How to Fish Small Creeks

Whether your creek has sunfish or bass these tips will help you increase your chances of getting bit. We will discuss soft plastics to gear and everything in between.

Soft Plastics

There are three styles of soft plastics to try. These baits are swimbaits, craws, and worms. For worms use a Z-Man Finesse TRD on a Z-Man Power Finesse Shroomz Jig Head. Slowly twitch it along the bottom and go for the weedless version if needed. For craw style baits opt for the Z-Man TRD Bugz also rigged on the shroom head as well. For swimbaits use a Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait in the 2.8 or the 3.3 inch version. Rig it on a Dirty Jigs Matt Stefan Guppy Swimbait Jig Head for creeks with little structure or a Owner Darter Head Offset Jighead for creeks with structure.

Hard Baits

Hard baits are simple. Use a crawfish or cricket imitation. My favorite crawfish crankbait that never fails is the Rebel Wee Craw. It deflects cover and fish of all sizes can eat it. For a cricket imitation use the Rebel Crickhopper. It is good when the crickets come out in late spring after their nymph stage.

Gear

Rod– 6’ ultra light to light rod

Reel– Gear ratio is not important just make sure your reel is a 1000 size reel.

Line– 4 lb monofilament

Lures

Soft Plastics

1. Z-Man TRD Bugz (Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin)
2. Z-Man Finesse TRD (Green Pumpkin, Mud Bug, Smelt)
3. Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait (Pro Blue Red Pearl, Electric Shad, Sexy Shad)

Hard Baits

1. Rebel Wee Craw Crankbait (Ditch Brown, Nest Robber)
2. Rebel Crickhopper (Fire Tiger, Summer Hopper)

Terminal Tackle

1. Owner Darter Head Offset Jighead (1/16 oz, 1/8 oz, 3/16 oz)

1. Z-Man Pro Shroomz Ned Rig Jigheads (1/10oz, 1/6 oz)

1. Dirty Jigs Matt Stefan Guppy Swimbait Jig Head ( 1/8 oz 1/0, 3/16 oz 1/0)