From everyone I've heard from the new ones are pure garbage!! However, the new Brad's Wigglers, and Brad's Divers are very good. Both are direct copies of the old Storm Lures.. :grin:

 

Leroy,

For what it is worth I took the hooks off a metallic red/black back now with clear big bill model to replace one I lost. Put a leader with a shrimp and spin n' glo on it and worked some steelhead looking water on the Willamette (off the island upstream from Meldrum).

While it definitely swims (wiggles) slower than the old model green pirate I had rigged on the other side of the boat, I am happy to report each rig had takedowns and produced steelhead. Both were natives but the point of this tale is to let you know there is hope for the "new" Hot N' Tot.

I'm with you though. I like the old ones much better! At least they looked better. Doesn't seem they should even call them the same name. As you no doubt noticed, the packaging is different too.

Have to check out the "brad's" models!

 

It looks like they may make very effective divers, but we had great luck with the old hot-n-tots in the blue pirate model. Fortunately, I still have several of the old ones.

One of the best divers we used on the Sandy were the large Hot-n-tots, and I haven't seen them around for a long time.

The wiggle warts look completely different...
I'm curious to see how they perform.

 

GI Joes in Sherwood had a good selection of the old one this afternoon.

 

Where can you get the Brad's divers? Haven't seen them in stores around here. Also, do the new Tots not dive as deep? Just seems to me that plastic bill or not, all you are looking for in a diver is one that dives deep enough. And does diver color make a difference? And is a 5 foot leader length about right? I want to start fishing diver and bait more often and am just curious of these things. Thanks in advance.

 

you want some old style hot n tots or wiggle warts see my ad in the other section or e mail me. i have many new old style. :grin: :grin:

 

Oh, the secrets I am letting out on this site!

The new tot seemed to dive about the same depth as the old one, the action was just slower. They dive to 10, maybe 12 feet depending on the current and line being used. Don't try them in deep holes as they will never get to the bottom. I like the thin lines because they seem to dive better, but you have to watch them for nicks. Thin lines are not the best at Buoy 10, but that is another topic.

Color? Well, you saw Leroy say he had success with the Blue Pirates. I personally like to send different colors out. I remember an old "Fishing The West" episode featuring Bob Toman where he told Larry that "Any color will work, as long as it is blue!" We have done best with the green pirate, but it might be because we fish it more. I like that red with black back. Or black. Or green herringbone. Or orange when the water has been off color. Ahhh, they all probably work!

The best thing is finding a good run to work them, have a good bait and spin n' glo or something else to keep the bait floating and put your rod in the holder.

I have had lots of friend insist on holding the rod only to lose a fish because they feel the bite and pull back too soon. The rod holder ensures the fish makes a good take before you pick it up and the fish hooks itself. I always tell them if they just have to hold the rod to "act like a rod holder then!"

Tight lines!

 

Oh, about the leader. Lengthen the leader as the water clears. Cloudy water reduce to as little as 3'. Clear water go to 5 or more. But 4 1/2 to 5 is usually a good starting point.

That is what as worked for my buds and me anyway.

One last thing, be sure to be willing to give up a few leaders so you can let nate go unharmed. Most fish will get hooked near the corner of the mouth, but there are always a few "gobblers". We just cut those leaders and let the fish spit the hook later...

 

Thanks a bunch Hogmaster! I'll give 'em heck this weekend on the N. Santiam. Let ya know how we do.

 

Yer welcome, Santiam. I don't get there so when you start slaying them big time you'll have to invite me down! :smile:

PS - They may dive to 10' but look for the 3 - 6' runs. That's where they really get hammered!

 

i like my hot n tot colors in this order
blue/black back
green/black back
purple/black back
for back up i will use
red/black back
blue pirate
green pirate
other than that i paint them black.
I mainly run the mags but some times in the low clear summer waters i will run the mediams.i have fished them side by side in the summer and fish take them both so i dont think size dosent matter as long as there getting down there..
In cloudy water i use a 3 1/2 to 4 foot leader and in clear water i use a 6 foot leader
50 lbs power pro main line and a 20 lbs bid game leader.you dont lose many tots with the 50 lbs line and they dive great.I have a buddy that runs a 15 lbs main line and he comes over to buy about 2 a week from me.i just cant get him to step up on line.

 

MADWIZERD -
Thanks for the color and line choices. I have never used a purple one before. Have to give that a shot!

I used to use the Mags, but found that in the classic 3 - 6' drifts they dive a little too deep and tend to hang up. At best that means lost fishing time and at worst a lost lure. Especially if drifting and you can't motor up to go get one you didn't notice it was hung. I have found they work well in drifts over 6' though. Maybe better than the regulars...

I have been using 20lb Ultra thin and 20lb or (15 lb if real clear water) leaders. Don't lose too many that way, but maybe a few more than you. I just like the action it provides. Lots have go to the tougher lines and also avoid the line stretch of mono, but I find my buddies that did have an awful time breaking loose if they really hang up.

One other tip, Santiam. I tie a barrel swivel about two feet up on the mainline from the diver. It will help prevent line twist on the mainline if the diver gets tangled with another and importantly, it tends to collect moss and keep the diver bill clean and working properly longer. Also if you have a rookie on board that gets excited with a fish, they can't reel the rod past the swivel and prevents diver problems at the rod tip when you go to net. A TEE would be good above the swivel, I just haven't bothered. Maybe if it gets real mossy...

Slam 'em!

 

There is no way I'm buying the new ones.I have way too much time invested in the old style seeing which ones fish(yeah some do outfish others even with bait).Brads has the old molds so we will wait until his stuff fills the void.
For what it's worth,nates don't require bait.They will strike lures(see pink worms instead of bait)Marty Peterson is right-Diver and bait kills nates.Sorry for the rant if you are refering to springers.I'm talkin about steelies.
Good luck.
Mark.

 

steelies-spriggers-coho-???you can use a diver on all of them.. we are talking divers, colors and sizes.. not useing bait on nates.so please dont yell at us, :depressed: tell us what sizes and colors,leader lenth and line sizes you like :smile: but hay we all need to vent some times :grin: :grin:

[ 05-14-2002, 09:46 PM: Message edited by: MADWIZERD ]

 

Madwiz,
saw 2 bright, dead nates this spring on the Nestucca.Saw fish hooked in both holes the day before on diver n baits.So it's a bit of a sore spot for me.Not yelling about springers or cohos as many times bait is the only way to hook these fish.And coho and springers are at least half or more of the run are hatch fish.The Nestucca has basically no hatch steelies in it in late March and early April.This was the timeframe that I saw those fish killed.
Black reg sized hot n tot.5 foot 12# max or trilene leader.1 or 1/0 Gammie.6" pink worm threaded on above the hook with a little black corkie above the worm for flotation.Leave a 1/2 inch tag at the plug knot so it catches leaves better.Mainline is 12 or 15 trilene big game in flo. yellow.They seemed to work best in faster water that was a bit clear.Kinda about the time that you start thinking pirate colored plugs.One last tip.if you have 3 in a drifter use 2 regular divers set about 50' and a mag diver at 30'.Keeps the tangles down to a minimum.Can't really say as to how well or what colors work using the hot n tot alone.Been using them as a diver only.
See you on the river.
Mark.

 

thanks for the post Flatfish.i totaly agree not to use bait on the nates.we hooked a 20lbs springer today in 2 feet of water on a size 30 blue hot shot :shocked: a hot shot in 2 feet of water.how often does that happen with a springer? answer (not)..my kid got it so ,ya he lost it to.whats new :hoboy:

 

thanks for the post Flatfish.i totaly agree not to use bait on the nates.we hooked a 20lbs springer today in 2 feet of water on a size 30 blue hot shot :shocked: a hot shot in 2 feet of water.how often does that happen with a springer? answer (not)..my kid got it so ,ya he lost it to.whats new :hoboy: thats 7 strate fish lost for him.(ouch) thats got to hurt. :grin:

 

madwiz,
tis better to hook and lose, then to sit in the boat all day bored to tears .Oh wait...thats how I feel about springers..I'm goin back to steelies

.The summer brats are in now, I can fish eggs and shrimp behind my beloved black hnt.
See ya on the river.
Mark