Bass Opener

Have any of my fellow smallie chasers seen the Lindner and In-Fishermen shows this winter regarding opener through early June smallies on ML? They seem to catch a lot of bass on X-Raps, but I cannot say that I’ve had much success with hard jerks on ML compared to other smallie lakes. I’ve always put far more fish in the boat with soft plastics than hard jerks, spinnerbaits or cranks. Maybe I’m working the baits incorrectly in the wrong spots. Or maybe Rapala pays Al and Doug Stange a good chunk of change to cast X-Raps until their arms fall off.

I guesss I am confused with what your question is.
Is it:
Do you use XRaps?
Use them on ML?
Do you have luck with them on ML?
Do you have luck with catching smallies with them?

Both of those shows have done a great job in footage and talking about whena nd where to use thwem. But, like you said, I think Rapala is paying them a good amount of $$ to talk so much about them.

Clarification: I have used #8 & #10 X-Raps, Husky Jerks, Thundersticks, etc on ML from June-Sept with lower success rates compared to grubs, tubes, Senkos, worms & Flukes. I’ve had better success with hard jerks on other smallie lakes, but for whatever reason, I cannot hook many ML smallies with them. I was just wondering if other smaller chasers have had similar experiences. Any tips on colors, cadence, best conditions for X-Raps, etc? My Plano 3700 filled with X-Raps/Husky Jerks needs to start earning its keep onboard my Lund.

I do use them, not as much as I should though. I have had days that the x-raps would be the only thing that I could get fish on, other days they were a waste of time.
I have had the best days when the water is cooler. Subtle twitches and long pauses work great. Fall is my best time frame for them.
I do agree though plastics are my first choice.

Ron

someone once said something about mepps?

I have found K-Tails to be fantastic!!!!!

I hear ya on grubs. I prefer Zoom Fat Alberts for action and colors. Kalin’s makes great grubs. Yamamoto grubs are about as durable as live crawlers, but they’ll catch fish. I’ll pass on the stiff Gulp! baits.

I’ve never fished Mille Lacs. Last year I did read that tubes were the hot ticket. As far as Lindner goes, sometimes I can hardly stand to watch his show. It almost gets to be an infomercial for his sponsors. I don’t think there is any way he can really be objective about which lure works best when he is committed to the sponsors.

I hear ya, between his pitches and his holding his arm straight out at the camera with a 1/2 pounder,(Stange is good at this too) the whole while talking about how great the lure works, it gets pretty dizzying….

big g

I have had success with #10’s in white or pink. My main problem is that my back gets sore fairly quickly when working the bait. I think hard twitches in an erradic cadence are best. Berkley Frenzy Jerks have been good for me as well.

My top bait for ML smallies would have to be a topwater popper, but that is a summer/fall thing.