fish with plugs

topcd098 · 12-03-2003, 09:07 AM

I have drift, spinner, and fly fished for many years. However, I have not fished with plugs. I am not sure why, I just haven't got around to it. Any tips on what I should be doing? It seems like a deadly tactic when fishing solo in the drifter on the Nestucca. craig

cosmo · 12-03-2003, 09:19 AM

The more rods out the better with plugs. The fish move from one and contact another. You force a decision.

Plugs take some time to develope confidence. Fish every good piece of water like your are positive there is a fish there---that means slow and thorough--make 'em eat it. Give the fish time to get worked up over that lures presence to where they can't take it. Sometimes they climb on them immediately but often the extra effort is worth extra fish.

Tune and retune those plugs.

Unless your on the water a ton, finding the hot plugs in your selection can take some time. It's worth the effort though.

Good luck.

topcd098 · 12-03-2003, 03:07 PM

Thanks

MarlinMark · 12-03-2003, 04:22 PM

Something that I have told myself that I'm going to do is to keep a Sharpie in my boat so that when I find a plug that actually catches a fish I can mark it. I grew up on the Rogue and fished plugs a lot. Up here I mainly fish the Wilson and have only had moderate success with plugs. I'm sure it's me. But I'm also sure that the next time I catch one on a plug I will have it marked so that when I get home there will be no question who is my starting ace. I do know a bit about fishing plugs and the biggest is to fish well tuned plugs and that the ones that catch fish really catch fish.

Mark

spinner53 · 12-03-2003, 09:02 PM

use a # 30 hotshot, copcar, white body with a black bill. mark your line with the bobber stop, i run 'em out 50 feet

Flatfish · 12-03-2003, 09:18 PM

Hot shot 30s for fast shallow water.

Wiggle warts( I like the originals myself) for deep fast water.

Flatfish( what else?) for slow water.

Tune them. wash them with dish soap every morning you fish.

Some folks will argue this, but color is secondary. Pick some in a color you like personally.

I like flourescent reds, blacks( MJ), and pinks in colored water.

In steelie green water, pretty much everything works. Metallic pink is popular. So are cop cars.

In clear water metallics rule. Gold on cloudy days, silver on sunny days.

Fish them all the same distance from the boat.

Sharp hooks matter.

Mark a note which side of the mouth the fish is hooked in. It helps you understand which direction he hit from. This may help you understand where he was lying. Or where he was when he finally hit.

With diver and bait, the diver still makes or breaks you. They can feel it. You will notice a "Hot rod" syndrome with both plugs and divers. that is one plug will get most, if not all, of the bites that day. Never lose this plug. Ever.

Once you find several winner plugs( fish catchers) you are ready to rack up some big numbers.

I fish tuf 50# straight to the plug to help eliminate losing a fish catcher. I have not lost a steelhead plug in almost 2 years now. So I think the Tuf serves it's purpose.

Good Luck.

Mark and the U-20 dog.

dampainter · 12-03-2003, 09:19 PM

I second the tip on marking the ones that are proven fish getters, I lightly scratch an x on the bills of mine with the leatherman that I have.

SHOUGALNITE · 12-04-2003, 12:19 PM

I have had good luck on green and blue wee warts on the s.w. washington rivers. I fish them about 45 feet from the boat.

Waterfish · 12-04-2003, 02:25 PM

Flatfish,

What color of Tuff line do you use, white or green? I didn't know about the green until I had already loaded two of my reels with white Tuff line. It seems the green would be more transparent.

Flatfish · 12-04-2003, 08:43 PM

Waterfish,

white or yellow.

The fish could care less about color. They are tuned into the plug.

I like the yellow, but only because i can track it easier than white. I refuse to buy green Tuf. Too hard to follow when fishing, fish aint scared of any line when pulling plugs.

Mark and the dog.

rookie · 12-04-2003, 09:57 PM

You might buy Mike Laverty's "Plug fishing for steelhead" book. Quick read, doesn't cost much and cover the basics with some insider tips and details. The thing that kills me about this type of fishing is that you can buy 5 of the same plugs at the store and 1 will catch fish the others are Christmas tree ornaments. Frustrating. Also get ready to row, row, row!