Scrounger Heads

[kellenMO]

Can someone point me in the direction of scrounger style heads with bigger sized hooks? Any help is appreciated!

[00 mod]

PM sent

Jeff

[Big Swimbait]

http://www.tnrivertacklecompany.com/officialpage_006.htm

My favorites!

 

[A-Jay]

23 minutes ago, 1201vilbig said:

http://www.tnrivertacklecompany.com/officialpage_006.htm

My favorites!

 

Mine as well.

A-Jay

[chadmack282]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Mine as well.

A-Jay

What is the difference in action between short & long bill with the TN River tremor heads?

[primetime]

I have been told by a guy I trust that these can be better than a vibrating swim Jig around grass, I have tried it a few times and I still can't figure this lure out. I have tried using a paddle tail fluke, sassy shad, and a few other's, but I need to figure out how to catch fish as well on this since the guys who use it, seem to do really well, It has not really taken off which is why I think Bass will Strike it when everyone on the lake is throwing Chatterbaits over grass...

I need to experiment some more when the fishiing is good instead of using them when it is off. I love the idea, also the dozen I purchased about 2 years ago all turned brown but I am sure it doesn't matter...

What is the best way to fish this? SHaky Head style or chatterbait style? I have never watched anyone score on it.

[A-Jay]

2 hours ago, chadmack282 said:

What is the difference in action between short & long bill with the TN River tremor heads?

My experience with the Scrounger type baits is with the 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 ounce baits.  In those weights with the trailers I use, most super & Mag flukes, Standard & Mag Trick worms, the short bill does not provide the vibrating action I'm looking for when presenting them very close to & often RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM with a Super Slow retrieve - which for me, has been super effective.

So it's all long bill for me.

A-Jay 

[chadmack282]

20 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

My experience with the Scrounger type baits is with the 3/8, 1/2 & 3/4 ounce baits.  In those weights with the trailers I use, most super & Mag flukes, Standard & Mag Trick worms, the short bill does not provide the vibrating action I'm looking for when presenting them very close to & often RIGHT ON THE BOTTOM with a Super Slow retrieve - which for me, has been super effective.

So it's all long bill for me.

A-Jay 

Twitching, stop n go, or just super slow even retrieve?

[Hogsticker]

So what size are the hooks and what kind of hooks do they use? I'd like to try these with some paddle tails but I'd like to know if they're 2/0, 3/0 etc. Mustad? 

[A-Jay]

10 hours ago, chadmack282 said:

Twitching, stop n go, or just super slow even retrieve?

Up until just a few years ago - I had Never fished a Scrounger.  I was introduced to it's Magic by BR member 00 mod while on a fishing trip in Mexico.  Initially I was fishing the bait Way Too Fast and not close enough to the bottom.  A couple different guides there straightened me out. 

Go Low & Slow.

My absolute very best results there (and Here) have come with a slow constant retrieve right on or along the bottom.  Stopping is done to ensure & reestablish bottom contact and bass will hit the bait on the stop or fall but many more seem to eat it on the crawl. 

 Select a bait weight and use a Retrieve pace that is just fast enough to keep the moving just off the bottom.

A-Jay

 

10 hours ago, Hogsticker said:

So what size are the hooks and what kind of hooks do they use? I'd like to try these with some paddle tails but I'd like to know if they're 2/0, 3/0 etc. Mustad? 

I tried paddle tails - no good. 

The  vibrating action of the Scrounger head seems to contradict the action of the paddle tail and the whole things just not good.

Flukes and thin straight tail trailers will allow the Scrounger head to do it's thing while at the same time impacting a sweet shimmy to the trailer.

As for hook size - the standard hooks on the 3/8's & 1/2 oz Tremor bait I think is a 3/0 and it's a great hook.  One of the reasons we switched from the Original Scounger - small hook.

And because the resident bass on Lake Baccarac are lets just say - Hefty, 00 mod had a batch custom made with a 5/0 - just what the doctor ordered.

A-Jay

[chadmack282]

4 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Up until just a few years ago - I had Never fished a Scrounger.  I was introduced to it's Magic by BR member 00 mod while on a fishing trip in Mexico.  Initially I was fishing the bait Way Too Fast and not close enough to the bottom.  A couple different guides there straightened me out. 

Go Low & Slow.

My absolute very best result there (and Here) have come with a slow constant retrieve right on or along the bottom.  Stopping is done to ensure & reestablish bottom contact and bass will hit the bait on the stop or fall but many more seem to eat it on the crawl. 

 Select a bait weight and use a Retrieve pace just fast enough to keep the moving just off the bottom.

A-Jay

 

Been looking to try these for a while guess i will order some from TN River 1st thing tuesday morning & get to scrounging for the 1st time next weekend! 

 Thanks A-jay

Chad

[A-Jay]

4 minutes ago, chadmack282 said:

4 minutes ago, chadmack282 said:

Been looking to try these for a while guess i will order some from TN River 1st thing tuesday morning & get to scrounging for the 1st time next weekend! 

 Thanks A-jay

Chad

 

You're Welcome - and unless you're fishing deeper than 20 ft - get the 3/8's oz, use the Zoom Super Fluke color of your choice, let it get to the bottom - and just crawl it along.  If the baits Too Heavy, you'll have to reel it faster to keep it up off the bottom.  The 3/8's will take a while to get down there but you'll be able to keep the pace right without dredging the bottom.

Scrounger type baits are certainly not magic but they're surprisingly weedless & very versatile. 

And be careful - you might get your arm broke.

Good Luck

A-Jay

This is it right here ~

A-Jay

http://www.tnrivertacklecompany.com/officialpage_009.htm

[riverbasser]

Great advice guys. I learn new stuff here everyday. And I end up needing to buy stuff a lot thanks to y'all too lol. Guess I'll have to pick up some scroungers and try it out.

[WRB]

Jeff PM sent are 2 letters that drive me nuts, I know it's site rules that force those replies.

If you have information share it!

the original Scrounger was covered by a patent and trade name, therefore everyone coping the design must use other names such as wiggle head or tremor head unless they play a royalty.

The patent has long expired but the trade name doesn't and the trade name was purchased.

The long collar was an attempt back in the 90's to copy the original collar without infringement on the original collar and it created a different wiggle that worked. The original is a slower wiggle, the longer collar a tighter wiggle, both work. I prefer the longer collar because of my success using a tighter wiggle and it goes through cover better.

Tremor heads offer over size hooks, heavier weights and I prefer them.

Tom

 

[00 mod]

Tom, my PM sent was just a link to the exact bait that has been discussed at length here. They are the best on the market. Plain and simple !

Jeff

[A-Jay]

Clearly there are any number of baits that can & do work on these heads.  Here's a small assortment of trailers that have displayed a decent level of effectiveness  here.

top to bottom ~

 SK Mag Dream Shot (I debated on giving this one up - secret top producer)

 Yamamoto Swim Senko

 Berkley Havoc Devil Spear

SK KVD Perfect Plastic Blade Minnow

Z Man Razor Shadz

Zoom Salty Super Fluke

Zoom Salty Magnum Fluke

A-Jay

[WRB]

On July 4, 2016 at 6:23 AM, 00 mod said:

Tom, my PM sent was just a link to the exact bait that has been discussed at length here. They are the best on the market. Plain and simple !

Jeff

Jeff, just pulling your chain. I stopped visiting a western forum site because any real information was always "pm sent", never shared.

I may have shared that the original Scrounger hook was too small and would cut off the hook at the bend, straightened the shank out and attached 5/0 worm hook with super glue and 25 lb mono wrapped tight. Today you can buy them with larger 5/0 & 6/0 hooks.

Hope you had a safe 4th holiday.

Tom

 

[WRB]

Scrounger retrieves vary depending on how deep the bass are located and what prey type they are feeding on. I would think shore anglers would really benefit using a Scrounger because working uphill deep to shallow around points is a good technique.

My go to trailer is still a trout color Sluggo or Fin S follow by a Fluke as a close second and both work great, the Fluke gets the nod with Shad colors and bass targeting Shad. 

My standard retrieve is slow and steady, a few stop and goes until I either get bit or feel a few light bumps, then speed it up a few yards before slowing back down.

Tom