Hot Fluke Setups 2021/2022

I have been using my standard "old" set-up of a bucktail and teaser. I am putting a new twist on it by using new colors.

As for the new, I am trying the "Tangle Free Rig". From On The Water
Released last year by Bill Witchey at Comb’s Bait and Tackle in Amityville, New York, this novel rig features two Thundermist T-Swivels with a 90-pound test Rosco barrel swivel and comes with 4/0 or 5/0 VMC Permasteel corrosion-free hooks. Use the 4/0 in the bay and the 5/0 in the ocean. Tied on 40-pound-test Triplefish leader material, this tangle-free hi-low rig has a 30-inch leader on the bottom and an 18-inch leader on top. The full rig length measures about 40 inches.

Use a sinker, fluke ball or bucktail as a weight with this rig. For bait, try a squid strip or squid and spearing combo on the bottom hook and a 4-inch Berkley Gulp! Swimming Minnow or pair of spearing up top. Fish this rig on a tight line at a 45-degree angle and the higher hook with the Gulp! should catch more big fish.
This rig does a great job of riding without tangles, even in 100-foot depths.

I have to add, that for fluke, none have brought me much luck in the LI Sound.
 
My two big "improvements" for 2021 are the addition of a "fly-weight" customized Daiwa Ballistic LT2500D to my Shimano Grappler jigging stick, and the inclusion of HTLureco 4oz-size custom ball jig heads in my deep jigging arsenal. I think both will serve well this season. We shall see. . .

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Although I started using the setup below in 2019, its still relatively new to me. I have been very happy with my Daiwa BG2000 coupled with a 6' Tunami Slimwave using a "Lep" rig, a 36" 20lb fluoro leader off 10lb chartreuse Daiwa J braid. 3/4 oz minnow style lead heads, (powder paint from HFT (me a piker, lol) from HT Lureco (thanks Pete) dressed with a bit of white bucktail and a pink skirt (thanks again for the info Pete) with a white bucktail teaser about 13 or 14" up from the buck on a dropper loop. I do use a barrel swivel to connect to the snap on the braid. Extra satisfaction dressing and assembling it all myself, especially since I harvested the deer tails myself. Haven't used bait in 15 years, usually a 3" pink curly tail Gulp grub and a smaller pink Gulp on the teaser. Might switch to white or chartreuse later in the summer. Granted this is a light setup, and I am thinking of going back to 14 or 15lb braid as the 10lb J braid is just too thin and on the yak I have to insure its not wrapping around the rod tip all the time. I do use a slightly heavier setup on the occasions of using my bay boat but constant jigging off the kayak with the aforementioned lightweight rod and reel is easy on the joints. So far this spring, and last season, I catch more weaks for dinner than fluke in my neck of the woods. Did get a 26" fluke, a 25" blue and a 23" weak on it so it handles the larger than average backbay fish.
 
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Lep,

You diggin your Grappler J ML still? Picked one up , but have not wet her yet, I see some on sale at another place so wondering if I should grab a second to put with another Ballistic ?

Dont usually double up on things without trying , but you have been pretty spot on thus far.
 
I almost never put it down while fishing outside and can use 4oz jigs or less. Two friends that bought it on my recommendation feel the same way. One had a great day using it just yesterday, boxing fish to 5lbs on it.

If I were to get another for my collection, I think I would lean towards an M, which would take a wee bit more weight and be super for blackfish jigging as well. Just a squinch more horsepower would be nice to have, should a true monster tog pick up your jig and head for his favorite crevice. Not that the ML can't do that job too, but the M would be a great addition, once you have the ML.

My ML is heading out with me in just a few minutes. Let’s see if I can it a flukie worth a pic.
 
Wondering what those of you who fish inside the inlets, bridges to the backbay prefer of the following two rigs when mainly bucktailing with Gulp or bait.
1. 20 years ago and more I was a Terminator fan, the Bill Wichey special at Combs sort of a three way swivel, wherein the shorter bottom leader of 6 inches or so had a feathered leadhead 1 or 2 ounces and on the other leader of 36" or so had a feathered and mylar teaser hook.
2. then along came Lep's shared knowledge and rig on that all but defunct website. I now use it almost exclusively although off the yak and bay boat and in usually less than 30' of water, I don't really need snaps, or crosslocks or those "paper clips," and just tie my stuff directly, which consists of 3 or 4 feet of leader ending in a bucktail anywhere from 3/4 to 2 oz, and about 8 inches or so up from it on a dropper loop a feathered teaser hook. I haven't used bait in many years, just Gulp. (I am targeting weaks and fluke. Sea bass where I fish are small and just a nuisance. I only striper fish from the beach in the fall.)
any preferences, gentlemen, of the two rigs (and why) ?
 
Hi Anthony, is it an LT3000? Does it look exactly like my reel above? If so, then yes. . .
 
Leprechaun said:
You've seen it before on this board:

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Can't wait to come tight on a biggie with this outfit. What a sweet action it has!

Lep
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Yes, but always love hearing about it, you put some nice outfits together.

I am coming back with Lep’s Grappler Type J ML and Ballistica 2500 combo for sure as far as my spinning set up. A must have in your arsenal ( to have a spinning set up whatever it is). I had great success and fun with it last season.

I have accepted that since it’s 2022 I am comfortable enough in my manhood to come out as a left hand reeler in all reels I own so I have and am. Pulled the trigger on a lefty Daiwa Catalina TW 100-PL, but haven’t decided what stick to put it on yet. My rodgeeks are out of the running, blanks in the last several years half their diameter in size. I have enjoyed the Blackhole charter specials, and Goofish green/yellow and blue rods ( also lining them with Ocea Jiggers for other species).

I will probably be starting off with the Goofish green/yellow because it is wrapped for a lefty winder as apposed to the BHCS for a righty. As usual,always open to suggestions from the Gents on new sticks and reels to try from custom to boring original cookie cutter store originals.
 
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Lowgear - Were it my choice, easily the Jigging World Ghost Hunter Slow Pitch 150gram. There are many others of course, but I really do love mine. And its "high-end" enough to match your a new Catalina. Very "custom-looking."

Also, I'm not sold that you have to have a righty Acid Wrap for a righty reels and the opposite for a leftie. This might mean something in a tuna rod, but for fluke on an itsy-bitsy fluke jigger? I don't think it means squat.

I have read that "the line will pile up on one side of the reel or the other if you don't go righty or leftie with the guides to match your reel." But that can't be right, or all the guys I see out there with factory righty acid wrapped rods and leftie reels would be mentioning this phenomena. They are not, as far as I can see.

In any case, you are in luck! The Ghost Hunter I mentioned is wrapped to the left - so it meets your criteria. I use mine with a couple of my right-handed reels and have never experienced any issues whatsoever. It is a BOSS fluke jigger to 4oz. My "GH Best" was a solid 8lb+ fish taken in 82' of water and the GH did a great job on it. Here's a pic - you can see my GH in the rod holder behind me:

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Leprechaun said:
Lowgear - Were it my choice, easily the Jigging World Ghost Hunter Slow Pitch 150gram. There are many others of course, but I really do love mine. And its "high-end" enough to match your a new Catalina. Very "custom-looking."

Also, I'm not sold that you have to have a righty Acid Wrap for a righty reels and the opposite for a leftie. This might mean something in a tuna rod, but for fluke on an itsy-bitsy fluke jigger? I don't think it means squat.

I have read that "the line will pile up on one side of the reel or the other if you don't go righty or leftie with the guides to match your reel." But that can't be right, or all the guys I see out there with factory righty acid wrapped rods and leftie reels would be mentioning this phenomena. They are not, as far as I can see.

In any case, you are in luck! The Ghost Hunter I mentioned is wrapped to the left - so it meets your criteria. I use mine with a couple of my right-handed reels and have never experienced any issues whatsoever. It is a BOSS fluke jigger to 4oz. My "GH Best" was a solid 8lb+ fish taken in 82' of water and the GH did a great job on it. Here's a pic - you can see my GH in the rod holder behind me:

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Pete,

The easy solution for me with any of these rods if I want to geek out is to rewrap the first couple guides and having a dozen rods under my belt it’s certainly within my abilities to correct.

I like your suggestions on the GH, I did briefly check them out when I took a road trip to their store in the Fall. I will take another look! We are a little heavier here in the end of the LI Sound and out towards Block so maybe even the GH 150/200. RI inshore we can be 4,6,8 oz again straddling 2 rods , but who doesn’t need 2 more and another reel ?.

Anyways, who else has a HOT 2022 setup ?
 
Have you seen the BH Challenger Bank Slow pitch rods? Kil showed me one that would absolutely "Kil" in your preferred areas. I can't remember the model number, but it was a truly awesome stick and feathery light too.

In any case, I have to head out to Trophy Tackle and maybe J&H to find a new fluke net to replace my backup, which rotted out from the inside over this past Winter. If I see a really nice rod that I feel would work for your apps, I'll post up.
 
I did see a nice stick at J&H that might match your needs and the quality of your Catalina. Well actually, I saw a couple of them in the Daiwa Saltiga line which seemed super-nice. Beautiful mod tapers, feather-light, power a'plenty and excellent components and workmanship. Sure winners for the purposes you mentioned. Then I saw the price. $599.00 each. WOWZA! That's too rich for even MY blood!

I kept looking and found this from Shimano:

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From Shimano's top of the line (In the USA, at least) Game Type J series. Power-wise its like a Grappler Type J on steroids, with even better components. Really a beauty, and at $399.00, a bunch more "affordable" than the Saltiga jiggers. If one could consider a $400 rod as affordable, that is. But then you DO have a close to $400 reel to mount on it, so . . .

But a cautionary note - it is difficult making recommendations of a particular rod to someone that I've never met, and having it intended for a fishery in which I've never participated. For what I envision (based on your last post) this rod might be perfect. Or at 6 feet it might be too short, or maybe too stiff. Or even too costly. But it was very nice, and certainly could double as a "feather-light" tog jigger with mucho power.

I also saw some of the new Shimano Trevala PX and the even newer Daiwa Harriers in that strangely cool light grey color - both of which might fit your need. But really, for my money, I would find a shop with the full line of Shimano Grapplers, and find one of those that best fits your anticipated use. I still think Shimano's Grapplers are the best factory rods out there, regardless of price point - which incidentally is a "Hundie" less than its Game Type J brothers.

My Google Maps told me that Trophy Tackle was closed yesterday, which I thought was strange, so I only went to Pelagic Outfitters, Lindenhurst B&T and J&H, finding my net at the last stop. If I were you and knowing that you live up North, I'd find a good B&T in your area, go there and give a comprehensive line of Grapplers a good looking over. I bet you find what you're looking for.
 
Leprechaun said:
I did see a nice stick at J&H that might match your needs and the quality of your Catalina. Well actually, I saw a couple of them in the Daiwa Saltiga line which seemed super-nice. Beautiful mod tapers, feather-light, power a'plenty and excellent components and workmanship. Sure winners for the purposes you mentioned. Then I saw the price. $599.00 each. WOWZA! That's too rich for even MY blood!

I kept looking and found this from Shimano:

View attachment 49292

View attachment 49293

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From Shimano's top of the line (In the USA, at least) Game Type J series. Power-wise its like a Grappler Type J on steroids, with even better components. Really a beauty, and at $399.00, a bunch more "affordable" than the Saltiga jiggers. If one could consider a $400 rod as affordable, that is. But then you DO have a close to $400 reel to mount on it, so . . .

But a cautionary note - it is difficult making recommendations of a particular rod to someone that I've never met, and having it intended for a fishery in which I've never participated. For what I envision (based on your last post) this rod might be perfect. Or at 6 feet it might be too short, or maybe too stiff. Or even too costly. But it was very nice, and certainly could double as a "feather-light" tog jigger with mucho power.

I also saw some of the new Shimano Trevala PX and the even newer Daiwa Harriers in that strangely cool light grey color - both of which might fit your need. But really, for my money, I would find a shop with the full line of Shimano Grapplers, and find one of those that best fits your anticipated use. I still think Shimano's Grapplers are the best factory rods out there, regardless of price point - which incidentally is a "Hundie" less than its Game Type J brothers.

My Google Maps told me that Trophy Tackle was closed yesterday, which I thought was strange, so I only went to Pelagic Outfitters, Lindenhurst B&T and J&H, finding my net at the last stop. If I were you and knowing that you live up North, I'd find a good B&T in your area, go there and give a comprehensive line of Grapplers a good looking over. I bet you find what you're looking for.
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Thank you much for the insight and for your road tripping . I appreciate the do diligence and the time you took looking at different sticks with my conditions in mind, really I do.

Yes, MA,CT, RI we do have some shops I can stop into and give them a once/twice over and a bend. Have actually wrote down a list from what you have said so I don’t miss anything. Excited to go hunting now.

Enough on me though, would love to hear what some of the other gents have new and shiny for this season!
 
I recently fished with borrowed Shimano travelas and Daiwa harriers MH/H as they were offered to me when I was fishing the Shoals. I was very happy with how they fished.

Planning on taking a good look at that Game Type J in MH ( for east end) as suggested and the the H ( for shoals) and maybe a BH CB blank in M ( shoals) and building it out if I like it in a slow pitch layout ( grip, butt, etc) as in its present form I think the butt and grip are too short for my liking.
 
Take a few mins to watch this video. One of the guys from On The Water magazine is using a Game Type J on the Helen H - gets some nice ones on it, too! At around 6:13 you can see the rod's taper in "full power mode." Nice stick!

 
Leprechaun said:
Take a few mins to watch this video. One of the guys from On The Water magazine is using a Game Type J on the Helen H - gets some nice ones on it, too! At around 6:13 you can see the rod's taper in "full power mode." Nice stick!

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Last week when I was packing for my last trip that episode was airing ( not sure if original or rerun) , but it was shortly after our discussion so it once again reinforced your suggestion of the Game J for me for local and out there. Just need to get to a shop which will happen this weekend. Pretty motivating viewing material before a trip lol.

This thread was supposed to be for all to discuss what they were rolling with for the new season. Let’s hear it Gents…
 
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