What baits do you prefer for smallmouth in waters that are extremely clear?  The reservoir I fish is clear enough to see bottom in 20' on a calm day.  The forage base is rainbow smelt and crayfish primarily, with some yellow perch mixed in.

I have a handful of favorite baits, but I am always open to new ideas.

Thanks in advance.  

use the basics like small finesse worms, tubes, grubs....I would use natural colors like browns, greens, whites, pearls, clears.

I fish Dale Hollow and it is hard to beat a Hair Jig there water clarity is close to the same and believe it or not yellow is one of the best colors. Check out www.punisherlures.com to see some great hair jigs made right here in TN by some great people.

Jerkbaits and Flukes.

Natural colored jigs and plastics, brown, greens, black, and smoke. Don't be afraid to throw swimbaits either. Mattlures makes some great perch patterns and 3:16 does too.

The only thing I can suggest that you might not already be using is the

GYCB Fat Ika. In flat water, less than 12' deep, this is my #1 producer.

Skirt forward, 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Offset Worm Hook, weightless and

weedless. Pick your favorite color, I don't think it matters. Mine is

watermelom with black flakes.

Otherwise, in low light both topwater (Zara Spook & LC Sammy)

and jerkbaits (LC Pointer, Rapala Husky Jerk & X-Rap) are favorites.

During the day, 3 1/2" tubes (baby diaper yellow), GYCB 5" Single

Tail Grubs and Single Tail Hula Grubs are standard fare.

I love me some jigs, but they have never been big for me targeting

smallmouth. I feel the same way towards the Senko which is still my

go-to largemouth bait.

8-)

Try LC staysee in 90 Sp. They mimic the size of rainbow smelt very well. Pick a color pattern that matches the hatch. It work on Erie with similar water clarity & a strong rainbow smelt population.  

Natural colored grubs, tubes, senkos, soft jerkbaits, craws, ikas, and finesse worms. Very natural colored cranks, jerkbaits, and topwaters in the evenings.

Tubes, tubes and more tubes.

Easily the best bait for smallmouth in ultra clear water is a Zoom super fluke jr., small clear plastic spook, drop shot 4" dragon worm by Mann's, and in the fall a bitsy bug jig w/tiny Paca chunk.

all types of plastics. make sure the colors are natural or they match the forage, and other food sources in the lake.

Bubble Gum (pink) Super Fluke.

Been doing pretty good on a 5" Mission Fish lately, dark hitch.

Easily the best bait for smallmouth in ultra clear water is a Zoom super fluke jr., small clear plastic spook, drop shot 4" dragon worm by Mann's, and in the fall a bitsy bug jig w/tiny Paca chunk.

Where do you get the Dragon Worms? I used them several years ago on my DS, but have been unable to find them. Outstanding producers!

Id go to a Smaller Shakey head worm on a spot remover. Green pumpkin is my choice. I like a small 4 "finesse worm on a mojo rig or a split shot rig too. I have done fairly well with the Trigger X line of soft plastics and of course zoom finesse worms. Both in Green pumpkin.

like most people have said natural colors work really well. i use alot of berkley power grubs i believe is the brand. pumpkin seed and i think green pumpkin seed 4inch. you can also feed them onto a spinnerbait hook or a jig hook. or use a jig and pork. just make sure you match the weight of the lure to the rod you are using for action. not sure what the current is if at all where you are fishing in the reservoir.

maybe a yellow perch shad rap size 7 or whatever matches the hatch ;D

I just used watermelon Tiki sticks and had a good day on a clear reservoir.

I would have to say Jackall cover craws. rigged with a 1/16 ounce weight. these things are like crack for smallies. Anyone else been using them?

I fish on a lake in the northeast that is very rocky and has visibility up to about 20 ft.  Its spring fed and exceptionally clear.  Food sources are rainbow smelt and crayfish.  You can see them all over the place.  Ive taken a number of decent smallmouth in the 3-4 lb range on a yozuri rainbow crystal minnow crank and on spinnerbaits.  I usually fish the abrupt depth changes - casting into shallower water  (3- 5ft)and letting it stop and fall at the depth break.  Its worked pretty well for me in all kinds of weather conditions.  Hope this helps.

I've always fished soft plastics in water like you described but lately I've tried a Bandit 300 series in Rootbeer color and have been amazed at the number of smallies it has landed for me.

I use a 3 inch to 5 inch Rapala Skitter Pop Topwater Lure. You can fish this anywhere from dark areas at night with lots of cover and structure, to open waters in mid-afternoon. It will always get a nice one. Good Luck!

I fish a lot of clear streams here in Southwest Virginia that are fairly small by most standards..........we like green pumpkin tubes and grubs but watermelon or green pumpkin YUM Crawbugs are starting to do well as well....the fish can be skittish as times.........longer casts are required to access fish that aren't spooked

Bronzer,   what areas of SW VA are you fishing?

I mainly fish the Levisa going through Grundy into Kentucky. I also fish the North Fork of the Holston but havn't been there yet this year......I have fished the Clinch but it is hurting these days it seems.....planning on a trip to the New later in the summer but I hate wading that river! The Russell Fork in Dickinson County is producing some nice bass these days as well........I caughta 20 and 1/8 long smallie between Grundy and the Kentucky line Saturday.........4.5 pounds.......great fish.......were do you fish??