Although it pains me, I've added to Spooks to the amory, X-Rap Surface (Herring) and a Rebel Jumping Minnow (Bone). This morning they demonstrated their advantages and disadvantages. The bite started early in the flood, just about the time I could get my boat going without "cleaning" the prop and skeg. There were large groups of fish feeding on small sandeels, subtly breaking the surface all over. After 3 straight casts through the feeding fish with nary a look at my Blueflash Striper Strike, I grabbed the Jumping Minnow and hooked up after missing a few because of short hits and boated a 23" fish. I quickly nailed a 24" fish, but then the bite died. Went off to one of my "Sacred Spots" only to practice casting with every lure known to man with only 1 follow. Was disgusted and started heading back to the barn.
Just as I was ready to make my final approach to my dock float I noticed that the fish were active again in the same area as earlier. Went down there and proceeded to make cast after cast alternating between the Jumping Minnow, the X-Rap and the Creek Chub. Only the 2 spooks elicited any sort of interest, but no substantial hookups. The weakness of the floating lures is that you don't get that second chance of stopping you retrieve if a fish swirls around it to slurp it in. This is deadly with the Creek Chub since it starts to sink the instant you stop your retrieve, and usually the time at which the striper nails them.
This went on for a good 15 minutes and I was really starting to loose my temper, but then reasoned since the fish were feeding on small sand eels, maybe a Chrome Striper Strike was the best choice. Turned out that was the ticket, and I ended my suffering with a beautiful 30", which needed a Mulligan to hook; it hit the plug after I stopped the retrieve immediately following the initial swirl around it. I followed this fish with 4 more including 2, 28" fish, all the fish make me take Mulligans to get them to strike.
Just as I was ready to make my final approach to my dock float I noticed that the fish were active again in the same area as earlier. Went down there and proceeded to make cast after cast alternating between the Jumping Minnow, the X-Rap and the Creek Chub. Only the 2 spooks elicited any sort of interest, but no substantial hookups. The weakness of the floating lures is that you don't get that second chance of stopping you retrieve if a fish swirls around it to slurp it in. This is deadly with the Creek Chub since it starts to sink the instant you stop your retrieve, and usually the time at which the striper nails them.
This went on for a good 15 minutes and I was really starting to loose my temper, but then reasoned since the fish were feeding on small sand eels, maybe a Chrome Striper Strike was the best choice. Turned out that was the ticket, and I ended my suffering with a beautiful 30", which needed a Mulligan to hook; it hit the plug after I stopped the retrieve immediately following the initial swirl around it. I followed this fish with 4 more including 2, 28" fish, all the fish make me take Mulligans to get them to strike.
