Scrounger Tactics ?

[ChrisD46]

I'm new to scrounger fishing for bass - it looks like the long bill length  version is most popular followed by the medium length bill version .

I understand the long bill version is best for a slow , bottom retrieve while the medium length bill version could work at various water column depths .

I plan to throw the scrounger  shallow (most bass I target are in 12 ft. or less water depth) and believe the 1/4oz. or possibly a 3/8th oz. will work best with THE one bait I want to throw it on : Zoom "The Fluke" 4 inch minnow . * Please comment on the above proposed weights , as well as , any advise tactics between the long length bill and medium length bill versions using the Zoom Fluke . Thanks in advance !

[Big Swimbait]

Agree with your analysis on bill length and weights for the most part. I have some up to 3/4 oz for ledge fishing. For all of them I use the Lake Fork Magic Shad. That segmented body really works with the Scrounger & on vibrating jigs.

[ChrisD46]

Thanks for the reply - after much reading to try and answer my own question I am going to focus on just two scrounger sizes : The 1/4 oz. in medium and long bill length and maybe the 3/8th oz. long bill if windy , trouble keeping 1/4th oz. down or it washes out . The medium bill 1/4th oz. will be used like a lipless crank bait with a Zoom Fluke 4" and the long bill 1/4th oz. will be used very slow on the bottom with the same Zoom Fluke . I might try a Berkley 4" Power Minnow as it is very close to a Zoom Fluke in size . *My reading has indicated that the weight of the scrounger chosen and the shape / length of the soft plastic trailer need to be matched carefully along with retrieve speed  or else the action suffers greatly (Smalljaw 67 indicated exactly the same thing as well)  . Nothing against the LFLMS but A-Mart is such a freak in the way he studies the scrounger jig / trailer relationship , I believe it wise to start with what he recommends and that is the Zoom 'The Fluke" in Pearl White or Albino at 3/16th to 1/4th oz. scrounger size.  Lastly , I'm targeting spotted bass in a reservoir that favor shad and in the Fall the shad tend to be smaller thus an over all smaller profile would appear the smart move  (i.e. match the hatch) .  

[primetime]

I have been trying to gain confidence with a scrounger jig, and I have had on and off again success, the one soft bait I have had by far the most success with is the Strike King Caffiene shad on I believe 1/4-3/8.

 

Not sure if that helps, The Caffiene shad is kind of one of those baits like a Senko that just always seems to catch fish no matter how you rig it, but I would pick the Caffiene shad over a zoom fluke personally. Something about all that salt and how it sinks that seems to make it work so good. They are fragile like a GYB worm, but hard to not catch fish on that bait. It looks awesome on a scrounger, so does the sluggo.

[Glenn]