I'm doing more and more lure fishing lately. It's been tough going back to traditional bait fishing with the fish so willing to take a lure. Next to zero by-catch and little overhead to boot. Gotta love it!
Yesterday, I headed over to Strike Zone and picked up 4 Pearl White Rapala XRaps and 2 six packs of replacement Treble hooks. I swear, I could wear the fish out with these and nothing else. A white XRap is incredibly versatile and Red Fish and Trout can't leave them alone! I've used the same lure in other color patterns and did ok. The white version has been far more reliable. When the fish are hitting other baits but for whatever reason are being reluctant to commit, I'll switch over to the white jerk bait and good night. They're coming in hand over fist while everybody else in the boat shakes their heads in frustration.
My buddy Joe knows first hand what I mean lol. Me, Joe and our other buddy Cary were out Friday pounding the river banks with some plastics. They started off with soft plastics and I of course went straight for the "Go To". The XRap had Trout from 17 to 20+ inches lined up for the dip net. After a while, the dip net got to be too inefficient and I just started bailing em over the Gunwale. It wasn't long before Joe and Cary found their stride and they were loading up the live well with chunky Trout. After a while, the Bull Reds decided they wanted in on the plastics. We picked up a total of 4 big over slot Reds as well as several limits of stud Trout. NEVER a dull moment with Joe and Cary boy. Heck of a time and productive.
Now, It's easy to put a couple seasoned anglers on the fish with plastics and do well, today, I had to put 2 green horn female clients on the lure game. Things started off sketchy with them being beginner casters. There were more than a few crossed lines, wind knots, and over shot casts into structure on the shore line. I split the group up and had 1 on the bow with me and the other on the rear casting deck. Once I got them casting in different directions, it wasn't long before they found their stride. They weren't perfect at it but, they were functional. After a very brief break down on a simple retrieve, the girls started hooking up. Ashley even caught 2 over slot Reds in the 30 inch range back to back. For a while there, it was absolute pandemonium. I will say the Slayer SST's made a believer of me today. We got a lot of good fish on them.
After today, It's time to get another IPilot. Running laps back and fourth across that 24 foot Sea Hunt got exhausting. I may have to refinance the sled and pick up a new TM.
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Danny Pardue