Need help catching monster smallies

[Brandon H]

Hey so yesterday I was at a harbor on Lake Michigan and I seen about 5 monster smallies cruising around. I threw  severe different crank baits at them. They followed them in but not one bite. I threw a wacky rig but they had no interest in that. They were cruising in about 7 feet of water and the bottle was roughly 15 feet deep. Any tips would help. I would love to catch one of these trophies. Thank you so much.

[Jig Man]

In general I think if you can see them they can see you.

[gim]

I would mark that location and come back another time.  Make really long casts.

[Reel]

I fish for that type of smallmouth all the time.  Making long cast is a good idea.  There are lures that will be better than others.  A crankbait is not one of them.  Wacky senkos work on the first cast.  Spy baits are one of the best approach.  You can also use light marabou jigs or soft jerkbaits.

[TnRiver46]

Fluke , tube, finesse worm on jighead. Also sometimes a bug swimbait will trigger them 

[Susky River Rat]

I’d make a long cast with a drop shot let it dangle in there face.

[gulfcaptain]

Small swimbait (2.8 keitech or Dark Sleeper) early morning,  bigger topwaters seem to produce larger smallies (at least in the Colorado River system desert lakes). Or a tube or hair jig. 

[A-Jay]

18 hours ago, Brandon H said:

Hey so yesterday I was at a harbor on Lake Michigan and I seen about 5 monster smallies cruising around. I threw  severe different crank baits at them. They followed them in but not one bite. I threw a wacky rig but they had no interest in that. They were cruising in about 7 feet of water and the bottle was roughly 15 feet deep. Any tips would help. I would love to catch one of these trophies. Thank you so much.

Go back fish at night ~

A-Jay

[Dwight Hottle]

Fluke or suspending jerk baits fished ultra slowly at first light or dusk if you don't like fishing at night. If the slow retrieve doesn't work try a really fast retrieve with the jerk baits. Also try a whopper plopper on the surface. As suggested by others you want long cast to present your baits without them seeing you. 

[Reel]

Another trick you can use with soft jerkbaits (flukes ) or 4 inch senko type lures (wacky or not) is to cast them way ahead of cruising fish. Let them rest on the bottom without moving them and start a slow retrieve when the bass are close enough.  Fish don't expect something not natural rising from the bottom.