what is the best color Rooster Tail for smallmouth in a centrel kentucky stream.?
I fish for smallmouth bass at Hickman Creek all the time, and I normaly use a small 2” white grub on a jighead and do very well with it, but I thought that I might try useing a Rooster Tail. What is the best size, color, and line to use. Hickman creek is a somewhat small creek in Jessamine county Kentucky and is almost always crystal clear thoughout most of the creek. it has moderate current in most spots with some slow areas. the swift current is usally about 4 to6 feet deep and has a mixture of alot of fist sized rocks with a few larger rocks. most of the rocks are a brown shade. I hope this is enough information to provide a very detailed answer.


First, I hope what I call a Rooster Tail the same as you.
I not live there, but, I would try the Yellow shown in the link or the mglds on bottom left.
http://www.tadspoles.com/files/thumbs/89919346.jpg
The white grub represents a fleeing baitfish or minnow for these fish. Stick with Rooster tails in white or silver bodies. A gold colored spinner blade would be my first choice in these in line spinners. I really think a tube bait or jig in a pumpkin seed, dark green or brown would be a killer choice on a stream like you fish. Rod of choice would be a 6′ medium graphite spinning rod and a reel full of Suffix performance braid 30 lb test (8lb diameter) and tie it onto a 8lb test Fluorocarbon leader. Should make for some good action on small lures and plenty strong for big smallies.
White, Chartreuse or Brown – Orange.. work the best. I use them all the time in small streams.