Lure Specifics: Top colors include leopard frog and baby bass. Spinnerbaits. Fish are beginning to concentrate on key structural elements where they will hold through early fall. Top 5 Summer Smallmouth Bass Lures Bass Fishing Vids – Top Videos for bass fishing, lures and gear from YouTube today. Lowrance Elite TI Review: Which Elite TI Model is Right for You? Summer is the only season where every technique is on the table. Check out this picture below. You’ll want to jig it a few times and let it rest. If you have clear water you may want to consider a natural lure. It mimics the appearance of a minnow or shad. If I could only carry three lures for smallmouth bass, there’s a very good chance that all three would be Rapalas. Don’t forget that water conditions are important as well. Recommended Top water Lures: Whopper Plopper, Zara Spook, Popper One of my favorite ways to catch bass in the spring, summer and fall is with top water lures. If you have cold water, they’re less active, so they will back off from something that intimidates them. Bass like to pick on baitfish and target fish that appear injured. Crankbaits bang rocks and make noise, and generally make it easy for smallmouth to see, hear and feel them in moving water situations. Other good colors are black, and OD green. Top 6 Smallmouth Bass Lures 1. The 4 inch grub and 3 inch grub. With spring now behind them, bass are on the move and hunting for food to replenish depleted energy stores after the rigors of the spawn. They cast a mile, land softly, and Smallmouth hammer them. You might also want to read: Top 10 Best Bass Bait Reviewed in 2020 When choosing the right size small mouth bass baits, it’s essential to understand that you need to downsize your lures a little compared to largemouth. Pros' picks: Smallmouth baits When you think of smallmouth fishing, Kevin VanDam may come to mind, but he isn’t the only Elite Series pro who has a way with smallmouth. If you’re fishing in summer and fall or on overcast days, choose a natural, earthy color. Follow along to learn more about our top 5 best smallmouth fishing lures to catch more smallmouth bass at your favorite smallmouth fishery. Making... 3. This one is the perfect example. As I said above, make sure you get the line size right because if your line is too heavy, it will dramatically change the presentation of the lure. Grub. Always remember to choose a bright color lure during the early spring when the water is murky and on days when it’s sunny because you’ll have better light refraction. Mister Twister is a brand that produces a lot of these soft plastic grubs and worms that work in almost any situation. These soft plastics all fall into the category of finesse fishing lures, at least for the... 3. Your email address will not be published. One of the biggest patterns they show is when and how they strike specific lures based on color. Purchase two separate colors. … Last Updated on December 8, 2020 by Coty Perry. With a little hard work and a lot of dedication, anglers may well be tapping into the best smallmouth fishing of the year. Watch this video to see the 5 lures you should always have with you when targeting smallmouth bass. That is a big mistake. If you know anything about me, you know that I love my PowerBait plastics. Best Smallmouth Bass Lures 2021 Best Smallmouth Lure – Rooster Tail Joe Fly. That’s all I’ve got on this one. I am a huge advocate for choosing the right color lure if you want to up your fishing game. Lots of anglers would probably be surprised to see the hard jerkbait in the category of “year-round bass lures” since they are traditionally relegated to the cold water months. 4 / 14 No. Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Reviewed 1. Smallmouth bass like many of the same baits that work for largemouth bass, but there are certain lures that work better for river smallmouth. This strategy has changed fishing for me, and when I tell you that it will make a difference for you as well, I am not kidding. As I said, you should be able to tell the difference by only looking at the color and design of the scales. I'll admit, the fluke is an off and on bait. Authors Hand-Tied Custom Marabou Smallmouth Bass Jig. There are two factors where size is super important. My friends and I used to play a game where we had to guess what fish we had based on the strike and retrieval feeling. Now, quit wasting time and get out on the water! The Difference Between Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass, You can adjust the tow points based on the depth you want to troll, The colorful patterns reflect line and create a great presentation, You want to create a jigging motion by raising and lowering your rod tip while retrieving, The shape and position of the head help it appear more lifelike, These lures are nice and balanced, so I suggest using them as a surface lure with a moderate retrieval. The Shad Rap is another lure by Rapala. This selection of tackle and lures will cover most smallmouth bass fishing situations. Here is a popular question that people always ask me, and there are many ways to tell the difference. Find the Top Lures For Smallmouth Bass with the MSN Buying Guides >> Compare Products and Brands by Quality, Popularity and Pricing >> Updated 2021 10 Best Lures For Smallmouth Bass … Perhaps the best all around baits for smallmouth bass are plastic worms, as they successfully represent many of the different creatures on which the bass feed. Largemouth bass will have a protruding lower jaw with an upper jaw that is above the eye level. This bait has been helping anglers catch big bass for over 50 years and continues to be a major player in the topwater space. 2. Bass are smart, and they show patterns and habits, so you’ll want to pay attention to those. If you want to get more in-depth, you can look at their jaw structure. Part of the reason why I enjoy this lure so much is because it provides you with options. Repeat that process for a minute or two, and I can almost guarantee you’ll have a bite. One of the most exciting lures to fish for river Smallmouth Bass is the Zoom Super fluke style soft plastic jerkbait. The Joe Fly is designed to look like a fly (a fly as in what you’d use to fly fish). Largemouth bass appear more green colored, and they have a horizontal line that runs across their body. ... A skinny minnow plug is ideal for fishing on the surface... 3. The internal rattle creates vibrations in the water that will get the fish’s attention, and the #5 nickel hooks are tough and sharp enough to get the rest of the job done. Required fields are marked *. Humminbird vs Lowrance: Who Makes The Better Fish Finder. See our guide to the best largemouth bass lures of 2021, with reviews of top soft plastics and hard baits from Strike King, Gary Yamamoto, Rapala, and more. I wouldn’t suggest using a lure any larger than five inches in length for smallmouth bass. I have used this lure on many occasions, and it rids the bass population in any body of water. Aquatic insights make up the vast majority of a fish’s diet. I suggest a 4-8 lb test. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that I use networking with other anglers, research, and personal experience to assemble this list. Best Baits: 15 Greatest Lures for Smallmouth Bass Heddon Spook. Smallmouth bass will have an upper law below eye level. This one is the perfect example. Now, let’s make this even better: Hopefully, you see the trend here. Bass are cold-blooded, so they’re habits are directly affected by the temperature of the water. Grubs work best of all. Don’t go too heavy on the line because it will impact the suspending action of the lure. These lures are a great choice no matter what you’re fishing for because they’re scented and meant to mimic real bait. The size of your lure and the size of your line. They might feel more motivated to go after a larger bait if it’s colored red because it will mimic blood and appear hurt. Many anglers enjoy chasing smallmouth bass in rivers. Make sure to fish it around heavy cover, and this works especially well in the spring when bass are super active. Seth Feider takes the guesswork out of choosing the best lures for smallmouth bass fishing from late summer through late fall. Zoom Ultravibe Craw (Best Overall Smallmouth Lure). Best 7 River Smallmouth Fishing Lures. As I said above, make sure you get the line size right because if your line is too heavy, it will dramatically change the presentation of the lure. Topwater Plug. (Shutterstock photo) You’re out there on the hunt for smallies and wondering what type of lures work best. While live bait produces plenty of fish, the majority of anglers opt to use artificial lures. Coming in with over 25 colors, the Zoom Crayfish gives you the... 2. The best smallmouth bass fishing lures are generally suspended lures that aren’t surface or divers. Every angler is unique, with their favorite techniques, baits, and locations. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. There are many simple lures out there as well that don’t require any experience. Okay, let the remarks fly! The reason so many of these lures appear on this list is that they are very good. Smallmouth bass are more of a brown color, and they have vertical zebra-like stripes running up and down their bodies. All you need to do is cast and reel. This bait is especially known for being a great night-time topwater lure, but also works great during the day as well. For the best chance of success with Smallmouth Bass, it’s really hard to beat a Marabou jig, especially in colors of brown and orange. This comprehensive seasonal progression video breaks the fall period into distinct water temperature ranges; Feider then tells us what baits work best during each window based on years of hunting big bass on Minnesota's famed Mille Lacs … The best smallmouth bass fishing tackle is a light spinning rod and reel along with a good selection of lures would include spinners, spoons, plugs, and jigs. If you are planning to challenge yourself with smallmouth bass in the upcoming fishing season, you may consider having an early start on the lures as well. Check this out: You would choose a natural color when the water temperature starts to drop. The best smallmouth bass fishing lures are generally suspended lures that aren’t surface or divers. Comes with a lip to make the presentation appear like a crankbait, Extremely versatile, easy to rig, and simple to understand, It’s a simple lure that works great for beginners, rig it to a jig head and get to work, Works well on all bass in all bodies of water, Boring presentation requires precise casting, Head creates noise and impressive action when casting, Once you get the action down, this lure creates an unfair advantage, Creates an awesome presentation for finesse anglers. The sun will create a better reflection off the blade or bright colored smallmouth bass lure, and you’ll have an improved presentation as a result. The best smallmouth bass lures will control size, and they’ll often create a jigging action because smallies prefer to roam more often, which leads them to moving bodies of water like tributaries, rivers, and streams. Bass might be the ornery fish of the water, but they’re also afraid of a lot. Plastic Worm. Get the attention of a bass in any one of these scenarios and all that’s left to do is hang on tight after the big strike! Berkley Powerbait Tube (Best Soft Plastic Lure). Warmth and sun go hand in hand, so you’ll want to use a brightly colored lure when it’s sunny out. It’s a killer. ... Bigmouths are famous for their surface feeding, and river smallmouths... 2. Lucky for you, they have a knack for biting almost anything because of their ornery attitude and sharp strike that puts their largemouth counterparts to shame. A Bonnier Corporation Company. When you’re fishing with these, you’ll want to pay close attention to any action in the water because the somewhat dull action of the lure will require you to go closer to the bass if you want their attention. I will usually look at the color of the body and the design of the scales to tell the difference between the two. When bass grow lethargic in the summertime heat and quit biting many of the lures mentioned above, one of fishing’s most famous lures—the soft plastic worm—can often entice a strike. It’s all based on facts, but it’s also subjective to the individual. Keep that in mind when you’re trying to locate them. When smallmouth are hovering on or near the river bed, few lures can top a soft plastics rigged with enough weight to crawl over the rocks and ledges. Whether it is deeper down and retrieved slower during cold water fishing or higher up in the water column in the summer months a good spinnerbaits will force a smallmouth bass to strike from quite a distance. Alaskan Coalition Seeking Permanent Protections For Bristol Bay, 14 Lightweight Hunting Rifles For Every Budget, How to Make a DIY Gun Rack for a Duck-Hunting Canoe, There’s a New Pending Record Black Crappie in California, The Beginner’s Guide to Northern Pike Fishing, Minnesota Hunter Loses Camp’s Biggest-Doe Contest...by Taking 227-Inch Drop-Tine Buck, Best Ice Cleats, Snow Spikes, and Traction Devices for Winter, How to Keep Your Sleeping Bag Warm and Dry in the Backcountry. The best times are usually spring and late fall. So, when choosing smallmouth bass lures for fall, you would want to base your color on the amount of sun that day. For this, I chose a tube because the smallies like it and I think it’s one of the best small mouth bass baits. My favorite top water lures to use in clear water are the Zara Spook, Poppers and the Whopper Plopper. The reality is, the only reason anglers don’t keep catching bass on jerkbaits all year is that they don’t throw them in the summer. Everyone’s looking for a hair jig smallmouth bass love, and this is the one. They’ll jump out of the water a bunch of times, whereas a largemouth bass will only jump once if at all. So, give this article a read and check out which smallmouth bass lures are vouched upon by the successful anglers. Your Bass Guy is dedicated to Virgil and it is our hope that it spreads the love he had for bass fishing to others, so they can find as much joy in it as he did. Small Soft Plastics. Field & Stream may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. 4. As you’re searching through the color options for this lure, I would suggest choosing the clown option. Yes, I have suggested everyone’s least favorite lure as my choice for smallmouth bass, and I have quite a few reasons for this. That characteristic is usually a dead giveaway for me. You’ll want to jig these as well and choose your colors wisely because it will play a major role in your success. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. This one looks realistic like a lot of other swimbaits. They usually hunt around the vegetation without going directly into it. 5. Rig them on a 1/16- to 1/8-ounce round jighead or Carolina-style on a size 4-8 hook, 18- to 24-inches behind a split shot and swivel. There is nothing like seeing a big bass blow up on your top water lure. This floating crankbait works best in shallow water so it would be used mainly in the spring and early summer when the smallmouth bass are spawning in shallow water when the water is cool. Cast them across current to structure, cover and eddy breaks. The 7 Best Lures for Smallmouth Bass in Rivers 1. Tubes are also excellent river smallmouth bass lures. Small crankbaits, especially those with built-in rattles, are often the best smallmouth bass lures for rivers. An Original Floating Rapala in blue. If they feel that the work will outweigh the benefits of chasing down your lure, they won’t bother coming after it. Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Bass Fishing Vids – Top Videos for bass fishing, lures and gear from YouTube today. How to Choose The Top Smallmouth Bass Lure Color, 3. 10 - 1/4-ounce buzzbait Virginia’s Ken Trail, who operates Rock On Charters, boosts the buzzbait for big bronzebacks, saying that this is one of the top choices for active, summertime smallmouth. Let me show you my 5 best summer bass fishing lures and techniques. Smallmouth bass also have a much more violent action when you’re trying to bring them in. By now, you should have no problem choosing the best smallmouth bass lure. Video: Why Did This Giant Black Bear Emerge from His Den So Early. There are tons of different colors and sizes of tube baits. This one looks realistic like a lot of other swimbaits. We are saving the best for last but don’t underestimate the the latter! Using the right summer bass lures and tactics however can keep the bite going strong all summer long. One last point worth making about smallmouth bass is that you will find them around cover just like largemouth, but they don’t consider it their habitat. If the water is murky, a bright lure works better. The Best Smallmouth Bass Lures Jigs. SMITHWICK SUSPENDING RATTLIN ROGUE JERKBAIT, 2. Bass are very active during the early parts of summer, but the bite can slow down as the summer heat starts to intensify. The tail creates the presentation for you as your retrieve it, so you don’t have to worry about jigging, or suspension, or any of that. With the spawn over, most smallmouth bass have abandoned the shallows and moved on to more suitable habitat. Lures for Summer Smallmouth Bass Naturally, if you’re fishing rocks with weedy edges, heavy-bodied spinnerbaits with smaller blades allow control in water too deep for other types of spinnerbaits. A serious smallmouth fisherman often has a deck full of rods and lure compartments filled to the brim when he leaves the boat ramp in spring. The Joe Fly and other rooster tails are definitely our favorite lure for smallmouth bass. You want one bright option and one natural color. Plenty of options (crawfish, crayfish, plastic worms), Buy plenty because the bass will destroy them. I’m not a huge fan of topwater lures, but this one puts the power in the hands of the angler. Summer fishing can be the most productive time of year if you follow this simple rule … be yourself. Topwater smallmouth fishing isn't just exciting, but early summer smallmouth bass are suckers for surface baits. Plus, I like these specific lures since they have a lifelike appeal in the eyes. This bucktail jig creates a brilliant presentation because of the way it always remains parallel, floats through the water with ease, and looks like a real baitfish. Jigs. Here are five Elite Series pros that know how to flat out catch smallmouth and their favorite baits to get it done. When you cast this guy, you’ll hear a nice “plop” in the water, and that is where it starts. As the water warms up, the fish head to deeper water. If you’re hitting the water for bronzebacks this summer, you’ll want to fill your tacklebox with these go-to baits. Either way, let’s take a look at some of the top smallmouth bass lures. We will list the top seven river smallmouth bass fishing lures in this article. There are two types of grubs that work very well for smallmouth. There are a variety of topwaters and greatly varying fishing conditions, so offering the fish the right lure, the right way, is essential for consistent success. Number one, I think blade baits like this and spinnerbaits always work best for bass because of their presentation. A lure that is the “best” for me might not work for your style of fishing. When it’s warm out, they’re more active; thus, they’re more prepared for a fight. If you’re new to the angling game, you might be looking at all these lures and thinking you should give up, but please don’t. Spinnerbaits just like jigs can catch either smallmouth or largemouth bass all year round. Virgil is the grandfather of our founder and Editor-in-Chief. Fishing blade baits for smallmouth is an excellent cold water technique, but can also be very effective... 2. Blade Baits. The Rapala Deep Husky Jerk Lure is a deep diver where jerk lures are concerned, but for smallmouth bass fishing the 7 to 16-foot depth is somewhere in the middle. Your email address will not be published. Outside of that, you don’t have much to worry about because these guys will win every time. The best 7 river smallmouth fishing lures are; #8 Rapala X-Rap Slashbait Plastic Worms. The Heddon Tiny Torpedo. As the name would suggest, the Shad Rap is meant to mimic a shad. Copyright © 2021 Field & Stream. Thin-Minnow Lure. The bright reflection of the blade is necessary when attracting bass because you don’t have any other means of getting their attention. Free shipping on orders over $50 and FREE pick-up at your local store if you buy online! I like to fish it near the surface, but others can jig it near the bottom as well. Another all-time great topwater lure for smallmouth bass is the Jitterbug by Arbogast. This is another reason why color is super important when choosing your smallmouth bass lure. There are many things to like about this option, so just get it and find out for yourself! All rights reserved. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.