Spinnerbait time

[J.A. Veil]

I have not trolled them.

I suppose they could be used as stinger hooks in some applications.

Last summer snaggedline member eyedaddy gave me some homemade flies. Since I don't use a fly rod, I looked for a good application to use them. In early Nov., I was jigging metal lures like Stingsilvers from my center console. I decided to use a 2-oz sinker as a lure and added a chartreuse-haired fly with a split ring. I tied on a second fly as a teaser 18" up the line. I was able to catch rockfish on both the main lure and the teaser. The flies worked great as replacement hooks.


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[mi327]

I have been catching Perch and Shad this year in the Susky using a small Kastmaster style spoon (I think a 1/16 OZ). Twitching it on the retrieve seems to give the most strikes.

[bignose]

Mepps #3, and #4 spinners and Roostertails will work for Perch and pickerel, along with small wobbling spoons, but the trebles will collect a lot of grass and hang up in the submerged branches. Pickerel like to hang in some pretty snaggy, weedy places.
I like to use at least 10 lb. test. The tidal water is not that clear, the fish aren't leader shy and the environment is full of stuff that eats line, like barnacles, tree branches, dock pilings, and the usual junk that ends up in the water. 6 lb. test may sound sporting, but you'll end up losing a lot of lures.

White perch will hit much larger lures than you think they would. I have caught many 6" perch on a 3-4" grub.

For flies, I've tied up some "Crystal Flash Buggers" size 4 and 1 using dumb bell weight as eyes. I've also tied up some "mini-Clousers, as well. Do not use freshwater bronzed hooks, they will not hold up. Nickel plated or stainless works a lot better. Figure a 6-7 wt. rod and a floating or sink tip line should work ( I don't care much for full sinking lines).
Go with Stainless or nickel hooks as a bronzed freshwater hook won't hold up, and you never know if something a lot bigger than a Perch or pickerel may show up on the end of your line.
Green Olive bronze and Chartreuse will work as your color choice.

I use Chartreuse Baitflash emulator on my spinner baits.

[YakCapn]

Great feedback, lots to ponder here. Especially good advice about the hooks to use, thanks.

[Mark]

Go with Stainless or nickel hooks as a bronzed freshwater hook won't hold up, and you never know if something a lot bigger than a Perch or pickerel may show up on the end of your line.

Bignose is absolutely correct on that. However, that's one reason I prefer bronzed hooks on most of my flies. I will use nickel plated hooks for some of my larger Clousers because they are sturdier than bronzed. But I do not use stainless. I don't tie any flies thinking they'll be in use for a long time. Also, if I break one off in a fish I want it to rust out.