Flukes

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

Thanks so much for the feedback. I'm trying to soak up all the info I can about flukes so I can master them and get more hook ups.

If you find yourself jerking too early on the hook up in clear water.. Experiment with looking away from the lure after it lands.. At least until you stop quickly jerking the lure away from the approaching bass.

As time goes on you will get to where in clear water you will be almost 100% sight fishing, not casting at fish, BUT MONITORING YOUR FLUKE IS STILL VISIBLE, if not, set the hook!

[Green Trout]

If you find yourself jerking too early on the hook up in clear water.. Experiment with looking away from the lure after it lands.. At least until you stop quickly jerking the lure away from the approaching bass.

As time goes on you will get to where in clear water you will be almost 100% sight fishing, not casting at fish, BUT MONITORING YOUR FLUKE IS STILL VISIBLE, if not, set the hook!

That has to be a lot of fun! But the water I fish in is about 2ft clear so I don't do any sight fishing. Just curious, what do you like about EWG hooks vs Offset?

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

Im guessing the last hook question was for me..

The seemingly tiny hooks i use do a number of things very well.

1) almost like its not there, for weeds/ doesnt alter the natural balance of the weightless fluke

2) its smaller, so it makes engulfing the fluke at all kinds of odd angles much easier for the bass

What does a bass do after it captures its prey? (It crushes it with its teeth etc in its throat and inside gill plates etc) This is why the small hook is still so effective on this lure.

I get a lot of fish hooked in the top of the roof of the mouth. Very rare to have a gut hook, i was scared of that at first but its been a non issue.

I do re- tie after every fish due to the top of the roof of the mouth hook ups/ makes the line ride against fish's teeth on the fight.

[Stingray23]

That has to be a lot of fun! But the water I fish in is about 2ft clear so I don't do any sight fishing. Just curious, what do you like about EWG hooks vs Offset?

Its the best part! Seeing the fish come up and strike your fluke violently while you're jerking it is awesome.

[adam32]

I use a 7' medium power fast action avid casting rod. 12 pound invizx.

I don't get why people would think you can't cast a fluke with casting gear. Just because you're not using a weighted hook doesn't mean it's actually "unweighted". I've never had an issue casting a fluke with casting gear, in fact i think they cast easily. Now when I say fluke I mean the super fluke. The original fluke would probably be really tricky with casting gear.

I like to fish super flukes on a owner twist lock hook,unweighted or weighted if i want to get them deeper. I like the screw lock on those hooks with the centering pin. It's easy to screw in and doesn't tear the nose of the fluke up as quickly as an offset hook.

Bubblegum for pre spawn, pearl for the rest of the year.

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

The loooong cast past a point/ its just a little too far out to see DOWN at your lure, but, jerk/ jerk/ jerk approaching the point and the water JUST BOILS UP/ meanwhile your drags singing and you never set the hook,

Yeah, good times

[new2BC4bass]

Im guessing the last hook question was for me..

The seemingly tiny hooks i use do a number of things very well.

1) almost like its not there, for weeds/ doesnt alter the natural balance of the weightless fluke

2) its smaller, so it makes engulfing the fluke at all kinds of odd angles much easier for the bass

What does a bass do after it captures its prey? (It crushes it with its teeth etc in its throat and inside gill plates etc) This is why the small hook is still so effective on this lure.

I get a lot of fish hooked in the top of the roof of the mouth. Very rare to have a gut hook, i was scared of that at first but its been a non issue.

I do re- tie after every fish due to the top of the roof of the mouth hook ups/ makes the line ride against fish's teeth on the fight.

 

My brother-in-law (living in Florida) won't fish a big plastic such as a super fluke or Big EZ-Swimmer because he feels hook-up ratio is too poor with all that plastic in the way.  Is he setting the hook too soon, maybe?  He uses 5/0 hooks.  I tried a Big EZ Swimmer there this year for the first time.  Bad time of the year.  Were catching only 1 to 1-1/2 lbers.  Lost one myself on a Big EZ.  He didn't hesitate to point out (again) why he won't fish such lures.  On the other hand, I would love to fish with them if I could start hooking up.

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

Sounds like he's not fishing an exposed hook.

I am penetrating the fluke head from the bottom up roughly 1/4" from the tip of the nose. Fully exposed hook.

I used to miss fish often with any other hook presentation.

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

With an exposed hook, the hook is exposed, LOL.. No plastic to have to press through.

[new2BC4bass]

Not positive, but imagine he set the hook like I did.  Approximately 1/4" through nose, then back up from the bottom with the point resting in the channel to make it weedless.

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

I honestly dont really "set" the hook with the nothing rig i'm describing. Raise rod tip and reel, heck most times the bass has itself hooked before i have done anything.

Try it, its killer

[John G]

Wish i could post my big bass from weekend before last. Says it too big to upload. 8+ lb female, LLLLLLLLLLOOOOOONNNNNGGGGGG fish. 10lb line, it was a hoot!

This is the beautiful bass that Intex Raft Bum is talking about.

 

Caught on a Scrounger Head w/10# line in heavy timber w/a spinning reel.

 

[new2BC4bass]

This is the beautiful bass that Intex Raft Bum is talking about.

 

Caught on a Scrounger Head w/10# line in heavy timber w/a spinning reel.

 

 

 

WOW !!!  Nice Fish.

[new2BC4bass]

Im guessing the last hook question was for me..

The seemingly tiny hooks i use do a number of things very well.

1) almost like its not there, for weeds/ doesnt alter the natural balance of the weightless fluke

2) its smaller, so it makes engulfing the fluke at all kinds of odd angles much easier for the bass

What does a bass do after it captures its prey? (It crushes it with its teeth etc in its throat and inside gill plates etc) This is why the small hook is still so effective on this lure.

I get a lot of fish hooked in the top of the roof of the mouth. Very rare to have a gut hook, i was scared of that at first but its been a non issue.

I do re- tie after every fish due to the top of the roof of the mouth hook ups/ makes the line ride against fish's teeth on the fight.

 

 

What hooks are you using?

[ww2farmer]

Same rods that I toss senkos/etc. on

 

Spinning: 6'9" M/XF Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth/Pflueger Purist 1330 spooled with 10lb Power pro braid, and I'll use anywhere from an 8-12 lb fluoro leader if needed.

 

Casting: 6'9" MH/F Fenwick Elite Tech Smallmouth/Daiwa Lexa 100SHL, spooled with 30lb Power pro braid, and I'll use 12-20lb fluoro leaders on that.

[roadwarrior]

For weightless plastics, including flukes, I use a 7' MF spinning rod.

Specifically: St. Croix LES70MF/ Stella 2500FB/ #6 Yo-Zuri Hybrid

and Gamakatsu 3/0 or 4/0 EWG Offset Worm Hooks (thin wire).

 

 

 

[Inflatable Raft Bum]

What hooks are you using?

In the photo- Scrounger head long bill, cant remember weight of head though. (The one just lighter than the 1/2 oz if i recall)

Fluking and Senko wacky rigging in general, 2/0 Gam or BPS octopus hooks.

Thanks for posting my bass pic John, i dont know why my device wont let me do it.