Hey guys I want to try little cleos for late fall smallmouth in east Tennessee. I have fished silver buddy's for years just like to learn something different. My question is about retrieve and size mostly thanks.

They all work great, they sink a lot slower than a silver buddy so it's not my favorite in windy conditions. 1/3 oz is one of my favorites, my preferred color is the one that looks like a spoon out of your silverware drawer

5 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

 my preferred color is the one that looks like a spoon out of your silverware drawer

 

Rust?  You haven't seen my "silverware"

Suggest you read my Jigging Spoon thread in the tackle forum posted Oct 20.

2/5 oz Little Cleo in chrome with #4 white/charteuse feathered treble hook should work for you.

Tom

Regarding retrieve, just about like silver buddy.  Let fall to find the bottom and get into a cadence that works, snapping it up from near the bottom.  Sometimes they want it aggressive, sometimes more subtle.

I am not from your area, but something that people tend to use here up north or either a Damiki Rig, or a Rapala Jigging Rap in open water. Sometimes the blade is just too much movement for them so it slows things down.