What your favorite, go 2 Peacock bass lure?

[GonzoFishing]

I've noticed that the Peacock Bass seemed to have survived the cold front here in the Miami/Broward area but I cant seem to catch them. I've caught them in the past using spinner baits, jigs and topwater lures but so far this year, zero! I was wondering what the rest of you are using. Whats your go 2 lure for peacock bass? Sorry if I posted this in the wrong area but I figured Peacocks are only in So. Florida but if you have to move it to "Fishing Tackle", please do. Thanks and much appreciated!

[SoFlaBassAddict]

It's hard to say, peacocks can be exceedingly picky. Nothing is a sure bet outside of a live shiner. I've had lots and lots of success with small cranks, lipless cranks, and jerkbaits. The Yo-Zuri Hardcore SH-60 has been a phenomenal lure for peacocks lately. It's small, casts well, and closely mimics a lot of the smaller baitfish down in the South Florida lakes and canals. My most used color is the Holographic Shad. The only drawback is the price. At around 13 bucks a pop, you don't want to lose many of them. Peacocks like things that move. Erratic, quickly moving lures are generally the best way to hook up into a peacock down here. Small topwater prop baits like the Heddon Torpedo's can be super effective as well.

[flyboy]

I lived in Pembroke Pines and had a series of lakes in my neighborhood.  I could watch the lake behind my condo and anytime I saw any sort of schooling activity I would go out and make a few casts.  Ms. Fitsimmons at Everglades Pro Bass turned me on to a Rattletrap that has a spinner blade on the back.  It has one treble hook that you tie your line directly onto the hook after passing through the lure.  It is a weird kinda Rattletrap.  Anyway every time there was schooling activity I caught lots of Peacocks on this Rattletrap.  They are hard to find, but it seems most bright fire tiger type patterns work well.  When there was no visible schooling action I would usually catch several large mouth.   

[kiko13]

Clouser minnows....yes, a fly. Orange/brown or olive/cream.

Ernie

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Ms. Fitsimmons at Everglades Pro Bass

Great shop. I just wish they had a little larger of a selection. I've picked up some fantastic monster 14 inch floating worms there.

[SirSnookalot]

I've caught peacocks on just about any LMB lure, plain old gold spoon is probably my favorite.  Some claim to have caught them on plastics worms, I never have.

[GonzoFishing]

Thanks everyone! I'm definitely going to give these a try. I've been to the Pro Bass shop and the two ladies working there were awesome! I'm guessing one was the owner. Anyway, very cool shop if its the same one I'm thinking about. Think it was in Broward, near BPS. Might just swing by there this weekend for that Rattle Trap! ;D

Hey Ernie, can you use a spinning rod with light line to cast the clouser minnow?

Thanks again for the info! I love this site!!

[kiko13]

Hey Ernie, can you use a spinning rod with light line to cast the clouser minnow?

I've never tried it but it might be worth a try on a Lite rod.....you will have a fight once you hook up! Try to find one with the larger dumbbell eyes (that's the weight). Good luck!

Ernie

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Charlie, it's over there on Griffin Road. Tucked inside of a small strip mall on the southern side of Griffin.

Clouser minnows are pretty good. I've tied some larger ones for saltwater use. I'm sure you can find larger weighted ones in stores.  If not, give it a try tying it yourself.  Fairly easy pattern to tie.

[SirSnookalot]

Hey Ernie, can you use a spinning rod with light line to cast the clouser minnow?

Yes you can.  Use a casting bubble or a split shot up the line a couple of feet.  I have fiies with little bb's for eyes, I can cast those far enough to be effective, med 7'6 rod, breeze at you back doesn't hurt.

Drop fly rig, jerkbait and a fly at the same time

[flyboy]

Wow, I never thought of trying a spoon.  Plain ole Johnson Spoon is one of my favorites too.  Can't wait to try that next time I see active Peacocks.  I might try a buzz bait too. Burning a buzz bait will have to be an awesome bite if they will hit it.

[salmicropterus]

I lived in Pembroke Pines and had a series of lakes in my neighborhood. I could watch the lake behind my condo and anytime I saw any sort of schooling activity I would go out and make a few casts. Ms. Fitsimmons at Everglades Pro Bass turned me on to a Rattletrap that has a spinner blade on the back. It has one treble hook that you tie your line directly onto the hook after passing through the lure. It is a weird kinda Rattletrap. Anyway every time there was schooling activity I caught lots of Peacocks on this Rattletrap. They are hard to find, but it seems most bright fire tiger type patterns work well. When there was no visible schooling action I would usually catch several large mouth.

You are right-they are called Pro-Traps and Judy at Everglades on Griffin is about the only place that carries them. Another very effective presentation with this lure is as a pitch/flip to a bedding peacock or largemouth for that matter. Looks just like a sunfish divebombing a nest

[salmicropterus]

Meant to put this in above so pardon the double post. The most effective day in day out lure for me is a gold or silver Rapala Original Floater in size 9 or 11 worked as aggressively as possible. It is not possible to work it TOO aggressively or erratically

[salmicropterus]

Charlie, it's over there on Griffin Road. Tucked inside of a small strip mall on the southern side of Griffin.

Clouser minnows are pretty good. I've tied some larger ones for saltwater use. I'm sure you can find larger weighted ones in stores. If not, give it a try tying it yourself. Fairly easy pattern to tie.

Everglades Pro Bass is on the south side of Griffin between Pine Island and University. It is an old school bait and tackle place that carries a lot of small run lures from small manufacturers that BPS doesn't carry, the Pro-Trap being a prime example.

[SoFlaBassAddict]

I pick up ballyhoo from them quite often.  They happen to be one of the few places up in this area that sells good ballyhoo.  I haven't found any other places that have the quality that they have.

[South FLA]

X-Rap work it like crackhead and hold on! Also, replace factory hooks with saltwater hooks, trust me!

[SouthMiamiBassMan]

Fresh live Shiners or Blue Gills, never fail. Caught this one on Saturday with a large shiner hooked through the nostril (to keep it as alive as long as possible). The more it moves the better the chance for a reaction bite.

[I.rar]

i am also in cutler ridge , lol. is that black creek canal in that picture?

[GonzoFishing]

Headed over to Pro Bass Everglades and picked up a pro-rap. Tried it today and actually caught a decent Peacock on it on my first cast! While I was there, I had a long conversation with Judy and found out that she's selling the store! She said that if she doesn't sell, she will have a huge sale to get rid of inventory. She's asking $60K for the store and inventory if any one's interested. Would be great to save it. Anyway, thanks for all the recommendations. I really appreciate it!

[SoFlaBassAddict]

It's a nice little store.  The problem with it though is that it's tucked inside of that strip mall.  If you don't know it's there, you'll never see it.  It's also far too close to BPS (5 minutes away).  I hate seeing the little shops going under, but I can honestly understand the reasons why.  I'll have to keep my eyes out for a clearance sale there.

[piscicidal]

I went to Everglade Pro Bass a couple days ago. Some good stuff in that clearance basket. P-Line CCX half price. Gotta jump on that!

[Catching]

My favorite bait for catching Pea's is just a good Ole white bucktail jig saltwater grade of course, cut the hair right at the back of the hook and you are ready for action. No need to destroy costly lures when they will hit the jig just as good if not better and it is just deadly when they are spawning

[SirSnookalot]

My favorite bait for catching Pea's is just a good Ole white bucktail jig saltwater grade of course, cut the hair right at the back of the hook and you are ready for action. No need to destroy costly lures when they will hit the jig just as good if not better and it is just deadly when they are spawning

X2

Walmart crappie jigs, 10 for a buck something work very well too.