Top Lures for Lake Erie Smallmouth Bass Fishing

For Lake Erie smallmouth bass, your top lures should include drop-shot rigs with Smallie Smasher soft plastics, tube jigs mimicking gobies, SPRO Fat Papa 55 crankbaits, Duo Realis jerkbaits, 6-inch Jackall swimbaits, Steel Shad blade baits, and VMC Neon Mooneye Jigs. Target rocky changes in 15-25 feet of water, varying your retrieve based on water temperature and clarity. The right lure selection can turn a slow fishing day into a trophy-filled adventure.

When fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake Erie, choosing the right lure can make the difference between a memorable day and going home empty-handed. Lake Erie’s bronzebacks respond differently to various presentations depending on water conditions, season, and feeding patterns.

Drop-shot rigs armed with the Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher have proven deadly for Erie smallmouth. This technique excels in deeper water (15-25 feet) where smallmouth often suspend, particularly when bass are less aggressive or when fishing clearer water. Minnow-type soft plastics on drop-shot rigs let you present baits at precise depths where prespawn bass stage.

You’ll want tube jigs in your tackle box as they perfectly mimic the gobies and crayfish that Lake Erie smallmouth can’t resist. Work these baits by dragging or hopping them along rocky structures throughout the western and central basins. The neon moon eye jig produces a distinct underwater sound that effectively simulates crayfish movement, turning a slow day into a productive outing. Modern fish finders with CHIRP sonar can help locate these rocky structures where smallmouth bass congregate. Choose colors that match local forage – typically greens, browns, and purples. Consider applying natural fish oils to enhance your tube jigs and trigger the predatory instincts of smallmouth bass. A fish gripper tool is essential when handling large smallmouth bass to prevent injury to both the fish and yourself during catch-and-release. To prevent theft, store your valuable lures and equipment in motion-activated alarm systems when leaving your boat unattended.

Crankbaits like the SPRO Fat Papa 55 and Rapala DT series help you cover water quickly to locate active fish. Professional anglers, including MLF pro Dave Lefebre, rely on these lures for prespawn smallmouth. Scott Dobson found success using the Duo Realis Jerkbait 100DR and Lucky Craft Pointer 100DD in chartreuse shad patterns when fishing current spots in the Detroit River. Target rocky transitions with these lures as smallmouth often congregate near bottom contour irregularities rather than on flat, featureless areas. During early mornings and evenings in summer, these lures can be especially effective when bass move from deeper refuge areas to feed in shallower water. Select models that dive to the appropriate depth where bass are feeding.

For trophy smallmouth exceeding 5 pounds, try 6-inch swimbaits like the Jackall Rhythym Wave. These lures mimic Lake Erie’s abundant baitfish population, including perch, trout fry, and emerald shiners. Many trophy smallmouth have been caught on lures that target the lake’s diverse baitfish populations which include gobies, shad, smelt, and various minnow species. Vary your retrieve speed in open water situations when bass are actively feeding on baitfish schools. Consider using underwater fishing lights with IP68 waterproof rating when fishing during twilight hours to attract more baitfish and increase your chances of landing trophy smallmouth.

Blade baits produce vibration that attracts smallmouth, especially in windy conditions. The Steel Shad in gold (dirty water) or silver (clear water) and VMC Neon Mooneye Jig work wonderfully when vertically jigged in deeper water during colder months or around shipwrecks where smallmouth congregate.

Jerkbaits shine during spring and fall when water temperatures cool. Professional anglers targeting prespawn smallmouth in Presque Isle Bay rely on the erratic action that mimics injured baitfish. Use a jerk-pause-jerk retrieve pattern in clear water where bass can spot your lure from a distance.

Don’t overlook live baits when artificial lures aren’t producing. Native emerald shiners, gobies, or crayfish rigged on drop shot or Carolina rigs can be your ace in the hole, especially when targeting smallmouth around rocky structure or in deeper water where they’re feeding naturally.