School me on Flukes

[RumRiverRat]

Need some other options than the Zoom Fluke and Super Fluke.

Rigging tricks or tips, outside the box ideas?

Learn Me something!

[delmuts]

The different brands. (what ever trips your trigger! I think most of mine are Trigger X)

Uses! I'll start the list!

Weightless,( on the surface) a lightly keel weighted hook, to a heavier one for different fall rates. On spinnerbaits as a trailer, jigs,( i've been know to use them for walleye too! ) and with a plain hook; but a split shot ahead of it.(different type of fall than with a keel weighted hook)

[Cecil]

Try rigging it on a mushroom-head jig and a spinnning rod and twitch it along while you reel it in.

[EBass]

20lb braid tied to a bit larger than average (for weight and line twist reduction) swivel then 15lb Floro leader about 10-12" long with a 3/0 EWG Gami t-rigged;) - I like Zoom in Peal or Greenpumpkin.

I've put them on those Chomper jigs (1/8 or 1/4) and had decent results, but I like the above rig better for largies in the shallow weeds/pads in spring early summer.

Never thought of that for a spinnerbait trailer - thanks delmuts!

[bassfshin24]

On windy days during beginning of summer or fall take the skirt off a buzzbait and add the fluke.

[bASS_BLASTER]

There is a time and place for these zoom flukes. I stop using them b/c they didn't create enough action. I use more of the paddle tails but kept a few in the boat just in case. Here are some pix on how I used to rig them.

[mabr]

Hitch Series Trailer Keepers. Best thing invented for a soft minnow type bait!!! Save yourself ALOT of money if you use them. 5-20 fish per bait instead of 1-2.

[Stick in Mud]

A fluke t-rigged?!? I've NEVER even thought of doing such a thing, but now I know i need to give it a try. That's why I love this HSOforum.

[RK]

Hiya -

Couple thoughts...

I know a lot of guys use internal weights with flukes, but to me they're just nauseating to futz with. I much prefer a jighead.

Unless I'm fishing shallow around cover, I almost always fish flukes on a jighead. I really like them for fishing fast and horizontally during the summer for smallies. Alternate a straight swim with sharp snaps of the rod tip, then a glide. Not all minnow baits are the same - some have flat bottoms, some tapered, which changes how they fall and glide, so experiment. One that really glides on the fall can be awesome for suspended or weedline fish.

Fluke type baits can also be awesome on a football head. I actually like them on a light (1/4 - 3/8 oz) football head around docks if there's a sand or gravel bottom. They look like a minnow doing...whatever it is minnows are doing when they're rooting around on the bottom. On heavier heads you can sort of swim/crawl them across humps or rock piles or deeper flats. Great way to cover water in a hurry. Works for LMB and SMB. What's weird is, at least most of the time LMB don't hit it very hard, but SMB just smoke it...

Bassin24 is 100% spot on about putting them on a buzzbait. Easier to cast in a wind, and for whatever reason, it's deadly for river smallmouth. Don't know if it's the smaller profile or what, but man oh man...

HTH.

Cheers,

RK

[Superduty]

1.Bring your wife or son/daughter fishing.

2.Cast a fluke on a 5/0 hook behind the boat.

3.Set the rod down (make sure it is secure!)

4.Go back up to the bowmount and fish your favorite bait.

5.Tell your wife or son/daughter to set the hook when the rod starts bending.

6.Repeat.

The fluke dragging behind the boat will outfish the expert in the front of the boat more often than you want to admit!

[Comit 2]

For me, I use the style of fluke the Gander Mtn has/big bite. None compair in my book. I use only Owner 5/0 offset wide gap worm hooks with these flukes. If I don't have the Owner hooks with me I don't throw flukes. It's that important to the system. With the Owner hook the weight seem to be just right. When Tex-posing the hook just make sure the eye of the hook in 1/8 inch or so into the lure not sticking out of the nose. If done right the lure combo will sink like a Salmo Chobby darter (swim horazontally on the fall and fall or glide forword).

You can't fish it wrong. I throw it with 30lb super braid with a small section of mono or some hybrid. The main reason for this is THE SUPER BRAID CURSE. To often (once is more then enough) I have a fish come unbuttoned and reel in to find just the unbroken knot at the end of the line. For a reel a nice baitcaster and a 7ft fast action rod.

This is my goto bait any time I'm in water 5ft or less.

I just wish I could still get watermellon gold flake. Super for when Perch are the main forage.

I like weighted hooks with action tails not fluke tails.

I hope that will help with the learning curve.

[slopmaster]

I love fishing weightless flukes in shallow water. I tried something different this year and hooked them like you would normally (t-rig style) but did it through the side instead of doing it from bottom to top. I would than give a sharp snap on fairly slack line and it would allow the fluke to do a 180 and face backwards of me. It usually wouldn't do it with a lighter consistent jerk, but with some force it turned right around. worked really well when you'd get one that just wanted to follow it. Something to experiment with.

[delmuts]

"I have a fish come unbuttoned and reel in to find just the unbroken knot at the end of the line."

Quite a while back we disscussed that problem. One solution( I thnik DD suggested this), ( if you wanted to tie a braid on a hook with a slightly open eye) was to tie a mono knot in the eye first and move it down by the gap. Trim it. you will still have enough room to tie the braid, and it won't slide off the hook.

[slopmaster]

i just take a bit of gorilla glue on a toothpick and dab it in the opening so it fills and then you never have to worry about it again. Either way will work.