[bassn]

Hi again,

I went to Rudee Inlet last night from 7-8:30 pm. I used the Fluke rigs, with a 1 oz egg sinker above the 3-way swivel. (only weight I had at the time). I was using squid, about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, cut into a triangle. I tried everything: casting and reeling in, bumping it on the bottom, and even just letting it sit there without moving it at all. People where catching big spot's, small flounder, and one BIG blue (which he lost at the rocks). To make a long story short, I could nothing, nada, squat. I didn't even get a bite. Is there somthing I was maybe doing wrong, bait too big? I don't know. Please help if you can.

By the way, I was the only one out there using these things. Are they really as good as everyone says they are?-----bassn

 

[TopSnipe]

bassn,

Sometimes you're the windshield, sometimes you're the bug .

Were the folks catching doing anything different than you? Did you change spots to fish from? change the bait size? Fan cast? Vary retrieve speed? Hook size?

All of these can have an affect, from small to major. We all know that fish can sometimes be finicky as well as glutonnous (sp?). If you have no luck with what you are doing now, you have to change something in order to change your results. Doing the same old thing will often bring the same old result.

I've had excellent results using squid for bait, whether still/bottom fishing, dragging it, jigging, etc. I'll often add a bucktail teaser above the hook for a different presentation and it's had good results.

Persevere and vary your presentatiuon and you should achieve good results.

keep 'em tight.....Kurt

 

[TopSnipe]

bassn,

A few more thoughts...

Flounder may be bottom creatures but, they are looking up for food.

I mentioned using a teaser, also look into using a small spinner blade above the hook for added flash.

Blues often attack anything that moves. In the case of flounder and blues, keep the bait moving and vary your speed during the retrieve. Jerk the bait a few inches, wait a couple of secs, jerk, retrieve, etc.

I normally cut squid to between 1/2 and 3/4 inches wide with a sort of curve to it. I think it helps add action to it during retrieve, but many others cut it straight and have as much or more success than I.

As an alternative try some salt water assasains in cajun croaker, mullet and electric chicken colors on a 1/4-1/2 oz jig head.

hope this helps.....Kurt

 

[bassn]

thanks kurt

thanks for the reply and info. I think maybe that the chunks were too big. Everyone else was using smaller stuff, but I saw people catch tons of keepers with big strips last fall and winter.

My rigs do have that spinner on them, and with the current going so strong last night, I could really feel it fluttering.

One other thing about last night, tons of bait fish- one to two inches long- tons of it, all over the top and the blues were going nuts crashing the surface. I just wish I had some topwaters with me at the time.

bassn

 

[Kenmefish]

The size you were using is not to big for a small flounder. They can eat a mighty big bait. On the other hand if the bait in the water was 2 inches, then you cut your bait 2 inches. Kinder like a flyfisher, match the hatch.
AlsoI like to drag my bait on the bottom real slow. They like a moving bait but it doesn't have to be fast all the time. Then if you feel any pressure stop, count to 20 and set the hook. Might be a snag but could also be a flounder. The big ones sometimes just stop the bait and don't really move off with it. You being a bassman, make beleave you are fishing a worm.
Hope this helps but there are no set rules to fishing, what works one day might not the next.

 

[wizardude]

Hi again,

I used the Fluke rigs, with a 1 oz egg sinker above the 3-way swivel. (only weight I had at the time). I was using squid, about 2 1/2 to 3 inches long and 1 inch wide, cut into a triangle. Please help if you can.

By the way, I was the only one out there using these things. Are they really as good as everyone says they are?-----bassn

First thing that doesn't sound right is the egg sinker above a 3 way swivel. This setup is normally one for main line, one for the wieght, one for your leader/hook. Myself, I don't care for these rigs, and are more designed for boat drifting. Fishfinder/carolina rig is all you need. Egg sinker on main line, red bead, barrel swivel, 18 inch leader attached to a snelled wide bend hook with beads and a spinner(the hooks are availible this way). I usually prefer gold or Chartreuse blades. I also, if inclined, like to tie a little bucktail to the hook. Don't give up on the standard double rigs setup with the above mentioned hooks, just use an in-line trolling sinker on the end to help with snags, also the double rig is more inclined to catch other fish. Use "just" enough weight to keep contact with the bottom.

My other sugestion would be to pick up a funnel minnow trap, and catch killies for bait...............as for squid, 3/4 x2 1/2 is about what I cut, also in a triangle pattern. But if I have minnows, usually don't use the sqid unless I want a few Croakers.

My $.02

 

[bassn]

thanks again

k-fish and w-dude,

thanks for the help, I will definately try minnows, bit I have already bought a long "butterfly net" (tiny holes) for all the bait fish i see swimming in rudee inlet. I will try some of those next time. thanks for the advice.

(I am new to fishing saltwater, but I did do pretty well last fall with stripers at Harrison's pier.)

tight lines guys--bassn