early spring water temps in mid 40's. water clarity is pretty clear. northern lake has good smallmouth and good largemouth.  grass, rock, wood all over. humps, extended points.

 

pick THREE of these "finesse" techniques out of the following for your tournament day:

 

• ned rig
• hair jig
• keitech on ball head
• drop shot
• tube
• senko

Jig

Tube

Senko

 

However, this time of year I am having better luck using moving lures:

RES, Norman Fat Boy and Vision 110. I can't fish The Rig right now, but

that would be my #1 suggestion.

11 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Jig

Tube

Senko

 

However, this time of year I am having better luck using moving lures:

RES, Norman Fat Boy and Vision 110. I can't fish The Rig right now, but

that would be my #1 suggestion.

jerkbait, wiggle wart, and a jig are already tied on ready to go ?

I would chose:

 

keitech on a ball head

ned rig

tube

 

Sometimes I fish a ned rig similarly to a hairjig with good results, so that could do double duty for me.  Can you afford to bring a blade bait?  Seems like perfect conditions.

 

scott

 

2 hours ago, EWREX said:

keitech on ball head

5 of 6 fish in 90 minutes came from bouncing a 3.2" keitech on structure in 8'-10' of water yesterday.  Rigged on a flashy swimmer as the structure was a little too grabby for an open hook.

 

Sure other methods would of worked, but those fish all passed on 3 different jerkbaits, chatterbait, worm coming across at the same place before munchin. 

 

Ned and drop shot will probably be tied on for this weekend tournament.

Ned and swimbait on a ball-head is all I would need. Those two probably combine for 75% of the fish I catch. If I had to choose another it would be a senko rigged weightless. 

Do you already know the lake?  If no, I would start with something that I can cover some water with and then slow down.  In that case, I would choose the hair jig and Keitech from your list.  However, I personally would probably choose a jerk bait and lipless over those two.  Also, if you have a fishing partner and you’re in the back of the boat, my partners lure choice would possibly influence my choice.

 

Edit: Full disclosure…I have limited experience with smallmouth.  My choices were based on my largemouth experience.  Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn’t…I don’t know.

39 minutes ago, RDB said:

Do you already know the lake?  If no, I would start with something that I can cover some water with and then slow down.  In that case, I would choose the hair jig and Keitech from your list.  However, I personally would probably choose a jerk bait and lipless over those two.  Also, if you have a fishing partner and you’re in the back of the boat, my partners lure choice would possibly influence my choice.

 

Edit: Full disclosure…I have limited experience with smallmouth.  My choices were based on my largemouth experience.  Maybe it matters, maybe it doesn’t…I don’t know.

i do, and pretty much already know what i am going to be tying on. just curious to see what others would do from an outside perspective as far as "finesse" goes.. jerkbait, jig are already tied on.

Dropshot, wacky senko, and roboworm on a shaky head. 

Drop shot

Weightless Senko

Split shot rig (not listed)

7 hours ago, EWREX said:

early spring water temps in mid 40's. water clarity is pretty clear. northern lake has good smallmouth and good largemouth.  grass, rock, wood all over. humps, extended points.

 

pick THREE of these "finesse" techniques out of the following for your tournament day:

 

• ned rig
• hair jig
• keitech on ball head
• drop shot
• tube
• senko

Hair jig

keitech

tube

Keitech

Tube

Ned

 

As if there was even an option . . .

1.  Standard Jerkbait

2.  Deep Jerkbait

3.  Silent Jerkbait

Bonus points for anything landed on The Stunna !

A-Jay

Check out the Fish Report forum PB 8+# LMB caught in MA on a glide bait.

Tournaments always use what you know best and confident with.

Me a hair jig w/pork trailer, slip shot rig w/4” FX Roboworms, 68 Hudd RF 12 trout.

Tom

 

2 hours ago, WRB said:

Check out the Fish Report forum PB 8+# LMB caught in MA on a glide bait.

Tournaments always use what you know best and confident with.

Me a hair jig w/pork trailer, slip shot rig w/4” FX Roboworms, 68 Hudd RF 12 trout.

Tom

 

i’m going to have an s-waver 168 tied on for sure looking for a kicker

Ned

Tube

Keitech

For me it would be...

1-jig

2-ned

3-drop shot

Hair jig, tube and, although it isn’t listed, a Fluke. I added the Fluke as it gives you another option for the upper water column and, although some others work there as they fall, the Fluke can stay there throughout your retrieve.