®
A
s Vader says to Luke, “with our
combined strength, we end this
destructive conflict and bring order to the galaxy, if you only knew the power of the
Darkside.”
This is how I feel when I have a fluke tied on at
the end of the rod. I may be on the dark side, but if
you could see what I have seen you would want to
be on the dark side too.
Enough Star Wars references, if you do not
throw a fluke, you should. If you do use a fluke from
time to time, use it more.
It is hands down one of the most productive
baits for myself and my clients each year. And,
its versatility is unmatched. There are so many
effective ways to fish it that it deserves a spot on
the deck of the boat 365 days a year.
Here is a breakdown on what to look for each
month along with some detailed rigging methods and tips.
FLUKE CADENCE
Before we go into a seasonal breakdown, let us discuss a few very important factors we must know about this technique. First thing is understanding cadence. The speed in which you twitch and pause is always changing and can make a huge difference on any given day.
FLUKE RATE OF FALL
The next factor is rate of fall (ROF) This is how quickly does your fluke rigging sink, and at what depth are you targeting. Now for this conversation I am going to avoid most of the lead-head and weighted riggings and just focus on the methods that I use most often.
I believe a slower lifeless fall has a ton of appeal. So, I am going to fish them weightless most of the time. The only weight change is the hook style.
FLUKE RIGGING
The three main riggings are: line-through with a treble, Texas-rigged with an EWG, and Texas-rigged with a Superline EWG (slightly fast ROF). Now that we have got them rigged and understand what speed and what depth we are fishing. Let us dive into each season and see how these factors can be applied.
PRE-SPAWN FLUKE FISHING
One thing I have found about the early spring when the water temperature is still lower (but climbing), is that the fish are still a bit slower and less likely to race after a fast erratic moving bait. This is where a slower cadence tends to get more bites.
Also, having a faster ROF can reach the target depth more effectively. This is where a Superline EWG would come into play. Using a highly visible color (pearl white), I will twitch and pause the bait at a slower cadence. With longer pauses we can reach a
depth where the bait can be seen momentarily and then go out of sight of it as it sinks. This is a clear water technique in which the bait is dancing around the 8- to 12-inch range. These pre-spawn fish like to suspend as they move up each spring and this technique is sure to trigger some bites.
FLUKE FISHING THE SPAWN
Then we have the middle of the spawn. Spawning fish hate flukes! But in a good way. Making repeated casts to an area and fishing a fast secession of twitches to trigger the most aggressive fish. If one does not take at a faster cadence. Try incorporating longer and more frequent pauses. After seeing that thing darting around their territory, then slowly moving they will be sure to pounce. A fluke also comes in a variety of colors and is a great option
Spring 2024
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