4" Or 5" Flukes

[OkobojiEagle]

5" flukes are more available than 4" versions, BUT I find 4" flukes more effective for smallies... Who uses 4" flukes and do you find they are more effective than 5" catching numbers of average sized smallies in your waters? What percentage of the time do you dip a flukes tail yellow (any size) chasing smallmouth?

oe

[Snakehead Whisperer]

Just yesterday I was fishing a 4" Saltwater Assassin swimbait in a color called "hot chicken" which is basically exactly what you describe. I don't often fish flukes for smallies (unless you count Gulp minnows as flukes.) I was getting strikes from 8-10" fish on this bait, and only able to hook up with larger fish as I was fishing it on a 4/O swimbait hook. There were times when the same fish would hit this bait 3-4 times.

 

Here's an image I found of the bait. The one I fished was a paddle tail, but they're also available in fluke style.

[mod479]

I like full size ones, super flukes and D-Shads. Caught 3 dinks yesterday fishing them nose hooked on a gammie dropshot/splitshot #1. 6" smallies hitting 5" baits, so theyre certainly not too big in my opinion. 4" work good too, I just think the 5" ones cast farther and skip somewhat more predictably.

[NathanW]

Not a fluke expert but have had lots of jerkbait success this year in particular as the water has been clearer than most years past. During the spawn I like fishing the 4" fluke nose hooked with spinning gear when I know where they are spawning and can slow down. Also, it didnt hurt to throw it when I knew fish are loaded on certain current breaks. One of the best hook-up ratios that I know of fishing like this, problem is, it is very hard to cover water with this sized slow sinking bait.

 

Otherwise I like the superfluke on a 5/0 Extra Wide gap hook. I will tell you though, I never fish the superfluke on a jerkbait rod, I fish it on a worm/jig rod with extra-fast or fast action. I am at a slight disadvantage on my casts but I need that extra backbone for hooksets. Also, I am only using a fluke when there is no chop on the water or have too much grass, otherwise, a hard jerkbait is the way to go!!

[OkobojiEagle]

Also, I am only using a fluke when there is no chop on the water or have too much grass, otherwise, a hard jerkbait is the way to go!!

 

 

This surprises me, Nathan.  I like to throw a Shad Assassin over a shallow rocky point, reef or bank when the surface is broken.  I probably work it a little faster in this condition than "glass calm".

 

 

oe

[NathanW]

This surprises me, Nathan.  I like to throw a Shad Assassin over a shallow rocky point, reef or bank when the surface is broken.  I probably work it a little faster in this condition than "glass calm".

 

 

oe

I think that this just caters to the way i like to fish.... fast.

 

Without a doubt you can work a hard jerkbait faster and it wont break the surface. But the bite on a hardbait always slows down when you lose chop, so I will slow way down and throw the fluke. Anywhere you catch em on a hard you can catch em on a soft I believe. But not the other way around. So yeah I agree with you completely that the fluke works in those situations but I always prefer throwing the Pointer first. May not be the right/best way but its the way I do it.

[Basshammer]

I use the 5 inch fluke and cut the front off to make it 4 inch and that is the ticket for smallies usually in the morning, and late evening all the rest of the time i user hard jerkbaits.

[cbass12]

Just yesterday I was fishing a 4" Saltwater Assassin swimbait in a color called "hot chicken" which is basically exactly what you describe. I don't often fish flukes for smallies (unless you count Gulp minnows as flukes.) I was getting strikes from 8-10" fish on this bait, and only able to hook up with larger fish as I was fishing it on a 4/O swimbait hook. There were times when the same fish would hit this bait 3-4 times.

 

Here's an image I found of the bait. The one I fished was a paddle tail, but they're also available in fluke style.

 

I throw those on a darter jighead around the lakes in Eastern KS in the spring time. The smallies, white bass, and walleye love them!! The black shad and silver mullet color work the best for me. Need to give them a chance this fall....

[Stingray23]

Zoom super fluke.

[adam32]

I use mostly super flukes. I dont see any reason to downsize. In late summer early fall i use magnum flukes for river smallmouth and even with those i still catch lots of small fish.

[MacP]

bigger one's have more action. 

 

i do use the tiny fluke 3" in narrow rivers.