Plastic Technique Question, Fluke Specific

[eagon06]

Hey guys,

I know there is a jerkbait thread but this is kind of general plastic...although I am most curious about it In relation to fishing a fluke.

When you cast it out and start working it doing a jerk jerk pause technique, it seems 9/10 hits come on the pause when the bait is sinking. My question is this:

When do you reel in your slack after your twitches/jerks? You have to keep some slack in the line in order to get the right motion, but I feel like I'm missing fish because by the time I reel in most of my slack the fish is ready to spit the fluke.

Should I be doing a jerk-jerk-reel in most slack-pause? Because then I feel like by reeling in most of the slack that the fluke cant drop down and "die" on the pause.

I have been doing a jerk-jerk-pause-reel in slack. When I reel in the slack then I feel the tap and then its gone...

Hopefully this makes sense, I typed it up on my phone. I really want to master fishing flukes but after missing one today I want to make sure my technique is spot on.

Please break it down as simple as you can.

Thanks guys

[eagon06]

Anyone? I'm going out in a little while here and would like to make sure I'm working it the best way possible.

[Fishes in trees]

I've done best using fluke style baits on spinning gear.  Specifically using 14 or 20 lb Crystal Fireline and a 1 to 2 foot fluorocarbon  leader   The white color of the line shows up exceptionally well against the water and acts like a strike indicator.  You can fish the bait on a totally slack line and instantly know when you get bit.  Then tighten up ASAP and set the hook.  No matter what you do, you are going to miss fish from time to time fishing dropping baits on a slack line, but this system has worked the best for fluke style baits for me.

[BassinLou]

Many hits do come on the pause. When I am fluke fishing I keep a careful eye on my line. On the pause I particularly look for a sudden tap on the line or change in the direction. I reel in fast and set the hook. Sometimes the fish is coming towards and feels like you lost your lure. That's when you really know you have something. LOL.

[Crestliner2008]

Let your imagination dictate how you work the bait. Yes, you must toss back a bit a slack after each twitch, but the cadence of your retrieve is based more on the fish's mood than a right or wrong way to fish it.

[roadwarrior]

I like to work flukes to resemble feeding minnows. That means very light twitches keeping

the baits in about the same spot, then moving forward a couple of feet and working it again.

This year I have used a double fluke rig exclusively. I have also experimented with several

different brands. Give the YUM Houdini Shad a try.

 

 

 

[lmbfisherman]

Many hits do come on the pause. When I am fluke fishing I keep a careful eye on my line. On the pause I particularly look for a sudden tap on the line or change in the direction. I reel in fast and set the hook. Sometimes the fish is coming towards and feels like you lost your lure. That's when you really know you have something. LOL.

He's got it right on the head.  Like other slack line techniques, I am a line watcher, you have to  watch it like a hawk.  There is no wrong way to fish a fluke, you can even dead stick it.  Yesterday, I caught a 3 lb bass, by casting it and jerked it twice, let it sit with a slack line for a good 30 seconds and saw my line just jump a tiny bit and I reeled the slack and set the hook.  You are only limited by your imagination on how to fish it. 

[.ghoti.]

I wouldn't worry a bit about the fish spitting out your bait before you can set the hook. Most of the time, a fish that bites a fluke is committed. If you're truly bothered by the idea, get yourself a tube of MegaStrike, and use it. Bass almost never spit out a bait greased up with MegaStrike.

You need that bit of slack in the line to let the bait sashay back and forth between twitches. Sometimes the pause is the key. Vary the length of your pauses, even to the point you pause long enough for the bait to hit the bottom. Give it enough slack to let it sink, and watch your line.