Tips For Weightless Flukes

[Dschouest42]

Ive heard such great things about fishing flukes. But I never seem to be able to cast them well. Any tips for better casting distance for a weightless fluke? And when are the best times to use one?

[MN Fisher]

18 minutes ago, Dschouest42 said:

Any tips for better casting distance for a weightless fluke?

Spinning rig - light line.

[jbrew73]

For a Zoom super fluke and a 3/0 round bend hook a medium or medium heavy casting rod in  7’-7’2” with 1/4-3/4oz weight rating works well for me.  

[NoShoes]

I can cast a super fluke as far as I need to on a bait caster. 
 

Loose spool tension and light brakes. 

[padon]

spinning rod if your having trouble. braid to fluoro leader sticks em.

[flyfisher]

I prefer a 6'8" MXF spinning rod with 6 or 8lb diameter braid tied direct for all my fluke fishing.  I can get all the distance i need and get fish out of any cover i encounter.  I tried them on a baitcaster but wasn't a fan of the action needed to make them work and it is was easier to skip with a spinning rod which is something do almost every cast  to help make it look like there are skittering baitfish.

[jbsoonerfan]

I agree with some of the above. I prefer them on a spinning rod because I find the action to be better. I have tried them on a baitcaster and didn't have a problem casting them, I just didn't have a rod that I liked. 

30 minutes ago, jbrew73 said:

For a Zoom super fluke and a 3/0 round bend hook a medium or medium heavy casting rod in  7’-7’2” with 1/4-3/4oz weight rating works well for me.  

That's not weightless

[Mike L]

31 minutes ago, NoShoes said:

I can cast a super fluke as far as I need to on a bait caster. 
 

Loose spool tension and light brakes. 

Agree

 

A moderate action rod with the above reel settings would be ideal for max distance. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[Bird]

They cast well on either but much prefer spinning because they skip so well.

[Tatulatard]

37 minutes ago, NoShoes said:

I can cast a super fluke as far as I need to on a bait caster. 
 

Loose spool tension and light brakes. 

Yep.  3/8 oz should be no problem for many reels.  A short list of affordable reels in no order would be Curado 70/150 MGL, SLX MGL, Lews LFS TP, 20 Tatula SV, Tatula Elite, Fuego CT with spool swap (Elite, SDS/Rays).  The new Okuma Hakai also looks good with the very light weight dream tackle designs spool.  Also back off that spool tension!  Every reel I have come across can be set up "like a Daiwa" and have ZERO spool tension.  Also try to avoid the heavy flouros and monos.  The difficulty in line management can really negatively effect the castability.  I like 10-12 flouro for weightless super flukes.  

 

[Msl819]

I’ll throw them on either a M spinning outfit or MHF baitcaster. Where I fish, a weightless and weedless fluke will get bit almost any time. It may not be the best choice for a given day. It it is hardly ever a bad choice. Any decent BCer set up correctly should be able to throw a fluke with a 3/0 or 4/0 hook without problem. 
 

Senkos and Fluke are my two most used soft plastics. As to when to use them, for me it is anytime except when the fish are hugging bottom, but I rarely fish water deeper than 12-15 feet. 

[papajoe222]

As for times to use them...............NOW!  Pre-spawn through winter, a Fluke will catch fish. Once the spawn is over, I'll use a heavier gauge hook to add weight and allow it to sink deeper.

[jbrew73]

8 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

I agree with some of the above. I prefer them on a spinning rod because I find the action to be better. I have tried them on a baitcaster and didn't have a problem casting them, I just didn't have a rod that I liked. 

That's not weightless

1/4 to 3/4 rod weight rating.  

[Catt]

17 hours ago, jbrew73 said:

medium heavy casting rod in  7’-7’2” with 1/4-3/4oz weight rating works well for me.

 

IDK ?

 

I wonder about some of y'all's casting abilities.

 

For years I threw Flukes on a Shimano Crucial 6'10" Medium Heavy X-Fast with Shimano Calcutta 100A & 15# Big Game.

 

Now it's a Powell Inferno 7' Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Team Lite & 15# Big Game.

 

Diawia Tatula 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Tournament MP & 15# Big Game.

 

All 3 rods are rated 1/4-3/4 oz. 

[PhishLI]

20 hours ago, Dschouest42 said:

Ive heard such great things about fishing flukes. But I never seem to be able to cast them well. Any tips for better casting distance for a weightless fluke?

Try a 5" Strike King Caffeine Shad. Rig it on an Owner Twistlock Light 5/0 hook. No problem bombing it for distance on MHF casting gear and light line. I'm using straight 30lb Daiwa J8 most often, even in clear water, and it gets bit.

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Strike_King_KVD_Perfect_Plastic_Caffeine_Shad_5_8pk/descpage-SKPCS.html

 

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Owner_Twistlock_Light_Hook/descpage-OTLL.html

 

 

[padon]

59 minutes ago, Catt said:

 

IDK ?

 

I wonder about some of y'all's casting abilities.

 

For years I threw Flukes on a Shimano Crucial 6'10" Medium Heavy X-Fast with Shimano Crucial 100A & 15# Big Game.

 

Now it's a Powell Inferno 7' Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Team Lite & 15# Big Game.

 

Diawia Tatula 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Tournament MP & 15# Big Game.

 

All 3 rods are rated 1/4-3/4 oz. 

for me its not an issue casting them they actually are pretty heavy for a bare plastic.i just have better feel for working them on a spinning rod. i seem to feel more connected to the light bait swimming and sinking with the spinning rod and a slightly softer tip. never had a problem hooking fish so thats what i fish them on.

[NoShoes]

1 hour ago, Catt said:

 

IDK ?

 

I wonder about some of y'all's casting abilities.

 

For years I threw Flukes on a Shimano Crucial 6'10" Medium Heavy X-Fast with Shimano Crucial 100A & 15# Big Game.

 

Now it's a Powell Inferno 7' Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Team Lite & 15# Big Game.

 

Diawia Tatula 7'1" Medium Heavy X-Fast with a Lew's Tournament MP & 15# Big Game.

 

All 3 rods are rated 1/4-3/4 oz. 

I’m with you. Frankly super flukes got some weight to them, I could cast them on a flipping stick if needed. 

[NavyToad]

I’ve used alot of different reels on a MH for weightless Super Flukes for the last 25 years. I can sling those things a mile and accurately. When fish are actively feeding in shallow water it’s my favorite way to fish. It doesn’t get any better than having a a fish boil on a fluke in shallow water. I like and use quality equipment, but I don’t pay much attention to technique specific rods, and a reel is a reel to me.

[geo g]

I use super flukes all the time and use the least weight possible to get the job done.  Weight in excess kills the action of the bait and causes it to get trapped in rocky places and among weedy anchored plants.  I usually use weightless, or a 1/32 bullet weight 90% of the time.  This gives lots of action with the slightest twitch.  Only go heavier in winds over 15 mph.  I often twitch the bottom causing a walking action with the bait.  I will change the length of the pauses until I find out what they want that day.  Most bites happen after several quick twitches and a long pause.  Bass will often pick up the bait during the pause.  Resembles  a dying fish.  The shallower the water the quicker the twitches.  Good in pad fields as long as the V on the pad is facing you.  Love flukes, and work my senkos the same way.  I work zoom super flukes on every trip at some time.  I have caught thousands of fish on them over the years.

 

To keep the action of the lure, I will cast with the wind and make long casts without having to add weight that will kill the action.  Let the wind be your friend.  Use a MH 7’ rod, Lews baitcaster, a 15 pound floro most of the time because it’s Florida.

[Bankbeater]

I treat a weightless fluke like a frog.  I cast it into the heaviest slop I can find.  I like a MH/F baitcaster spooled with 15 lb Big Game.  If I'm fishing open water I'll use a M/F spinning rod with 8 or 10 lb line on it.

[GreenPig]

A Shimano with a MGL as part of it's name will make casting weightless Super Flukes a breeze. Always fish Flukes.

[jdr99a]

For me the key is the hook. Give me a gammy 3/0 superline hook and a zoom super fluke and I can cast it as far as I need to. I’ve got a dedicated fluke setup - tatula sv103 on a bass x 6’8” mxf with 12lb invizx and I love it to pieces. 
 

I’m generally a bank angler so the shorter rod works well for me. If I were on a boat I may opt for a bit longer rod. 

[ChrisD46]

Go up to a EWG Gamakatsu 4/0 size hook for a little more weight . I will even use the heavier super line hooks in EWG 3/0 and 4/0 to play with the weight / fall rate .

[JustJames]

OP might get the Zoom super fluke jr 4” version. If you still have problem casting 5” version, you can try Yamamoto D-Shad or Strike king Caffeine Shad 5” which heavier than Zoom Super Fluke. If you still have a hard time you might have to get weighted hook like VMC drop dead weighted hook 1/16 or 1/32oz 3/0.

To me rod is dedicated how the Fluke move not to cast it, too stiff and you pulling the fluke instead of darting left and right, too soft you will not get a good hookset when at distance.

I hate using Fluke with spinning, too much twisted on the line and often time I would reel loose line in, create even more problem.

 

[WRB]

Donkey rig (double fluke) is heavy enough to cast with bait casting bass tackle.

Tom