What would you do ?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rich Brester on June 26, 2009 at 10:31am

Yes throwing plastic back at smallies does work but always. I personal have found that a shallow diving jerk bait does a good job. I try to move it fast with long pulls, with very little or no pause. Thats what seems to work for me.

Rich

Permalink Reply by Jeff Grimes on June 26, 2009 at 10:51am

I am sure Marc has better input, but I like to throw flukes or other slow falling baits ( like the senko) If the fish are really feeding and chasing though......almost anything will get the reaction bite on the 2nd cast if they are going to hit . In really clear water, the fish get too much of a good look at the baits sometimes especially when it is slow moving. Try a Buzzbait or other faster moving bait or retrieve the sammy faster. Another personal preference is no matter what the bait is I use a follow up, I believe a larger profile usualy helps.

Jeff

Permalink Reply by Ben Holten on June 26, 2009 at 10:51am

DYNOMITE............... It works every time.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on June 26, 2009 at 11:03am

Ben , I feel ya bro ! But peices of fish dont fly on the scales ..lol / Jeff you have giving me a different way to re think the process , thanks !! Rich i like the jerk bait ideal , kinda fitting with the "injured bait " look from the first strike , and followed back with the same thing, just under the surface now ..hmmmm i likey ... Thanks guys !!

Permalink Reply by Mark Byrne on June 26, 2009 at 11:07am

I will always throw a small Senko, weightless or drop shot wacky! This worked very well for me at American Lake this spring. The water was very clear and the fish were a little spooky, she slammed the Senko!

www.huntingandfishingnw.com

Permalink Reply by Tag Watson on June 26, 2009 at 11:35am

Dez,

For smallies in open water, throw a Yamamoto Senko, Kut Tail or Shad Shape Worm on a wacky jig. The wacky jig increases the inherent action of the soft plastic and gives it a faster fall. You can thank me later.....

I can't stress this enough, get your follow up bait back out there as quickly as possible. My experience has been that your chances of catching the fish go down exponentially after about 5-8 seconds.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on June 26, 2009 at 11:45am

I have everything you just suggested in my box (Nice) .. THANKS !! in advance taggy ..you freaking bassmaster, hawgcatching,bigbaitbully,recordchaser! ok im done ..lol thanks

Tag Watson said:

Dez,

For smallies in open water, throw a Yamamoto Senko, Kut Tail or Shad Shape Worm on a wacky jig. The wacky jig increases the inherent action of the soft plastic and gives it a faster fall. You can thank me later.....

I can't stress this enough, get your follow up bait back out there as quickly as possible. My experience has been that your chances of catching the fish go down exponentially after about 5-8 seconds.

Permalink Reply by Jon Werner on June 26, 2009 at 2:33pm

In lake where smallies are fishing on kokanee, I will follow with a weightless wacky Senko - black w/ silver fleck. Once it hit the water, I will swim it 3 - 4 twitches and then let it die for 4 seconds or so. Another approach is to follow with a smaller bait - say follow a stick bait with a smaller popper style.

Permalink Reply by BigBass Dez on June 26, 2009 at 3:23pm

Thanks JW , good hearing from ya as always bro .. Thats pretty much who do when im throwing a buzzbait or frog for green fish. As for a smaller prop bait , man that sammy is already under 4" s , so for me to dedicate a rod to a smaller bait is too expensive for me right now ..Im just looking for the best rod to pick up within the first 5-8 secs like taggalicious pointed out . I think im pretty set at this point , im gonna try the wacky rig and a jerk over the next 30days and see what produces better .. thanks again JW for the good info man !! black with silver flack ..shhhhhhh!

Jon Werner said:

In lake where smallies are fishing on kokanee, I will follow with a weightless wacky Senko - black w/ silver fleck. Once it hit the water, I will swim it 3 - 4 twitches and then let it die for 4 seconds or so. Another approach is to follow with a smaller bait - say follow a stick bait with a smaller popper style.

Permalink Reply by Marc Marcantonio on June 26, 2009 at 4:45pm

The most important part when fishing topwaters for smallmouth is to do the opposite as largemouths on the strike. For largemouths on a missed strike I prefer to leave the topwater in the area like it is stunned.

For smallmouths I learned to do the opposite...I keep working the lure, often even faster, when they are hitting it but not hooking up. Keep working it until they pull it under and your rod tip loads up, then set the hook. As Tag said, smallies lose interest fast; and if you stop the lure after they miss it they usually lose interest and move away.

ciao,
Marc

Permalink Reply by chad huffman on June 26, 2009 at 7:56pm

ill have to agree with tag on this one once a fish is fired up you need to get that lure in there as fast as possible. also on banks when i was fishing it i was throwing the rebel pop R if i get a strike and miss it ill throw it right back in there and just let it sit the longer that lure sits in front of the fish dead still they get pissed and smack it. but senko is definitly one of the best lures to have as a follow up bait.

Permalink Reply by Jake Anderson on June 29, 2009 at 3:10pm

This is a great topic. My experience says that for Largemouth i always throw the topwater again. For smallmouth.....I've done it many many times, and I've pretty much learned my lesson that throwing a topwater a second time after a missed strike is a waste of a perfectly good cast, so I always pick up a soft plastic of any kind, and get in back in there quick. On the columbia I've located fish with a topwater bait, then after they missed it......got right back in there with a lip-less crank, and they have drilled it.

Some areas I fish are filled with weeds and grass, to the point where I really can't get back in there with anything. Then I am stuck throwing the buzzer back there again, and again, and thats how I've found....it just doesnt work well on smallies.

Its interesting the urgency that tag is promoting. I'll be reaching for my plastic rod a bit quicker next time.

I completely agree with Marc as well......Keep burning the bait if you get missed by SMB....they will usually give it at least one more go if they are serious, but if you stop it, they will inspect it, and usually balk at it.

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