Dropshot for bedding smallmouth

[Reel Northern Bass]

What are you all using for dropshot baits for bedding smallies? tried using a dropshot for bedding smallies a few years ago, but couldn't get them to really commit to the bait I tried. It was a 5" Reaction Innovation Flirt Worm. They eat it just fine the rest of the year, but couldnt get them to eat it on beds. Recently started using the Beast Coast Magic Flick, and it changed everything for bed fishing. The smallmouth absolutely inhale that bait. Helps that it's a lot smaller, but has a lot of action for its size.

I had been having a tough start the year and just wanted to go catch a bunch of fish, so I went out and hammered some bedding smallies for a day. It's just about the easiest thing you can do, but man, some days you just need a fun day to feel better. Was fortunate to go out with one of the Beast Coast pro staffers, we had a fun day of it despite the less than ideal conditions.

Here's the vid from that day, but I do also want to hear that other baits you guys use for dropshotting beds.

[catch5]

Seems like all the bedding smallies I’ve ever fished for would hit a bare gold hook if you put it in front of them. lol.

[Clif Kincaid]

Seems like all the bedding smallies I’ve ever fished for would hit a bare gold hook if you put it in front of them. lol.

How true this is...A jerkbait also works

[572 Fitter]

We just cracked them on a white 2.8 keitch impact,all 3-4 lb fish

[jc2bg]

Strike King shad shape worm occasionally works.

[TMG]

Nice job Snover.
I don't fish bedding bass often but try dipping the tail in some chartreuse spike it.

[g352nv]

White tube

[Fish Boy]

The 2" and bigger kietecs work so good

[Junk Fisherman]

It really depends on the day. Some days anything will work. I have caught a lot of bedders on cheap, 3" Zum Dingers. Some of the best baits I have found when things got tougher were a Zoom Dropshot Worm and a 2.8 Keitech Fat Impact. Starting next Monday I'll be doing for a week or so.

[kylemoodie]

Every time I try a drop shot rig for bedding smallies, they always eat the weight and not the bait lol. I usually just drag tubes or ned rigs across the beds.

[DrewFlu33]

I usually have found smallmouth will hit whatever gets near them when they're on beds, but I had a day a couple weeks back fishing for them where every one was different. And they were pretty picky at that, acting much more like largemouth than smallmouth on their beds. There were dozens of them with beds lined up along a point on the edge of a drop. First one ate a Neko as soon as it got close and I figured it would be an easy outing, but the next one wouldn't touch it. In fact, that one wouldn't touch anything moving slow, but chased down a jerkbait. Next one ate the Neko. Next one took a tube. Next one a drop shot...and so on. Time and time again I'm blown away at how fish can have different personalities, even on the same day and in the same location for the same species of fish that's roughly the same size! I did find that a Dream Shot or Z-man "Trick ShotZ" on the drop shot roughly 6 inches from the weight was *usually* the best option, but not always.

For those that have had issues with the fish grabbing their weight, definitely try shortening down the distance between hook and weight. I've had luck putting the weight only like 2 inches below the bait at times when they're finicky, for both largemouth and smallmouth!

[Reel Northern Bass]

Seems like all the bedding smallies I’ve ever fished for would hit a bare gold hook if you put it in front of them. lol.

You're not wrong there. Seriously has to be one of the easiest things to do. They WILL hit anything, but some baits they just flat out annihilate, where other's they'll barely pick up by the edge of the bait to remove it.

We just cracked them on a white 2.8 keitch impact,all 3-4 lb fish

I bought those exact same ones but in a different color last year to do the same thing. Ended up not using them during the spawn, but they worked damn well the rest of the year.

[ifishinxs]

Robo worm in Halographic shad. Hook set about 4 inches from the weight. Anywhere near the bed and stand by to get hammered.

[Junk Fisherman]

I bought those exact same ones but in a different color last year to do the same thing. Ended up not using them during the spawn, but they worked damn well the rest of the year.

Agreed. I only use the Keitech for larger bass or if they are really stingy. But I do use them throughout the year and they are excellent on a DS.

[Grahamb]

I agree that they seem to go after most anything when on the bed.

Memorial day weekend I threw a crankbait and noticed a bedding smallmouth chase it. I followed with a pink whacky senko, fish grabbed it so I set the hook, but fish only had the senko and no hook. Senko came right off. I could see my pink senko marking the bed, so I tossed a green whacky senko at it. I hooked up but it wrapped me on a dock pylon and eventually came off. I grabbed another rod with a ned rig. I noticed my pink senko was no longer in the bed. I tossed the ned rig and immediately hooked up again. Got the fish to the boat and it also had my pink senko in its mouth.

That was 4 consecutive casts it went for different lures, plus one time when I didn't even cast and it took a senko!

[wvbassmaster]

strike king dreamshot

[skeeter bite]

Dreamshot, half shell, robo 4in. bold bluegill. Char or White. Thanks for the content.

[bob o]

sorry, Neko rig

[Zpilot]

What are you all using for dropshot baits for bedding smallies?

Use some bailing wire and attach a hook, any hook to a Champion spark plug. If they are real finicky go with a feather treble hook on a AC spark plug.

[Smalliehunter91]

I use sniper baits sniper snub. For how soft they are, it's pretty much a one fish one bait deal but they work. And if I can't see the beds, I'll throw a fluke and have caught alot doing that. They will come off their beds to eat it or at least show where they are at then I'll switch to a drop shot.