9 replies to this topic

[Bassman45]

Hi All, 

 

Fishing heavily this summer for SMB in the Grand river and conservation areas in and around Brant and Hamilton.  I've had a little luck with Dropshot and Jig but almost exclusively with live bait.  

 

I'd really like to find some luck with crankbait lures but cant figure out what I'm doing wrong.  Ive tried divers, top waters (jitterbug), varied the colours, the speed of retrieval but cant seem to get a hit.  I've picked up some decent Rapalas with high bass ratings and today I even bought some at Dollarama that looked surprisingly good thinking why the hell not.

 

Am I just not patient enough?  Ill normally throw 20-30 casts before I mix the colour and depth and then just switch to dropshot with a jig/pig.  Soon as I switch I'm pulling in carp or a small bass (with the odd 3-4 pounder mixed in).

 

Any advice?  Stick with a lure for an hr or so?

 

Cheers.

[PUMP KNOWS]

Try inline spinners like Mepps black fury #3 and Blue Fox Vibrax #3

 

Keep at it and tight lines!

[salmotrutta]

Hi All, 

 

Fishing heavily this summer for SMB in the Grand river and conservation areas in and around Brant and Hamilton.  I've had a little luck with Dropshot and Jig but almost exclusively with live bait.  

 

I'd really like to find some luck with crankbait lures but cant figure out what I'm doing wrong.  Ive tried divers, top waters (jitterbug), varied the colours, the speed of retrieval but cant seem to get a hit.  I've picked up some decent Rapalas with high bass ratings and today I even bought some at Dollarama that looked surprisingly good thinking why the hell not.

 

Am I just not patient enough?  Ill normally throw 20-30 casts before I mix the colour and depth and then just switch to dropshot with a jig/pig.  Soon as I switch I'm pulling in carp or a small bass (with the odd 3-4 pounder mixed in).

 

Any advice?  Stick with a lure for an hr or so?

 

Cheers.

 

I've never much liked crankbaits for any species. To me they are largely overhyped, a product of marketing. I've seen some work magic, but that was under specific conditions, with a specific style, for a specific species. 

 

x2 Pump's reply

[Bassman45]

Cool I'll try some spinners, I have a black fury I think it's till new in the package. Hoping to hit the river a bit this weekend thanks for the advice. I've been reading Texas rigged crayfish aren't a bad way to go either... Might spend a bit more time on that too.

[Joel52]

I agree, #2 Mepps with a little piece of worm on the end. You may want to have a few different colours like black/yellow, black/chartreuse, red/silver/yellow and plain silver. Use a fluorocarbon leader (12-18") and swivel snap. That should work.

[salmotrutta]

I've also had good luck on Grand River smallies using spoons, like these. Evening and night especially.

 

Dollarama has red, green and blue ones that all work well. If you see different sizes, go for the small or medium length ones. If there's no ring on the end like in the pic, you can add one, which should keep your line from wearing off. 

 

I don't fuss about leaders not even for trout, but to each their own.

[Bassman45]

Interesting... a few weeks ago someone threw a line in about 40 meters from me with something silver and it might have been a spoon like that.  Caught a walleye first cast but was 'high fiving' his buddies and acting like a yahoo so I didn't ask him what he was using.  Good advice though, add a few spoons to the box (I need a bigger box!).  I don't generally use leaders/ swivels but I need to get 12 lb florocarbon line.  My 8 lb berkley isn't cutting it for casting.  Thank-you Joel, Salmon and Pump!!!

[Bassman45]

Oh my bad you said leader... yeah I guess if you're switching out lures to test other colours that would make it easier.  I didn't realize leaders were fluorocarbon as well.  Heh, and here I told my wife 'its good I've picked up fishing again, its one of the cheapest hobbies I can have!'.  

[salmotrutta]

Leaders, spoons and spinners all available at Dollarama!

 

The metal leaders are fine for bass, especially if fishing after dark, but fluoro obviously more stealthy. 

 

The snap swivel will make it much easier to change up that's for sure, remember to use a fairly small one.

[Bassman45]

Yup, just picked a bunch up at dollarama and broke down to purchase decent Mepps spinners .  A lot of liquidation places selling fishing stuff too will have a look this week.  Going to Pinehurst camping this weekend, LG mouth in that lake I've read!