Scrouger Bill Shape Question - Help !

[ChrisD46]

For A-Jay and others with scrounger experience : Out of the box the sroungers I purchaced (Medium & Long Bill Luck-E-Strike) had the bills slightly off center, so I carefully bent the clear plastic bills back to 12 o'clock perfectly in line with the hook . *Upon examination I noticed the "u shape" cup is not uniform in that one side protrudes slightly forward towards the jig head versus the other side of the bill cup  which is slightly recessed back . Will this slightly non-uniform cup affect the action / retrieve of the crounger  - even if the bill itself is lined up perfect at 12 o'clock ? I was thinking to try and heat up the bill by dipping it in hot water for 20 seconds and then see if I can work the one side the bill with my fingers to create a more uniform cup then see if it will cool in place . Then again for all I know - perhaps the bill cup is not supposed to be perfectly uniform ? ... Thank you in advance for replies scrounger experts !! 

[WRB]

Unfortunitly I am not familiar with current production of the Lucky Strike Scroungers.

Regarding bill length; the original Walters Scroungers had a thicker short bill, when Mold Masters came out with the Wiggle Head Scrounger it had a longer thinner bill to duplicate the original action, that is where the long bill came from.

Aaron Martens Scroungers were bought out by Lucky Strike who own the Tradename Scrounger and continued making both short and long bill Scroungers without any expertise with these lures.

Bent bills will affect the Scrounger action depending on how fast it's retreived and trailer used. If you can remove the bill ?, then put the bill between 2 table spoons, clamp snug together and heat to about 200 degrees and let cool. I did this to the Mold Master Scrounger long bills to cup and straighten them.

Tom

[A-Jay]

Before making any modifications to the bait -

Hang the trailer of your choice on it (think slender with no boot tail) and Go fish it ! 

See how it runs - remember low & slow on the retrieve.

You might not need to change anything.

If you're using a reel with 7:1 ratio or above - you'll really need to focus on slowing done to ensure you're offering the bait to work it's magic - the slower the better.

If you try to speed reel it - the bait may either roll or other wise not perform as effectively.

Good Luck

A-Jay

 

 

[WRB]

Agree with the above, fish it first. Sluggo is a good trailer for Scrounger.

Tom

[ChrisD46]

Thanks Tom & A-Jay ... Good Advice - love the history stories too Tom !!

For these 1/4th oz. scroungers I plan to use them with Zoom "The Fluke"  trailer with a 6:3:1 bait cast reel , 6"10" spinner bait rod and #12 LB. FC . *To your technique  point A-Jay , those with experience say "low & slow" yet you see ads with Rick Clunn  showing scroungers run fast in higher water columns ?  To each their own I suppose - see what works . **Lastly , my next purchase will be the Tennessee River Tremor Head - the experts must use them for a reason and the company put a lot of thought into what they are doing versus just buying the rights to something to produce without the expertise to back it up  ...

[SWVABass]

Sometimes the bills or lip will get flipped back. Gently pus forward on the edge to see if the cup will pop forward. Don't push extremely hard just enough to flex it. I thought a bunch I had bought were messed up but that's all it took and they swim perfectly now.

[ChrisD46]

36 minutes ago, Swbass15 said:

Sometimes the bills or lip will get flipped back. Gently pus forward on the edge to see if the cup will pop forward. Don't push extremely hard just enough to flex it. I thought a bunch I had bought were messed up but that's all it took and they swim perfectly now.

Thanks - bills are all pushed forward but still a little off ... No worries now - if they don't fish right I will try Tom "The Spoon Man" idea which should get them right ... Note to self : Buy the TN. Trembler jig head and I won't have to make a post like this .

[Chris Hight]

I know some one said don’t use a boot tail swimbait.  But for the last 2 years I’ve been using a 3.5” big bite suicide shad on the 1/4oz medium bill and it’s a deadly combo . I guide on Lake Chickamauga and it’s my go to for fall and winter . There are days they prefer and zoom super fluke jr also