Chubby Darters??

[kweiland]

I was watching a vexlar video since I am a new ice fishing woman and they were using chubby darters and catching huge walleyes. Before I go and buy out the store does anyone know if they really do work?? Rookie Kathleen

[lakeshoremunster]

they do work, but I noticed that they worked well when the fish if on a hot bite. Sometimes it will turn a non biting perch into a biter.

[kweiland]

Thanks, I will give it a try. They seem fun to use.

[Esox_Magnum]

I prefer small jigging raps but when on an aggesive bite Chubbies do work well

[B-man715]

Like the other guys said, they do work great for active fish.

The smallest size seems to work best for multi-species. You can catch perch, eyes, pike and even crappies once in a great while.

And even if the fish are not aggressive enough to hit it, they help to bring fish in which may take your dead stick down.

If you get some and don't like 'em, send them over to Stacy, MN

[TruthWalleyes]

I have a bunch of chubby darters, but they're rusting...What i really like are the Live Forage Rippin Shad from Northland. I haven't had a bass resist one of these this winter, one walleye caught, many perch. They were on sale at cabelas yesterday for $3.50, and that is a good deal. Not many left after i got done

I plan on using these with leadcore or even long lining this spring/summer too.

[gurkster]

I would not waste your money on them. They are only good when fish are real active, but when fish are that active just about anything and everything works well. For the $ you can get much more effective lures IMO. Try buckshot rattle spoons, Lindy Flyers, and demon glow jigs for jigging. They are much more consistant IMO.

[stealth3350]

i think they work great. i have had walleyes on vex that dont want anything drop down chubby darter and bam! then back to the rattlin flyer untill i get a nother that does not want it.. my last option is usually the chubby darter... but ever notice with the chubby darter you catch more of YOUR PANTS, YOUR SLEEVE, THE CARPET, THEN WHEN YOU GET IT OUT OF THE CARPET YOU CATCH YOUR PANTS AGAIN!! LOL..

[kweiland]

Thanks for the tip. I will head out to cabelas to clean the rest out

[kweiland]

You must really know me. I can see it now

[simple1]

I have a lot of success with them this year. I have never used them before this year and have been really surprised by their performance. You should just get a couple and try them out.

[CaptainMusky]

I would not waste your money on them. They are only good when fish are real active, but when fish are that active just about anything and everything works well. For the $ you can get much more effective lures IMO. Try buckshot rattle spoons, Lindy Flyers, and demon glow jigs for jigging. They are much more consistant IMO.

I disagree. Darters of any time, chubby darter or lindy darter are a very versatile bait and you can alter the presentation to the mood of the fish.

Remove the front hook and put a 4 inch dropper on it. Very effective for finicky perch. I have had good luck regardless of mood of the fish. You just have to see how they react to the action you are giving it and adjust accordingly. The same presentation doesnt always work. Sometimes short fast pops, sometimes long slow ones. THe key I have found is not slack lining on the fall. Keep the line tight. This is when many strikes happen.

[eyedawg]

I would not waste your money on them. They are only good when fish are real active, but when fish are that active just about anything and everything works well. For the $ you can get much more effective lures IMO. Try buckshot rattle spoons, Lindy Flyers, and demon glow jigs for jigging. They are much more consistant IMO.

Exactly the way I feel!!! Save your money

[slipperybob]

Chubby Darters are also good for upsizing your catch. It will keep the smaller pesky fish away.

[Finlander]

I caught a 15" crappie on a Darter up at Red Lake a few weeks back! Walleyes where hitting them too!

[rundrave]

I haven't had much experience with them but also don't use them that much. What I can tell you though, is they may not be catching you fish they will definitely draw fish in closer for a look and I can often get a bite on another rod.

When my flasher starts to get nothing on it, I drop down a darter and its starts to draw in fish.

[goosemafia]

what have you guys found to be the better colors?

[sam10basefish]

They have a new holographic/glow darter I have heard good things. Got one for myself and am curious to see if it produces more then the original. Unfortunately wont have good data until after my lotw trip in a month.

[Borch]

Not the first bait I grab most of the time but I've caught a lot of fish on both the salmo and Lindy darters.

[Rick G]

I too have caught a lot of walleyes this winter on the lindy darters, just a much better finish than the others on the market imo. My favorites are the natural perch, chartruse perch and the shad colors.

[mnviking28]

Really depends on the lake. I agree with the natural colors on the clearer lakes, but on Lake of the Woods, gold is tough to beat. A couple of years ago I made the mistake of going up there with just one and pounded the fish on the gold until I lost it. No matter what color or lure I put on after that one, I couldn't seem to get nearly as many bites.

[kinn0159]

I like to put a small minnow head on the rear hook this helps with finicky fish, also use a SMALL swivel or clip because these types of baits work best with a "gap" between the line and bait (a loop or "rapala" knot will work as well). Not having a loop or clip greatly limits the vibrations and action of. the lure. As for colors every lake is different, hell. every day is diff. I have had perch be the hot color then like a light switch guys using blue or gold start catchin em. One lesson i have learned is have as many different colors And sizes as your budget allows

[no bait nate]

I have never had great success with these "darter" type lures, whether Salmo's or Lindy's. Mostly because I usually don't give them much of a chance when things aren't going their way, and I feel more confident in other presentations I use. Do most or all of you guys who fish these use a swivel with leader attached between the lure and mainline? Obviously depending on the lake or day/conditions how do you work them? More consistent action or snapping and slow fall? Thanks for any help, I am making one last trip up North next week and may try to give these a better effort.

[jwmiller33]

I prefer the Lindy darters to the salmo darters because of the rattle inside the lindys. Some of the best walleye fishing I have ever had thru the ice came on a Lindy Darter tipped with a frozen shiner head on the back treble hook.

[Borch]

Do most or all of you guys who fish these use a swivel with leader attached between the lure and mainline? Obviously depending on the lake or day/conditions how do you work them? More consistent action or snapping and slow fall? Thanks for any help, I am making one last trip up North next week and may try to give these a better effort.

I don't use a swivel with these most of the time unless I'me using them on one of my braid rods.

I work then very much like a spoons. Sometimes aggressively other times m ore subtle. The best trigger I've found is pounding them with sharp 1/2-1" rapid lifts follwed by a pause. The causes a side to side shake and then the freeze gets it pounded. SOmetimes they hit with a slow lift and oterh times on the fall. But many times it's the pause that gets them to commit.