Huddleston Rof 5 Vs 12.

[J_Pearson]

Alright guys and gals, I've got a question for you...

I'm looking to purchase my first Huddleston Deluxe 6" to fish around the natural lakes of Northern Indiana...I've read that color doesn't really matter all that much, but any little tips or personal preferences would be informative.

My biggest question is which ROF to select. I'm predicting that I'll mostly fish it along the outside edge of weeds (13-20ft), however there are some lakes I'd love to fish it around docks.

Would the ROF 5 sink too slowly to fish breaks efficiently with, or would the ROF 12 sink too quickly to fish docks comfortably?

Any words of wisdom will be appreciated!

Thank you,

JP

[Nice_Bass]

Depends on your patience level- rof 5 will take a bit to get down if you are working the bottom of the water column. If you are wanting to fish the top end, then rof 5 if you want a nice slow retreive. Honestly, I would get both if I were you, and then depending on your situation you can select. If you can only get one, get the rof 12 for this time of year and your depth range you are wanting to use it in.

[Crestliner2008]

I agree, get the 12. It's easier to maintain "pace" along a given depth range with the 12. The 5 may be OK for shallower water, but if you need to count down any, it takes forever! I use both the 12 & the 16 now.

[J_Pearson]

Awesome advice guys, I appreciate it. Do you have any color pattern preference or do you feel that's of less importance?

[deep]

Im sure "Deep" here will chime in.

A little late to the party, eh?

I have limited experience with the smaller (6" and weedless hudds). I do think for the smaller ones, the ROF12 might be a better choice. The ROF5 smaller hudds I tried mostly didn't swim right outside of a small speed range.

The ROF5 68s (only tried 2) swam great though.

Now for the 8", fishing from the shore, I do not like the ROF12. It gets snagged too easily on the bottom (sinks head down, whereas the ROF5 sinks parallel to the surface). And I can't keep it (the ROF12) at the depth I want to if I reel slow.

The ROF5 I can fish at any depth, as long as I don't reel too fast; and until I learn a lot more about big baits, I'd like to keep working hudds slow. If I want to fish fast, I'll choose a paddletail, like an Osprey..

[Primus]

I fish in Michigan so our fishing should be similiar to what you expierience in Indiana. I personally do not like the regular 6" Hudd but if you can get them and want that size try a Hudd 68 which is a 6" Hudd with the tail of an 8". Fishing deeper water from a boat I would go with a ROF 12.

If you have the rod that can handle it go straight to a regular 8" Hudd which has caught a lot more fish for me than the regular 6" Hudd and is probably the best soft swimbait out there.

I know your question was about Hudds but if your looking for a swimbait for slow rolling in deep water get a few of the 6" River to Sea Live Eye Bottom Walker. It's a boot style bait which seems to do well when the water is warmer in the summer and it's inexpensive, easy to get and cast like a rocket and is a good alternative if they are not biting the Hudd.