Flukes

[jarhead1970]

What is your preferred set-up for fishing Flukes?

I mostly fish them weightless on a spinning set-up with a M 6.8 Rod on 8 or 10lb Yo-Zuri fluorocarbon; but use a small swivel with a 12-24" leader (depending on water, etc.).  If it's really windy I might crimp on a 1/32 or 1/16 oz Gremlin Bullet weight right in front of the swivel.

[roadwarrior]

Weightless in shallow water, dropshot for deeper

presentations.

8-)

[soccplayer07]

weightless.

[D4u2s0t]

I like to use a 3/0 or 4/0 1/8oz keel weighted hook.  The keel hook helps keep the bait straight under all retrieves, and I think it gives it a very lifelike movement.  I wouldn't go any heaver than 1/8 oz though.

[RoLo]

I've found an "unweighted" fluke to be far more productive than a weighted fluke.

After much futzing around, I've settled on the fall rate of a Gamakatsu 3/0 Superline EWG.

Technically speaking, a rigged fluke is "unweighted" but not weightless,

because a 3/0 Superline hook weighs 17 grains.

A standard-wire 3/0 Gamakatsu weighs only 11 grains, which might garner a few more bites,

but at the expense of limited coverage. A tournament angler who's looking for optimal coverage

might go with a 4/0 Superline hook, which weighs 21 grains.

With respect to color, for years I've intentionally switched away from the productive color

and was never able to end a fluke-bite based solely on color.

Now I normally opt for "Bubblegum" because it's very easy to see which translates to a more effective delivery.

Roger

[gabes]

Great Carolina Rig bait also.

[jarhead1970]

No one commented on using a swivel with a fluke.... it seems to help with the line twist associated with using a fluke.  Anyone else use a swivel and a leader? 

[soccplayer07]

i dont

[BASSINATORBIGJOE]

I'VE USED A SWIVEL WITH A FLUKE BUT IT SEEMS TO TAKE AWAY SOME OF THE NATURAL ACTION OF THE WEIGHTLESS RIGGED FLUKE I USE A 3 OR 4 OUGHT LIGHT WIRE HOOK SO I CAN GET THAT (WALKING THE DOG) ACTION UNDERWATER. SEEMS TO REALLY GET THEIR ATTENTION.   MIKE 8-)

[Revo_Carrot Stix]

I just started using weightless Flukes 3/0 EWG this Spring with decent results. I've been using BPS 5" Super Shadee watermelon pearl. I use the same technique I use with stick worms. Totally different strike though. I've had a few misses, but I'm getting better.

For the past 2 years, I've tried the Zulu-rig w/ 2 Flukes on leader with swivels with no results in hopes of nailing a double. I'm sure I just haven't timed it right and it's kind of a pain to get it setup. I'm assuming that I need to try this shortly after the Shad spawn?!? Anyone else have luck with this setup? I've seen videos with KVD doing this and Tom Mann Jr. won a tournament last year on this technique. 

[D4u2s0t]

No one commented on using a swivel with a fluke.... it seems to help with the line twist associated with using a fluke. Anyone else use a swivel and a leader?

that's one of the reasons I use the keel hook... doesn't matter how fast or slow you reel, still has amazing action, and never spins.

[florida strain]

t- rigged weightless, 6.6. 6.3.1  , 10#mono , #3 owner

[handsome18]

I use a 3/0 or 4/0 gamakatsu ewg, weightless, and texas rigged. For the style of fishing I do (6 feet to surface) it is the best producing bait I have. I would suggest white pearl coloration.

[Big Bait Fishing]

I just started using weightless Flukes 3/0 EWG this Spring with decent results. I've been using BPS 5" Super Shadee watermelon pearl. I use the same technique I use with stick worms. Totally different strike though. I've had a few misses, but I'm getting better.

For the past 2 years, I've tried the Zulu-rig w/ 2 Flukes on leader with swivels with no results in hopes of nailing a double. I'm sure I just haven't timed it right and it's kind of a pain to get it setup. I'm assuming that I need to try this shortly after the Shad spawn?!? Anyone else have luck with this setup? I've seen videos with KVD doing this and Tom Mann Jr. won a tournament last year on this technique.

i have been using the double fluke rig and it does well in shallow areas with grass , almost like a frog bite with big blow ups on it !!! as far as it being a pain to set up , i rig mine by putting two different length leaders to two swivels and putting hooks on both , i keep them in one of my worm binder pages . then when i want to put the rig on i feed the shorter leaders swivel up the main line then then tie on the swivel to the longer leader to the main line , so i end up just tying 1 knot like if i was tying on any other bait !!!! try it like that and it will be very easy for you , make you want to use it more 

[Chris at Tech]

Dobyns 683, Revo Premier, 12lb Trilene 100% Floro

I fish it weightless with a 4/0 hook.  Favorite colors are Smokin' Shad and Pearl White

[southtexasbassin]

No one commented on using a swivel with a fluke.... it seems to help with the line twist associated with using a fluke. Anyone else use a swivel and a leader?

The swivel and leader work great for me.  I usually put a really small bullet weight like a 1/16 or 1/32 before the swivel to get it to sink a bit.  The action is just beast when its rigged with a swivel.  Zoom Watermelon Majic.

[iceintheveins]

With spinning tackle, weightless on 8 - 10 pound line with a medium heavy spinning rod. For heavier cover I will move up in line size. The 5" gets a 3/0 hook, the 4" a 1/0 and the 7" a 6/0.

[hatrix]

My favorite is white pearl with a 3/0 EWG rigged weightless. The pearl makes it easier for me to see so I know when to twitch it for a better presentation.

[Jacob Robinson]

Ive put them on a shaky head rig before and fished them shallow. Looks like a baitfish looking for food on the bottom. Caught a bunch on it.

I mainly fish them weightless though with a 5/0 hook.

[MichBassMan]

In water 3' or less I will sometimes drop down to a 2/0 hook and rig them weightless but from the side instead of upright. They move different and stay in the "zone" longer. Try it.

  Good Fishn'

[YNCBASSMAN]

flukes are my nemesis.  i hate those d***n things!!!  i have a ton of them and i've had success on them, but grrrrrr!!!  too much line twist, even with a swivel.  maybe i'm hooking them wrong??  i usually use a 3/0 hook sometimes a 4/0.  i've used 10lb mono, 12lb fluoro and 20lb braid.  all on spinning gear, shimano symetre on a 7'0" bps medium action extreme rod.  as much as i hate them, i'll keep using them because they work.  whoa is me....

[eyedabassman]

flukes are my nemesis. i hate those d***n things!!! i have a ton of them and i've had success on them, but grrrrrr!!! too much line twist, even with a swivel. maybe i'm hooking them wrong?? i usually use a 3/0 hook sometimes a 4/0. i've used 10lb mono, 12lb fluoro and 20lb braid. all on spinning gear, shimano symetre on a 7'0" bps medium action extreme rod. as much as i hate them, i'll keep using them because they work. whoa is me....

Maybe the swivel you are useing is not a good one buy top of the line and it may stop that problem! Just a thought!

[bassman018]

I like it weightless, in shallow water. And a split shot rig in deeper. I like the smoking shad color the best.

[jenga]

Ok now we know how to rig the fluke how do we fish the fluke.  I am new to using a fluke but thought it should be fished like a jerkbait.  Is this true or do you reel and give a few twitches like one would with a crankbait. Thanks for the advice.

Jenga

[hatrix]

I never reel mine. I only jerk and twitch it back. It doesn't look right to me when i reel. I only use zoom super flukes maybe other ones you can reel but I dunno since zoom is all I use. Sometimes I wish I could reel them when im not trying to spend a lifetime each cast twitching it back to me.