Fishing an Oklahoma lake with some nices smallies this weekend. Gonna try some topwater and some tubes on a TUSH. Probably some Neko and shakeyheads too. There are largemouth too.
This year river fishing I've been smashing them on the crush city blt on a 1/10 head. Today I caught a lot on a shallow square bill crank bait. Inline spinners or underspins if the bite is tough.
Thanks for info. Love to come up to north country. Question - you said you use flat worm on flats with hover rig, but what weight do you use with the 3.6 and 4.5 inch worms? You mentioned up to 14 feet deep flats, so do you use different weights? I'm struggling with the hover rigs so any help is great. I've watched your retrieve video 20 times. I'm on a TN reservoir so steep sides ledges in summer the norm. Good luck on James. It's in your wheelhouse! Tim
i prefer the 3/64 oz hover rig 1/0 with a 4.25 flat worm. works so good ive done lots of videos with that pairing like this one th-cam.com/video/GKw2VGVriX4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gSG9O4x98c_KatYG and this one th-cam.com/video/CD22AGSm9aM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=a-F3ZY7fOEfJ-fsI
Hey Matt well I can say I seen it all now just found out that a keitech shad IImpact and the hover rig just don't catch Largemouth .I forgot the name of this bird but they swim and dive to catch fish . yesterday I was having a good day on the lake seen a couple of these water fowls in the lake didn't pay them any attention when my line stop then he came up guess what he had in his mouth. Yup my shad IImpact this was the dumbest bird I ever seen he was hook he opened his mouth and gulp gone next thing I knew I guess he was trying to get it out of his mouth
I have caught more smallies on the 1/8 oz strike king spinnerbait than any other lure. Vibrax inline spinner a close second. Jig and a mister twister. Tube. Skitter pop top water.
Tandem willow leaf spinnerbaits. Chartreuse, chartreuse/white blades for overcast rainy windy days. Silver and gold blades on sunny windy days. Hang on. 😂
My 5 must haves for smallmouth...1) Tube 2) megabass dark sleeper 3) chart. color topwater walker 4) chart. 6" senko style bait wacky & 6" chartreuse soft jerkbait 5) suspending jerkbait with chartreuse in it.....another fun bait at times...burning a bright colored spinnerbait just under the surface when they are shallower
Just caught a 19 inch smallie on a super spook yesterday. He chased and slapped it out of the water 3 times missed 2 times and then hooked up! It is an amazing bite.
Great video Matt and totally agree with all your baits for smallies. Being from Ontario Canada I love fishing for big bronze backs. I would also highly recommend a good squarebill crankbait and a high end bladed jig like a Jackhammer for the bigger smallies and for number of bites the sensational Z Man Mini Max chatterbait. Just these two styles of baits and you can have an insane day of smallies for a couple of hours in the chain of lakes I fish. I will have most if not all you mentioned rigged up for this Sunday! Happy Canada Day Long weekend all!
I will agree with the top water , I never seen such vicious strikes. And i can’t tell you how many times I’ve hooked them other then I’m there mouth with Top Water. Big fan of crank baits also. Your right about mornings , cloudy days for surface lures and Smallies. I live in the S/W part of the United States and big Pro 2A guy.. 🇺🇸 Don’t see myself going to New York or similar states in that part of the country . I thought you have a tournament coming soon like now 🤔
I will give you that one at the end with the jerkbait. I don't like that brand, but that color is fire for them. I was killing it with that color and a black top. I did see an Asian guy killing it with a tube on a Free Rig. As for smallies, I'd go strictly hard lures, notably them flat ones. They're easy to catch. If you work one area thoroughly, then a plastic would suffice. Just saying. The Finisher did not do well, but I reckon a spoon would. It is what it is. The bottom baits are the main deal when the water is max capacita. That's not to say reaction hardbaits don't work. Stuff like the Shiners will work. When the water is low in the lake, I'd go with the action-packed hard lures. Very elite advice right thur. I'm the best in this game. Smallies are attracted to two main things, which you might figure out.
Doing a float trip on the Delaware which has the potential for a 50-fish day. It’s a guided trip on a small drift boat so I really want to streamline what I bring. This is very helpful!!
You covered the bases pretty good. Not that I didn't expect you to. LOL I would add a finesse jig on to that with your favorite Ned bait as the trailer. I like the TRD because it will help The Jig stand up
Great list of all-time best smallmouth baits! An honorable mention is a light hair jig. When it's calm or when they won't bite anything else, sometimes a hair jig will save the day. 90% of the time black, and 10% tan, when there's a mayfly hatch.
Thanx Matt luv all of these in N.Utah & on the Snake river. Yet I whoop’em on a Standin Yabi or sleeper craw. Also when a top water plug isn’t prime I’m presenting them a Gan-Craft jointed claw under the surface slowly to entice their suspension
Old school tube still works.
yes it does
A little surprised you didn't have a brown tube or similar crayfish type bait listed. I've caught a ton of smallies on tubes.
tubes are great
Fishing an Oklahoma lake with some nices smallies this weekend. Gonna try some topwater and some tubes on a TUSH. Probably some Neko and shakeyheads too. There are largemouth too.
Sounds great!
Thanks Matt Time to shine
yep
This year river fishing I've been smashing them on the crush city blt on a 1/10 head. Today I caught a lot on a shallow square bill crank bait. Inline spinners or underspins if the bite is tough.
Thanks for sharing
Catch Company Jig works really well for Smallmouth.
Thanks for sharing!
I live in NY. I go no where in small mouth country with out a box of spinner baits and baby z too's in siren color. Also series 5 cranks.
Good baits
I can't imagine smallies without either a tube or inline spinner tied on
Both are great
Okashira screw head with fork tail or small paddle tail(fat swing impact not best choice) .
thanks for sharing
Cast fishing gold digger color has them so angry almost rip rod out of your hand
Thanks for info. Love to come up to north country. Question - you said you use flat worm on flats with hover rig, but what weight do you use with the 3.6 and 4.5 inch worms? You mentioned up to 14 feet deep flats, so do you use different weights? I'm struggling with the hover rigs so any help is great. I've watched your retrieve video 20 times. I'm on a TN reservoir so steep sides ledges in summer the norm. Good luck on James. It's in your wheelhouse! Tim
i prefer the 3/64 oz hover rig 1/0 with a 4.25 flat worm. works so good ive done lots of videos with that pairing like this one th-cam.com/video/GKw2VGVriX4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gSG9O4x98c_KatYG and this one th-cam.com/video/CD22AGSm9aM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=a-F3ZY7fOEfJ-fsI
Hey Matt well I can say I seen it all now just found out that a keitech shad IImpact and the hover rig just don't catch Largemouth .I forgot the name of this bird but they swim and dive to catch fish . yesterday I was having a good day on the lake seen a couple of these water fowls in the lake didn't pay them any attention when my line stop then he came up guess what he had in his mouth. Yup my shad IImpact this was the dumbest bird I ever seen he was hook he opened his mouth and gulp gone next thing I knew I guess he was trying to get it out of his mouth
Haha
Ok it was a cormorant hope his mouth is sore for a year
Tube's, lioness crankbaits and 1/4 Oz spinnerbait or small chatterbox with small crayfish trailer
Awesome
I have caught more smallies on the 1/8 oz strike king spinnerbait than any other lure. Vibrax inline spinner a close second. Jig and a mister twister. Tube. Skitter pop top water.
Thanks for sharing
Tandem willow leaf spinnerbaits. Chartreuse, chartreuse/white blades for overcast rainy windy days. Silver and gold blades on sunny windy days. Hang on. 😂
thanks for sharing!
Doesn't get much better
Yeah figured out the power of the vixen a few years ago, holy cow it’s dynamite!!
something special about it
Smallmouth in rough water... It's a love/hate relationship!
Haha yep
My 5 must haves for smallmouth...1) Tube 2) megabass dark sleeper 3) chart. color topwater walker 4) chart. 6" senko style bait wacky & 6" chartreuse soft jerkbait 5) suspending jerkbait with chartreuse in it.....another fun bait at times...burning a bright colored spinnerbait just under the surface when they are shallower
Solid picks
ZMan Hula Tickler works well on stream smallies....
Good one
Any changes to this if your night fishing for smallies?
Not really
🍺👍.
Thanks!
Can't believe you didn't have a spinnerbait in the list. And what about Michigan????
Great baits and fishing state
@@MattStefanFishing Yep, I know. I am a friend of Ron Nelson.
The muff, the fluff, the good ol hair jig!
It’s a good one
Just caught a 19 inch smallie on a super spook yesterday. He chased and slapped it out of the water 3 times missed 2 times and then hooked up! It is an amazing bite.
They get so aggressive!
Great video Matt and totally agree with all your baits for smallies. Being from Ontario Canada I love fishing for big bronze backs. I would also highly recommend a good squarebill crankbait and a high end bladed jig like a Jackhammer for the bigger smallies and for number of bites the sensational Z Man Mini Max chatterbait. Just these two styles of baits and you can have an insane day of smallies for a couple of hours in the chain of lakes I fish. I will have most if not all you mentioned rigged up for this Sunday! Happy Canada Day Long weekend all!
Thanks
Thanks for the information, keep the faith and keep grinding, pulling for ya to have a big day tomorrow.
I appreciate it
I will agree with the top water , I never seen such vicious strikes. And i can’t tell you how many times I’ve hooked them other then I’m there mouth with Top Water. Big fan of crank baits also. Your right about mornings , cloudy days for surface lures and Smallies. I live in the S/W part of the United States and big Pro 2A guy.. 🇺🇸 Don’t see myself going to New York or similar states in that part of the country . I thought you have a tournament coming soon like now 🤔
They love topwaters
Nice one Matt. 👍 I like a white weightless fluke or a wake bait for smallmouths myself.
Good choice!
Really appreciate the quick tip video. Great selection of baits. I gotta look for that vixen. Thanks Matt
You bet
The older vixens can still be found on eBay, and Tackle Warehouse sells new vixens
The Vixen is a weapon!
It is!
I will give you that one at the end with the jerkbait. I don't like that brand, but that color is fire for them. I was killing it with that color and a black top. I did see an Asian guy killing it with a tube on a Free Rig. As for smallies, I'd go strictly hard lures, notably them flat ones. They're easy to catch. If you work one area thoroughly, then a plastic would suffice. Just saying. The Finisher did not do well, but I reckon a spoon would. It is what it is. The bottom baits are the main deal when the water is max capacita. That's not to say reaction hardbaits don't work. Stuff like the Shiners will work. When the water is low in the lake, I'd go with the action-packed hard lures. Very elite advice right thur. I'm the best in this game. Smallies are attracted to two main things, which you might figure out.
Thanks for watching
Doing a float trip on the Delaware which has the potential for a 50-fish day. It’s a guided trip on a small drift boat so I really want to streamline what I bring. This is very helpful!!
Very cool!
Tightrope firework!,! Thx to Matt I’ve been using that in the Ozarks for a couple years.
Awesome!
👍🏻leaving for Washington Island tomorrow! Love the timing of this!
Have fun!
black worm (maybe flakes) wacky rigged with little nail weights on each side.
Thanks for sharing!
You covered the bases pretty good. Not that I didn't expect you to. LOL I would add a finesse jig on to that with your favorite Ned bait as the trailer. I like the TRD because it will help The Jig stand up
thats a good one too
Great list of all-time best smallmouth baits! An honorable mention is a light hair jig. When it's calm or when they won't bite anything else, sometimes a hair jig will save the day. 90% of the time black, and 10% tan, when there's a mayfly hatch.
Hair jigs are great as well!
I would recommend a gitzit tournament tube as well!
Good call
jig and curly tail grub works every time
it's a good one too
Don't tell them about the Vixen let's keep some secrets
Haha
Good luck tomorrow👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks!
Thank you for not saying michigan
haha
🤣
Good video Matt 🤛
Thanks 👍
Do u have any recommended colors for the vixen
bluegill, chartruese shiner and silver flitter shad www.tacklewarehouse.com/Reaction_Innovations_Vixen/descpage-RIV.html?from=MSFG
@@MattStefanFishing thanks matt
Would love to check out some small mouth fishing Thanks for video.
Thanx Matt luv all of these in N.Utah & on the Snake river. Yet I whoop’em on a Standin Yabi or sleeper craw. Also when a top water plug isn’t prime I’m presenting them a Gan-Craft jointed claw under the surface slowly to entice their suspension
Awesome