The Rinky Dink is a 1 ½" x ¾ oz chunk of solid lead that vaguely resembles a small fish, a small spinner is attached to the tail end. Thrown in is a small treble hook that not even attached to the lure; the line is threaded through a hole in the body and tied directly to a split ring/hook, meaning the weighted body can move up and down on the line.
The lure was developed in the early 1990s by local angler Hugh Rinkle molded off another local bait called a Wing Ding that had been discontinued. Once the bait was put on the market, anglers began learning just how effective it could be but the only problem now with the lure is it's not longer in production. However, there's still an option: the Norman Knock Off; as the name implies, it's a copy of the Rinky Dink.
Rinky Dinks are late fall and winter structure bait fished deep on the main lake or shallow in the creek channels. While many anglers equate cold temperatures with slow moving small lures this can be a big mistake. Rinky Dinks are most productive when casted and fished with a yo-yoing retrieve, the bite all most always comes on the fall and will be extremely subtle. When you feel something that's just not right, set the hook!
To effectively fish the Rinky Dink or Knock Off, I usually use 12# fluorocarbon matched with a medium to medium-light rod; even at ¾ oz the Rinky Dink (5/8 oz Knock Off) is definitely not a power bait. Lighter line makes a difference in the number of bites and the lighter rod will give you a better hook sets without ripping the lure out of the bass's mouth.
By Glen Freeman from Louisiana Sportsman Magazine
In every "study" done showing how much each line stretches. One end of the line is attached to an immovable object while the other end is attached to a mechanical device that applies more pressure than my rod-n-reel ever will.
To this dumb Coonass its just interesting information.
I'm 73 & have used everything from paper graphs to FFS. It was an natural transition from one to the other. Guys my age with a background in fishing deep structure its just another tool.
One way my on the water expenses helps is I know where to look. With FFS I can quickly find exactly where they're at on the structure.
I think one reason why some older guys struggle with FFS is because they weren't that good with electronics is strat with.
1972 after my second weekend trip in a row to Toledo Bend I had yet to catch a bass. As I stood on the dock unloading the boat I picked up my worm rod which had a Texas Rigged Blue Rebel Ringworm in it. I made a 20 yd cast to a cypress tree & was rewarded with a 3# chunk.
Since that day I've caught double digit bass across 5 southern states, won tournaments, caught my biggest stringers all on Ringworms.
2019 I won a Dodge Ram with a Ringworm
Rings offer a larger profile yet has less plastic for the hook to penetrate.
Sometimes it is as simple as being in the right place at the right time.
Aiden caught this bass under the dock we're standing on. In the background is a boat launch.
Aiden asked if I could tie a jig on for him, so I did. He took the rod flipped the jig under the dock. I just started to shake my head when he set hook.
He had seen the bass before asking for the jig & had been watching videos about flipping docks. He said, I saw a dock, a bass, & figured all I need is a jig!
They're eating an Ol Monster & you wanna change...why!
When punching you want to stay as near vertical as possible, this allows your lure to go in & out of the grass easily. With a vertical presentation & additional weight the ribbontail will punch through. Is there a possibility of the tail hanging up, yes but I ain't afraid of that.Target sparse areas & openings.
If you're catching around cypress trees start there & work outwards.
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