I’m looking for a smaller size hard body swimbait (specifically for spotted bass and smallmouth lakes)

 

i was looking at catch co baby bull shad (3.75”) or spro bbz 1 baby shad (2.5”).

 

which do you all prefer? Any others out there under 4” ?

Baby bull Shad is super popular and a good bait for the price. Definitely would have no problem with the spots and smallies you’re after.

 

Don’t overlook 6-7” glide baits just because people tend to associate them with big lmb. Not sure if these would suffice as you mentioned multi jointed swimbaits and glide baits all have one joint. They’re meant to be fished like jerkbaits and you can get great reaction bites with them. Smallmouth will smash 6” swimbaits/glide baits, especially when they are schooling and competing for food. We don’t have spots here but from what I understand their behaviour is quite similar to smallmouth so the same should apply with them. The S-Waver 168 is super popular in this category. 
If not there’s also the smaller S-Waver 120 (which is still 5” and weighs 1oz) .

 

I’ve also heard of the ones linked below which are made by 6th sense and Fish Lab. Both fit your criteria as they are 4” and weigh around 1oz. Never used either though. 

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/6th_Sense_Speed_Glide_100_Glide_Bait/descpage-SSSGSB.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Fish_Lab_Bio_Gill_Swimbait/descpage-FLBGSB.html

 

Not exactly what you were looking for but hope it helped. 

Have a look at the Megabass Dark Sleeper..They are weedless, and flat out catch fish.Edit: just noticed you asked for  Hard Baits. the sleeper isn't a hard bait..sorry.

S-waver 120, although, the action isn't great and you have to be careful or else it will roll.

 

Sebile magic swimmer - nice bait that comes in a few sizes that either sink or float.  

 

Jackall Mikey Jr. - little wake bait.

 

Black Dog G2 Shellcracker - a little towards the bigger side (1.5 oz) but can be cast with conventional gear if you are careful.

 

Spro BBZ-1 Baby Shad - similar to the baby bull shad.  

 

Megabass I slide 135 - I like this one but it is 1 oz.  Swims pretty nice for a small glide.

 

S-waver 120 for sure.  

Might check out the new small doughnuts.  They look super nice.  The mattlures shads and hardgills have to make the list...

On 5/22/2020 at 11:26 PM, Hammer 4 said:

Have a look at the Megabass Dark Sleeper..They are weedless, and flat out catch fish

I love the Dark Sleeper as well. Especially on Smallies. What that said those things are about as weedless as a treble hook with a 2oz weight on it.