Hot Shots

[Corkie Monster]

Since I have a driftboat now, and can use Hotshots, What colors and sizes should I buy.

[Fishalot]

I know this one, get the pirate in red and blue also silver with the red on the under side, also look at posts that talk about wiggle worts and get the colors that are talked about.

Fishalot

[fishin62]

Whatever catches your eye and looks really pretty will look the same to the fish! Metallics!

[Fishing freak]

I'll second the red and blue pirate. has out-fished any hot-shot in my box on the wilson.

[cosmo]

Corkie Monster,
For small rivers or low water a #40 Hot Shot is an awesome producer. Green/Silver, Blue/Silver, Metallic Red, Metallic Pink.
Also, LJ is releasing a new HOT SHOT SE that is is going to be tearing up local rivers this winter. I happened into four of them and they are awesome-looking for more to hit the shelves.

[Hogmaster]

How long is a piece of string?

What is the diffference between a duck?

Kinda need more information!

Like where and what you are fishing for.

Generally speaking though, size 30 is a good one for most steelhead rivers/drifts. Sometimes in low clear conditions the smaller ones are better.

On larger rivers and/or in murky conditions a 35 or 25 might be appropriate.

In wiggle warts, the "steelie wart" (not sure what Brad's now calls them) dives about the equivelant to the size 30 hotshot. They both work well in runs that are about 2-6, maybe even 8 feet deep. The regular wart will dive in your DB to as deep as about 12 feet or so.

These are effective diving depths, no matter what the plug might say on the package, but keep in mind that it depends on the amount of current, line diameter (we usually use about 14 to 17 pound test, thin diameter lines), rowing resistance etc...

Be aware that in addition to size it is the diving depth you want to match for.

As far as colors, the pirates are always good. But various rivers will have, for whatever reasons, some plugs that a particular color seems to work better on than others. Getting local knowledge about the river you are fishing will always help!

Finally, since it sounds like you are new to plugs, as has been written many times, if a plug works keep using it!!!! Not just the color and/or size. The actual plug. Some just flat outperform others. Teeth marks do not diminish effectiveness. Just make sure the hooks are good and it runs true if it produces when you go to put it back out!

Hope this helps some...

Good luck!

:cheers:

[ 10-30-2002, 01:43 PM: Message edited by: Hogmaster ]

[rob allen]

i think they all are great

i like the SE hot shots when the water is high.. they are the ones with 2 hooks

i like the 30 and 35 for normal conditions i believe they are the same size only the 35 has a square lip.. tell you one thing though try sharpening and debarbing the trebels you'll get lot better hook ups

i like both the blue and green pirate..and solid met. green
however after seeing a fish caught out of very dirty water on a white and black tapolly i am gonna experiment more with colors this year.

before i have a driftboat the winter steelhead season was just kinda blah.. now i am really looking forward to it..

by the way GI joes has hot shots on sale for 3.88

[willierower]

Keep the HotShot selection simple.
Start out by buying nothing but size 30's Get the Green Pirates, Blue Pirates, Metallic Green, Metallic Blue, Metallic Pinck, Chrome with hot pink back (if you can find them) and my favorite the Cop Car.

Take off the treble hooks add another split ring and a 1/0 siwash hook point up and you are in buisness. Or you can carefully open up the hook ring and add a #7 Barrel swivel then put the 1/0 siwash hook on that.

Also get some #35's in the same colors.

Also get yourself some Tadpollies.

[Corkie Monster]

Hogmaster-

Will be fishing mostly the Clack and Sandy for winter steelies. Will also be fishing some of the coastal rivers for Chinook (this Weekend) and winter steelies. Coastal rivers most likly to fish will be the Trask, Wilson, Silets, and Nehalem.

[Hogmaster]

CM -

Well, unless you are planning on dragging that DB (seems you have some experience at that already! :smile: ) you won't be fishing in the coastal rivers for chinook this weekend.

But if you do fish for chinook, a diver and bait (shrimp, eggs and/or cocktail) fished with a regular sized jet planer can be awesome. Also a jet planer will take a kwikie down in the deeper holes without hanging up as well. Hot shots don't dive real deep, but the Magnum Wiggle warts will get down in deeper chinook holes.

But the size 30s will be a good bet in any of those rivers. Sometimes when the river gets real low we have gone to 40s in the Trask and Wilson for winter steelies. If the water is up but dropping in the Clack or Sandy the 25s, which are a bit larger can work well.

The rivers get crowded, so be prepared for that. You want to back through the hole SLOWLY, like you have an 89 year old on your arm on a steep slope. Avoid anchoring to be fair to others and knock 'em dead!

Now here is a secret. I will be shot if anyone knows I told you this so keep it on the QT. Size 30 Cop Car on the Wilson for Winter Steelhead. Shhhhhhhh!

:cheers:

[Fishing freak]

Corkie Monster,

here is some good info. that might be interesting to you!

http://www.worldstar.com/~dlarson/salmonsteelhead/LJhotshot.htm