chubby/lindy darter in open water?

[jwmiller33]

has anybody ever tried using a chubby darter in open water before? i do a lot of vertical jigging, mostly with just a minnow. i bought some new ice fishing stuff on black friday, including a couple chubby darters and the lindy darters. i figured maybe i could try vertical jigging them the same way i was using my jig/minnow tonight when i was fishing on pool 2. basically just ice fishing but in open water (typically this is early ice time of year since its early dec).. i couldnt really get it on bottom because of the slight current. i was fishing mostly out of the current, just in a area of slack water near current. but the little current that was there didnt allow me to get completely vertical, like they are made for (ice fishing).

has anybody tried using any type of darter open water fishing? i figure if i was in a lake and not on a river, it would have worked... i figured hey, its december, i could try using some "early ice" tactics, such as using an ice fishing presentation if i could get the right conditions.

i guess im just a little eager to use my ice gear

do you guys tie a swivel to these darters or what are you supposed to do to get optimal "darting" action?

[Ed Carlson]

I have cast them, slip float "Pop-n-Drop" rigged them, and have even trolled them with good results.

Casting them in cold water spring and fall can be productive, especially on rip pap areas with a 10:00 to 12:00 lift and fade jigging motion....slow and easy.

I prefer a tiny Cross Lock snap over the more bulky snap and swivel combination as I feel the added weight overburdens the action on the drop. If I am experiencing a lot of twist due to over vagarious jigging, I many add a tiny micro Sampo bearing swivel a couple feet above the snap to knock out the twists. A length of 6-8 lb fluorocarbon line as a leader here can be useful, as it adds strength and a touch of rigidity.

So yes, they are functional in the horizontal as well as in the vertical.

[waterbound]

On Salmo's HSOforum they have a video for the Giant Chubby that shows them using it for redfish in the ocean successfully. I would imagine that you could use similar techniques and have success in open water.

[Ed Carlson]

Ya the Giant Chubby is a beast, it is proven on Muskie, Lake Trout, and pike, and in some cases even walleye. The inter-coastal and Saltwater guys use them on Redfish and barracuda.

With my Chubby Tail Flasher trick, it gets preaty excitable when you cast it, takes a huge Colorado blade to pull it off and it causes a real ruckus in the water as it plows along wobbling.

[jwmiller33]

I prefer a tiny Cross Lock snap over the more bulky snap and swivel combination as I feel the added weight overburdens the action on the drop. If I am experiencing a lot of twist due to over vagarious jigging, I many add a tiny micro Sampo bearing swivel a couple feet above the snap to knock out the twists. A length of 6-8 lb fluorocarbon line as a leader here can be useful, as it adds strength and a touch of rigidity.

So yes, they are functional in the horizontal as well as in the vertical.

so are you talking about a swivel like this?

and you use one of these with a 6 ft fluorocarbon and you tie that directly to the chubby darter?