Brandon Palaniuk has been chasing smallmouth since he was 8 years old. Granted, the 24-year-old still has less time under his belt doing it than many Elite Series pros, but his affinity for ol’ smalljaws has made him an expert in the ways of the brown fish. Here are his 5 favorite smallie-bustin’ baits.
1. Rapala X-Rap
Early in the year, Palaniuk targets long gravel points featuring steep banks with this jerkbait. “These points are good places for them to gather before they go in to spawn,” he says. Naturally, shad hues are his top pick. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
2. Rapala Shad Rap
Palaniuk opts for a crawdad-looking crankbait to throw along 45-degree banks that are rocky in nature. “I’ve won a lot of money throwing this thing to riprap, pea gravel, or mixed rock banks in the springtime,” he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
3. Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper
Palaniuk likes this Larry Nixon-designed finesse worm on a drop shot rig as he targets offshore bass, or those in slightly deeper water. A green pumpkin, 6.25-inch size model gets the nod. “I’ll use this with a 3/16- or 5/8-ounce EcoPro Tungsten Drop Shot sinker along grasslines or on rockpiles as the smallies move out deeper for the summer,” he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
4. Berkley Hollow Belly
Palaniuk says that this is a smallie wrecking ball when they’re on flats. “Prespawn, spawn and postspawn they’re on those flats, and it’ll catch ‘em no matter the phase of the spawn they’re in,” he says. “If the big females don’t eat it, they’ll show themselves and you can go back and throw something into the bed and catch her.” A 1/4- or 1/2-ounce jighead is his preferred rigging method. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
5. Rapala Rippin’ Rap
“I’ll throw this in the fall, and when they’re really eating it, you can have 100-fish days,” he says. He opts for this perch color when he’s up north. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
Rapala Rippin’ Rap
A more traditional baitfish color is ideal elsewhere. “Smallies hunt in packs, and when they corral the shad up to eat, this can be deadly,” he says. Photo courtesy of Tackle Warehouse, www.tacklewarehouse.com
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