Let's Discuss - Titanium Smallmouths

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Let's Discuss - Titanium Smallmouths

Posted Nov 16, 2008 by Lonnie (CA)

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Spinnerbaiting Smallies – The Titanium Edge by Lonnie King

There are a couple lures which are just intuitively associated with smallmouth bass. The list includes tube jigs, topwater lures and of course spinnerbaits. A quick flashing lure skirting just below the surface covers water quickly and can be a tremendous trigger for big smallies, especially in clear water. The big single hook also offers tremendous hooking percentages. I caught hundreds of smallmouth bass on spinnerbaits last year, and in the process I experimented with a broad cross section of models, styles and brands. I’ve come to conclude that spinnerbaits made from Titanium wire are hands-down the way to go.

The models I had my best success with are the Titanium series from Terminator. Because the wire snaps back every time there is no need for tuning. Typcially ‘R’ bend style spinnerbaits, have an Achilles heel. After extended use they will break at the line tie due to the repeated stress of re-tuning. The wire gets a little weaker every time you have to bend it back into shape. If you fish tournaments, or are super-serious about catching a trophy be sure to change up stainless steel ‘R’ style spinnerbaits regularly to avoid an inevitable heartbreak. If you are more casual about fishing, or tend to loose your baits long before you wear them out the stainless steel models are much less expensive. Even the Titanium wire will break if you’re constantly horsing in big fish, but for open water smallies this kind of power is not really required. If you had asked me at the beginning of the year I would have suggested adding a thin soft plastic trailer, but over the course of the summer I simply stopped worrying about it, and didn’t see any noticeable drop in the number of bites. The skirt on the Terminator spinnerbaits have a built tail made form elogated skirt material which is a nice added touch.

A softer rod is where it’s at for this presentation because it offers fish more capacity to grab and turn with the bait before the line draws tight. This makes for better hook-ups. A super-sweet outfit I ultimately settled on was a 7 ft, medium action Team S rod and a 7.1 ratio Team Zillion baitcasting reel, both by Daiwa. Speed is a big part of the trigger for smallies, so a reel with a fast retrieve ratio saves wear and tear on your wrists. I also worked with a variety of lines and found braided lines lost far more fish than fluorocarbon; which still has considerably less stretch than mono. Fluorocarbon fishes well on a baitcasting tackle and is really quite tough. 15 lb Maxima is a great floroucarbon for this application. It handles well and lasts a long time.

Have some thoughts on the subject? Share your perspectives with others by adding comments below.

http://www.bountyfishing.com/members/fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923/photo/b53b
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http://www.bountyfishing.com/members/fe9fc289c3ff0af142b6d3bead98a923/photo/b53b
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(5 comments)

TheMojo (posted Nov 27, 2008)

For the love of my life, smallies on St Clair and Erie readily attack the spinner baits in the spring time. We are spoiled up here and 3 - 9 fish per hour 2 - 3 lb seems to let you know youve got the right lure with an occasional 4 - 5 - 6 lbr too. Top water Luckycraft wake tail just off the current in the reeds is my favorite early morning bait, and a tube dragged through through same areas does just as well. I could go on and on about smallies, drop shot and tubing in 18 - 40 ft of water, crank baits in the fall, but when they're on the spinner bait, I like the compact War Eagle - 1/2 oz minimum. I have an Elite Tech 1/2 glass 7'0 on a Revo STX with 12 lb mono that has near 100% hook up rate. Lets face it - when they smash it - you dont need a trailer hook for smallies ! Try the Firecracker on sunny days, white w/ orange/ chartruese on cloudy days, and dont forget if you get zippo but know they are there - go immediately to the jerk bait, and slow down - like an 8 count between jerks. And if that isnt whackem, roll that tube / drop shot goby at em. I'll try the terminator - but pm me on which have worked best for you cause I thought they were just another brand - pretty sold on War Eagles.

musky55 (posted Nov 18, 2008)
never been much of a spinner bate user, mainly I'm because I use my own spoons and while my buddy uses everything, I usually keep step in step with him if the fish are on the take. I'm working on putting a spinner on my spoon, will be a first but I think I have it about ready. also my jointed spoon acts something like a spinner.

Lonnie (posted Nov 17, 2008)
Phil - thanks for weighing in - what's your top 3 smallie baits? If you throw spinnerbaits you will catch them - I can't imagine a better search bait, and at times it's one of the best at triggering bigger fish. cheers, LK

Duderino (posted Nov 17, 2008)
I've always been told for creek smallies in Ohio: Use a mepps aglia inline spinner retrieved just fast enough so the blade spins. It works too. As for the double spinners, in the Minnesota fall, they are the only thing that seems to catch cold water largemouth when their feeding has slowed down.

freshwaterphi (posted Nov 16, 2008)
I never got spinner baits to work for me to date, then again, I don't throw them too often. A have a white and chartreuse in my tackle box, I'll usually throw them if nothing else works. Closest I got to a fish was a nice northen that stole my "cheater hook" right near the boat. Never even seen a smallie after one, once got a largemouth to half-inhale and spit one I was bouncing of the bottom.