade bait).  When I lived on Lake Erie, we caught a lot of cold water smallies using the old Garland Gitzits by tossing them around rocks and moving them VERY slowly.

If the water is fairly clear and the bottom is somewhat rocky, then by all means, the blade bait will work for you. If they are shallow, then the suspending jerkbait can, at certain times, be equally as effective. When all else fails, the tube and/or the Senko will get you fish. But, above all, you have to find them first.

Suspending jerkbait all the way!

i think ill be throwing a suspending jerkbait when i get off work today.

Three inch Megabug on 1/8 oz shakey 2 head Killer on smallies

Rapala Shad Rap!

Rapala Shad Rap!

 

If you have clear water then I'm on board with the jerkbait but if they are deeper or you have stained water, then I'm with Hogsticker, shad rap!!! Crawdad, Brown craw and red craw if you have stained water, perch, shad, blue or silver will work in clear water.