Lindy Darter/Salmo Chubby Darter

[AaronM]

To me, the darters are a tool that have their time and place. Obviously, they aren't a magical lure that always catches fish but when the time is right they do bring fish in and they can cause some pretty aggressive bites.

I had the opportunity to use the Lindy Darter up on LOTW and I did feel that it helped my success rate when the fishing slowed down, that it brought more fish in to either hit me while I was jigging, or hit my dead stick. As with anything, there were times when the darter didn't work as well as a smaller jigging spoon, but with patience and practice, reading your electronics and understanding fish mood, darters certainly have a place in my tackle box.

[buzbunni]

Quote:

I've never heard of anyone that has successfully used the Chubby Darters say "gee, nice lure, but it would be so much better with a rattle." Why would Salmo change them? They sell out almost every year, most folks I know that have them swear by them and (like me) pick up a few new ones or replacements every year. The popular sizes and colors fly off the shelf, almost every season - what would be the point of changing something that is obviously working?

Obviously working in terms of angling success, or marketing savvy?

How about those of us that have purchased several (actually more than several...20 or so for me) of the Chubby Darters and have had limited (or zero in my experience) success with them?

Of course anglers (other than me) catch fish on the CD, but (judging by my success in using the CD vs. the LD) I feel Lindy came out and made a better lure.

There's that old saying: Most lures are made to catch fisherman; not fish.

[slipperybob]

The Chubby Darter came through for me again and the Lindy Darter did not. However a Northland Mimic Minnow Fry outfished both of them.

I like LD's for rattle, epoxy eyes, and slower side wobble. LD's have terrible hooks, I had to replace them dull and deform hooks right away from the fresh package.

I like CD's for red glows, a Giant lure version, and some have quality hooks.

[buzbunni]

However a Northland Mimic Minnow Fry outfished both of them.

See, I never have the right lure in the tacklebox!

Guess I'll have to pick up some Mimic Minnow Fry's tomorrow.

[south_metro_fish]

I find my Lindy darters are just good for attracting fish, usually bring it back up after I mark fish and drop down my jig and a minnow well I have my plain red hook with minnow down all ready. I have had 2 fish hit them, one I was bouncing off the bottom but did not get the hooks to set good and one well I was jigging it around and about the same thing happened. I have a hard time getting them to hit it, what do you do when they get right up on it because if I try anything they usually rocket back down to the bottom?

[irishwalleye]

As always (well, since I started using the darters) anyone that doesn't want them taking up space in their tackle box, feel free to send them to me.

* favorite darter, #4 LBD drives the crappies wild