What techniques do you guys use when smallies follow your jerkbait right up to the boat without striking?  I tried throwing back tubes but very few were interested...  Any tips?

BTW I was using a gold XR10 x-rap  

If they are following you are doing something right.  You just need to alter it in some way.  Maybe pause a bit longer or jerk it in a slightly different cadence.  Might need to just change up the color or size.

If they are following, they want it.  You just need to help them want it more!

B

bshaner is right. You need to change something, but nothing drastic.

With your situation, I would probably think about changing color first, but I haven't had much luck with gold.

Since you can see them following, I would assume the water is fairly clear. I would switch to a brighter color, especially if they are feeding on shad or shiners.

One thing I forgot to mention... it's been my experience that smallies love to chase.  What has really worked for me in the past is just to kill it.  Whatever you are doing just stop it dead in the water.  That has made them commit and smack my lure a majority of the time.   If you kill it and they stop and start to turn away, burn it back toward you.  This can also produce a reaction strike from them.  The way I see it, bass hate to lose.

B

Bass Pro (t.v. series) just had a show on the exact scenerio. KVD, was the host and was using jerk baits. As mentioned previously he stated "when they follow but do not strike, firtst change the action, then the color". He suggested more aggressive action, such as increasing the jerks in series, instead of jerk, jerk, reel, jerk jerk, reel, mix it up. Try a series of 4-2-3-1 jerks, if that doesn't work try altering colors.  If they are following they like what they are seeing, but just need a bit more of enticement.