Fluke?

[Wurming67]

One bait I haven't used much but I want to get better with is a fluke,basically what I've read and seen on YouTube is throw it out there let it sink jerk the rod a couple times and repeat,now using a spinning rod should the jerks of the rod to the side towards the water  or rod tip high?As far as my setup this is what I'm gonna start using it on 7 ft med light spinning rod on 2000 spinning reel with 10lb braid on used a 3/0 EWG hook.Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.

 

 

 

[NHBull]

I fish them like a jerkbait.

.......also, don't be afraid to nose hook them with a wacky hook

[papajoe222]

How you jerk the rod determines how the bait moves in the water. Rod tip up=fluke darting up. Rod tip down=fluke darting forward, to the side=forward and slightly up. Sometimes just changing the rod angle will get you bit. Kind of like changing the retrieve speed of some faster moving baits.

[tcbass]

I like nose-hooking mine. More weedless and the fluke lasts a lot longer. 

 

 

 

[Black Hawk Basser]

Definitely lots more movement when nose hooked.  With flukes, I start really fast; the first thing I try is a really aggressive twitching to keep it on top and darting on the surface.  Sometimes they annihilate it, sometimes you'll find a slower, more methodical twitch-and-pause routine will get them to go.

 

I also like to Texas rig it and throw it right up on the bank and drag it into shoreline slop, directing it across openings in vegetation.

 

In my personal experience, flukes seem like one of those baits that's either really "on" that day, or they don't want anything to do with it at all on other days.  They don't work so well in little ponds I fish that have mostly bluegills for forage.  In those places, I throw more bulky baits like a buzz toad.

[TOXIC]

I throw a Yamamoto DShad a LOT.  It is one of my go to baits.  I have rigged it many different ways but weightless is the most deadly for me.  Depending on how I want the bait to act, the key is where you insert the hook in the nose for a weightless Texas Rigged bait.  Straight in the center will give you a flat level fall. to the top and the bait will dive when you twitch it, to the bottom and the bait will climb on the twitch.  Likewise left or right of center will move the bait sideways.  There are a lot of minor adjustments in between those that I mentioned that will dictate the baits movement. 

[burrows]

The fluke is one of those baits I find myself throwing almost every time I’m out fishing it’s one of my confident lures. I throw it with a 4/0 light wire EWG. A good approach would be to cast it out let it sink and jerk jerk pause count to ten jerk jerk pause and repeat. You can play with different retrieves soft plastic jerk baits are extremely productive and for me fun to fish.

[Sam]

Go with a medium heavy 7-foot rod, be it baitcaster or spinning rig.

 

Use 8-pound test fluorocarbon or braid line.

 

Use an extra wide gap hook of your choice, be it a 2/0 or 3/0.

 

Use white, silver or pink flukes to find out what color they want for starters. Lots of colors to select to try to match the bait fish.

 

Do not use the super flukes. Go with the regular flukes.

 

Cast. Let sit. Twitch bait with rod tip. Let fluke sink to bottom. Repeat back to you. You can raise your rod tip from six-inches to the "noon" (over your head) position and any in-between.

 

Flukes can be great or a waste of time. But you do need to throw them to find out if that is the bait the bass want. And do not discount those pink flukes. For some unknown reason, on some bodies of water (like the Mattaponi River in Virginia) pink is a great color for flukes and trick worms.  Go figure.

[flyfisher]

i'll also add that when rigging weedless how far you insert the hook before turning it will affect action.  the further down you rig the more the bait will want to rise up with each twitch.  Don't be afraid to throw them in nasty cover too.  I have caught countless citation sized LM in thick lilly pads with a fluke.  They truly are a bait you can throw at any time in any condition if you change up your retrieve and rigging.

 

I throw mine on a M XF 6'10" spinning rod with 30lb braid tied direct.  I don't like them on bait casters myself or with MH but it is all about your preference.  I always have a fluke tied on and have caught fish in every month of the year and water temps down to the mid 30's

 

[Catt]

Sometimes certain lure are "buttonholed" into specific techniques...soft plastic jerkbaits are one.

 

My personal choice is Zoom's Salty Super Fluke Jr, Watermelon Slice in color. I Rig it on a 4/0 Lazer Trokar EWG Worm Hook. This is ultra-high carbon steel Q741 wire which give me additional weight.

 

I use the setup in water less than 10', sparse grass, lily pads, or brush. I fish it like any other weighted Texas Rig, dragging it on the bottom or short twitching but staying in contact with the bottom.

 

The second overlooked technique is the ole reliable Carolina Rig!

[TOXIC]

31 minutes ago, flyfisher said:

i'll also add that when rigging weedless how far you insert the hook before turning it will affect action.  the further down you rig the more the bait will want to rise up with each twitch.

Just be advised that you will go through more baits with this rigging as your line will cut any excess plastic in front of the hook eye and cause your bait to tear when you do hook up.  My preference is to try and get the nose of the plastic just over the hook eye and control the action by where I insert the hookpoint when I initially rig it.  Can't argue with success but just pointing out it will cost you some baits.  

[flyfisher]

yeah i have never worried about tearing up baits because that generally means i am catching fish.  

[GReb]

The best part about a fluke is you can be creative and fish it so many different ways. You can let it sink,work it shallow, or Carolina rig it. 

 

This spring I was in the bait shop and an old dude came in with a brown colored fluke looking to buy more. Said they had caught a number of 7-8 pounders the day before by adding a split shot 6 inches above the hook and placing it on bream beds

[tcbass]

5 hours ago, flyfisher said:

yeah i have never worried about tearing up baits because that generally means i am catching fish.  

 

 

[Big Swimbait]

Wacky will get you bit also...

[Yakalong]

I don't think there is a right way to retrieve a fluke.  If it doesn't get bit one way I will switch the angle at which I jerk it. You really can't fish them wrong. 

[ChrisD46]

T-Rigging a fluke higher or lower in the nose makes it dart differently as well - cool bait !

[Bankbeater]

I throw a fluke out weightless and let it sink down on it's own to the bottom.  If I'm fishing shallow I jerk the rod to the side or jerk downward to keep the fluke under the water.  If I'm fishing deep I will jerk up so the bait comes off the bottom and then sinks back down again.