I will be fishing a stream for smallmouth at dawn over the next couple days and wondering what Baits would be best at that time of day during this time of the year. 

 

Thanks much guys!

Same baits that work at noon or evening. It’s not the baits that make the difference, it’s where you throw them that matters. 

Thankyou much Scott! ??

Topwater guy says 1/4 oz buzzbait or a little whopper plopper

Hard to beat a pop r or small buzzbait

If it's still, a topwater bait (I prefer a small torpedo bait) is a good choice.  If they won't hit that, I usually change to a square bill or spinnerbait, depending on conditions, until I find where they are hanging out.  Like Scott F said, it's about finding out where they are more than the bait, although you'll have a hard time convincing people that.

I like the heddon super spook jr if they are hitting top water. Man, it's hard to beat catching smallmouths on top water! It's my favorite thing in fishing. In smaller rivers I have had a lot of luck with the rapala original floating minnow. The color with a black back and gold sides has been a great lure for me. I use it like a jerkbait more than a steady retrieve, though steady works too. Square bills are great too, especially if there is a lot of trees in the water to bounce it off from. These 3 are my go to baits in small rivers. I'm not into creek fishing, but I'm sure those will work in them. The rivers I call small could be considered creeks to some folks!

Top water or a darker color 4" senko. Agree with everyone location,location,location

28 minutes ago, Djohn said:

location,location,location

=throw search baits first.  Start on the surface and work down.  Hopefully they just eat topwaters all day! 

I may be precondition Ed but firth thing in the AM, I always throw a rat or pop-max.  

I'm still hitting smallish in rivers with inline spinners.  I have caught at least one 2 pounder on the orange "flame" everyday this week.  I fish a small river large creek type.  The black with silverblade is effective with Sun and Clearwater also.   Can quit the old school lures

Plastic worm 

I typically have the best luck with spinnerbaits, especially if there's a slight ripple on the water.  If it's dead calm, I'll lean more toward a shallow jerkbait or a squarebill crankbait.