Hello all, Theres a spot I fish from shore pretty much every night, and once every half hour or so smallies will push bait fish right up to the bank and smash them.  Usually it's right under my feet, less than 10 feet away.  Anyways, there bait fish jumping out of the water, big swirls from the bass... what should I throw?  I've had moderate success with a Swing Impact Fat right below the surface when the fish are busting, but nothing seems to work in-between the busting periods.  Any suggestions on baits that will get the bass fired up in-between the short periods where they are right on shore busting on bait would be appreciated!

 

The Bank where I fish is mostly small rock, that steadily drops off to about 10-12 feet.

Smallies with a one track mind can be difficult to catch at times.

 

I would try to match the size (length) of the bait fish in question.

 

Possible Lures?

• Top Water Popper
  • Injured Fish on the Surface
• Fluke ..... Weightless
  • Injured Fish Sub-Surface
• Ned TRD
  • Just Because the Darn Thing Catches Smallmouth
• In-Line Spinner ..... #3 Silver Blue Fox Vibrax
  • Real quick through the commotion

A few choices for your consideration.

 

2 hours ago, mattkenzer said:

Smallies with a one track mind can be difficult to catch at times.

 

I would try to match the size (length) of the bait fish in question.

 

Possible Lures?

• Top Water Popper
  • Injured Fish on the Surface
• Fluke ..... Weightless
  • Injured Fish Sub-Surface
• Ned TRD
  • Just Because the Darn Thing Catches Smallmouth
• In-Line Spinner ..... #3 Silver Blue Fox Vibrax
  • Real quick through the commotion

A few choices for your consideration.

 

Thanks for the suggestions, I never even considered a fluke, spinner, or ned rig.  I'll give a fluke a shot tonight, I think that would best imitate the fleeing baitfish.

 

Thanks!

When I come across schooling smallies, a wacky rigged stickbait often gets hit pretty hard. Sometimes without weight, sometimes with a wacky jighead, depending on their mood. 

Ned Rig,  war eagle spinnerbait,  or a kvd jerkbait..

50 minutes ago, Way north bass guy said:

When I come across schooling smallies, a wacky rigged stickbait often gets hit pretty hard. Sometimes without weight, sometimes with a wacky jighead, depending on their mood. 

Second that. When I see bait fish boiling or getting run into by predators I grab a trick worm or "senko." The way I see it is the predators are already active and just looking for a weak link or injured meal.

Gary Yamamoto Fat Ika rigged backwards with a 4/0 Owner Wide Gap Plus hook.  Smallmouth love these things. 

All the methods above work and I will add the shallow jerk bait. Don't  rule out a reaction bite

First, a caveat: I only have smallmouth in a small river available. Besides what has been mentioned, I'll add a shiny silver squarebill crankbait. It's the first thing I throw for smallmouth.  Bomber Square A (smallest) catches fish every time out.  If cranks or xraps/husky jerks aren't working very well, my 2nd choice is a nose-hooked fluke with a split shot about a foot above the hook, or weightless in slack areas.

On 8/8/2018 at 11:20 AM, AO2point4 said:

Any suggestions on baits that will get the bass fired up in-between the short periods where they are right on shore busting on bait would be appreciated!

Rage Tail Swimmer and Menace.

 

They're probably almost uncatchable in between those flurries, but if you put a Ned or tube right on their noses they might bite. A suspended jerkbait or walking topwater fished really quickly might fire them up too. 

Thanks for all the responses, all feedback is appreciated.  I got 4 of them tonight in about 45 minutes on a swim jig with a Keitech trailer.

 

No action on a spinnerbait, regular Keitech, or Sammy.  Interesting how that works.