Pros’ picks: Smallmouth baits

Five Elite Series pros who know how to flat out catch smallmouth and their favorite baits to get it done.

When you think of smallmouth fishing, Kevin VanDam may come to mind, but he isn’t the only Elite Series pro who has a way with smallmouth. Here are five Elite Series pros that know how to flat out catch smallmouth and their favorite baits to get it done.
When you think of smallmouth fishing, Kevin VanDam may come to mind, but he isn’t the only Elite Series pro who has a way with smallmouth. Here are five Elite Series pros that know how to flat out catch smallmouth and their favorite baits to get it done.
Kevin VanDam likes to throw a KVD Strike King finesse ½ ounce double willow leaf spinnerbait.
Kevin VanDam likes to throw a KVD Strike King finesse ½ ounce double willow leaf spinnerbait.
The jerkbait king likes a KVD 300 jerkbait in Crystal Shad and perch colors.
The jerkbait king likes a KVD 300 jerkbait in Crystal Shad and perch colors.
He prefers three treble hooks on his jerkbaits instead of the smaller, two-hook jerkbaits.
He prefers three treble hooks on his jerkbaits instead of the smaller, two-hook jerkbaits.
When he switches to a spinning rod he likes to throw two main baits.
When he switches to a spinning rod he likes to throw two main baits.
One is a 3 ½ inch Strike King coffee tube in Green Pumpkin.
One is a 3 ½ inch Strike King coffee tube in Green Pumpkin.
The other is a staple for northern smallmouth ...
The other is a staple for northern smallmouth …
... a Strike King KVD Dream Shot.
… a Strike King KVD Dream Shot.
KVD Magic is his go-to color for the Dream Shot. In regards to liter length and drop shot weight, VanDam changes it up depending on the depth and how the smallmouth are positioned on the bottom.
KVD Magic is his go-to color for the Dream Shot. In regards to liter length and drop shot weight, VanDam changes it up depending on the depth and how the smallmouth are positioned on the bottom.
Brandon Palaniuk has made his name on smallmouth waters like the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Clair.
Brandon Palaniuk has made his name on smallmouth waters like the St. Lawrence River and Lake St. Clair.
His approach is slightly different than you would normally think.
His approach is slightly different than you would normally think.
He likes the Rapala Shadow Rap Deep when he is throwing a jerkbait.
He likes the Rapala Shadow Rap Deep when he is throwing a jerkbait.
Perch colors are dominant in his arsenal, but he likes the shad patterns as well as three trebles on his jerkbait.
Perch colors are dominant in his arsenal, but he likes the shad patterns as well as three trebles on his jerkbait.
He throws a topwater as well and when he does, he prefers the Storm Arashi Top Walker.
He throws a topwater as well and when he does, he prefers the Storm Arashi Top Walker.
The big profile and design of this topwater allows him to cover water and trigger extra topwater strikes from smallmouth.
The big profile and design of this topwater allows him to cover water and trigger extra topwater strikes from smallmouth.
He matches the treble feather color with the tone of his topwater.
He matches the treble feather color with the tone of his topwater.
During different times of the year it can be hard to beat a trebled topwater for smallmouth.
During different times of the year it can be hard to beat a trebled topwater for smallmouth.
Next in his arsenal is the Berkley Twitch Tail Minnow rigged on a dropshot. Palaniuk says they don’t make it anymore, but it is his favorite dropshot bait. Green Pumpkin is hard to beat for the color and he pairs it with an Eco Pro Tungsten Full Contact dropshot weight.
Next in his arsenal is the Berkley Twitch Tail Minnow rigged on a dropshot. Palaniuk says they don’t make it anymore, but it is his favorite dropshot bait. Green Pumpkin is hard to beat for the color and he pairs it with an Eco Pro Tungsten Full Contact dropshot weight.
Palaniuk has made a lot of money on the Twitch Tail Minnow.
Palaniuk has made a lot of money on the Twitch Tail Minnow.
Chad Pipkens is a fierce competitor when smallmouth are the primary fish on a body of water. Pipkens has multiple top 12’s in both the Elite Series and Open level.
Chad Pipkens is a fierce competitor when smallmouth are the primary fish on a body of water. Pipkens has multiple top 12’s in both the Elite Series and Open level.
Pipkens recently notched a top 12 at Lake St. Clair and is doing well in the Angler of the Year Championship on Sturgeon Bay.
Pipkens recently notched a top 12 at Lake St. Clair and is doing well in the Angler of the Year Championship on Sturgeon Bay.
Pipkens has three go-to baits in his arsenal.
Pipkens has three go-to baits in his arsenal.
His first choice is the DC 300 Damiki crankbait in Real Shad.
His first choice is the DC 300 Damiki crankbait in Real Shad.
It covers the 10 to 12 foot depth very well.
It covers the 10 to 12 foot depth very well.
The Damiki DPop 70 in Real Shad is his topwater choice. He likes the feathered treble because for him, it resembles a baitfish tail and it gives a subtle action.
The Damiki DPop 70 in Real Shad is his topwater choice. He likes the feathered treble because for him, it resembles a baitfish tail and it gives a subtle action.
He used the DPop to do well in the Bassmaster Open on Oneida Lake.
He used the DPop to do well in the Bassmaster Open on Oneida Lake.
When he relies on a dropshot, he goes with a Poor Boy Baits Erie Darter in Smoke Pepper. He goes with a 1/4 and 3/8 ounce weight for his dropshot.
When he relies on a dropshot, he goes with a Poor Boy Baits Erie Darter in Smoke Pepper. He goes with a 1/4 and 3/8 ounce weight for his dropshot.
Pipkens goes with straight fluorocarbon when he rigs his dropshot and combines his mainline with a SPRO #10 swivel.
Pipkens goes with straight fluorocarbon when he rigs his dropshot and combines his mainline with a SPRO #10 swivel.
Jonathon VanDam is known as a smallmouth stud as well.
Jonathon VanDam is known as a smallmouth stud as well.
He has an array of go-to baits from a spinnerbait to a dropshot, with others in between.
He has an array of go-to baits from a spinnerbait to a dropshot, with others in between.
He mixes in spinning rods and baitcasting setups.
He mixes in spinning rods and baitcasting setups.
Jerkbait fishing is a known commodity as well.
Jerkbait fishing is a known commodity as well.
With all shapes and colors and mixes up three trebles and two trebles.
With all shapes and colors and mixes up three trebles and two trebles.
JVD goes with a KVD 300 jerkbait in Strobe Shad, Clear Ayu and Crystal Shad.
JVD goes with a KVD 300 jerkbait in Strobe Shad, Clear Ayu and Crystal Shad.
He prefers the three-treble setup.
He prefers the three-treble setup.
The translucent tone gives off an aura in clear water.
The translucent tone gives off an aura in clear water.
Here is one of his favorite perch imitators: Clear Ayu.
Here is one of his favorite perch imitators: Clear Ayu.
Then he goes with a ½-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Painted Blade spinnerbait.
Then he goes with a ½-ounce Strike King Tour Grade Painted Blade spinnerbait.
Another profile view of his go-to spinnerbait.
Another profile view of his go-to spinnerbait.
Strike King Dream Shot is his favorite dropshot bait.
Strike King Dream Shot is his favorite dropshot bait.
His favorite colors are KVD Magic, Morning Dawn and Purple Dawn.
His favorite colors are KVD Magic, Morning Dawn and Purple Dawn.
He likes a Coffee Tube as well.
He likes a Coffee Tube as well.
His two color choices are Chaos and Dark Melon Copper.
His two color choices are Chaos and Dark Melon Copper.
Josh Bertrand has gained a reputation for his smallmouth fishing ability.
Josh Bertrand has gained a reputation for his smallmouth fishing ability.
He mainstay is dropshotting…he likes the Berkley Minnow in the Gulp Alive juice.
He mainstay is dropshotting…he likes the Berkley Minnow in the Gulp Alive juice.
He loves mimicking gobys with a 3-inch Berkley Fry in Green Pumpkin.
He loves mimicking gobys with a 3-inch Berkley Fry in Green Pumpkin.
The Gulp flavor has been known to be great for smallmouth.
The Gulp flavor has been known to be great for smallmouth.
Bertrand loves the smell of the Gulp and Powerbait.
Bertrand loves the smell of the Gulp and Powerbait.
He loves the shad colors for the Twitch Tail Minnow.
He loves the shad colors for the Twitch Tail Minnow.
He also pairs his dropshot with a Berkley Pro Twitch Tail Minnow. Bertrand has done well at the St. Lawrence River, Lake St. Clair as well as this week at Sturgeon Bay.
He also pairs his dropshot with a Berkley Pro Twitch Tail Minnow. Bertrand has done well at the St. Lawrence River, Lake St. Clair as well as this week at Sturgeon Bay.