I have mostly fished using live/frozen bait and have very limited time using artificials. Getting ready to change that and need to stock up. Looking for some advice on must have artificials for catching reds. Brand/type/color etc. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks as always
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
i have always had good success with gulp baits on a jig head
Try the gulp “crazy-legs” jerk shad in white
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.sswaonline.com
I use mostly Z-Man with a drop of Pro-Cure mullet scent. The 4" PaddlerZ (Redbone), MinnowZ (Houdini) and StreakZ Curly Tail (Black with Gold flakes) are all highly productive for me on a year round basis.
Rig the PaddlerZ on a 3/0 1/8th ounce flutter hook and the others on 1/4 or 1/8 ounce lead head jigs (depending upon depth and current). I prefer the Mission Fishin (dual barb) lead head jigs. They do a good job of holding the lure in place.
quote:
Originally posted by fishtalesI use mostly Z-Man with a drop of Pro-Cure mullet scent. The 4" PaddlerZ (Redbone), MinnowZ (Houdini) and StreakZ Curly Tail (Black with Gold flakes) are all highly productive for me on a year round basis.
Rig the PaddlerZ on a 3/0 1/8th ounce flutter hook and the others on 1/4 or 1/8 ounce lead head jigs (depending upon depth and current). I prefer the Mission Fishin (dual barb) lead head jigs. They do a good job of holding the lure in place.
Smokey Shad Paddle Tailz has also been a money color for me</font id=“size2”>
Vinman
19.5 Triumph, 115 HP Honda
“Every saint has a past, every sinner a future”
www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
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Here’s a couple of our blogs on Redfish lures…
http://capt-tim.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-redfish-lures-part-i.html
http://capt-tim.blogspot.com/2011/01/best-redfish-lures-part-ii.html
Capt. Tim Cutting
www.fishthegeorgiacoast.com
I agree with Jeffro…Gulp! bait is about as good as it gets…Caught a ton of reds on Gulp! Shrimp both New Penny and Natural Colors on Dec. 15th. I put them on a 1/4 oz jighead and go to town…I think it just matters what bait most compliments your fishing style!!
Hooked on The Aquatic Narcotic
17’ Key West
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…Teach a man to fish, he’ll probably be in your spot next time.”
LKJ
Riptide Shrimp Pearl Glow/Chartreuse on the right size head for the situation.
electric chicken any brand.
electric chicken paddle tails with a 1/2oz jighead catches flounder, reds, and trout for me pretty well.
Anything Z-Man, I prefer the black and silver curly tails and the Houdini paddle tails on a jig. Pro-cure is always useful to have as well.
What about the color of jig head?
I just use a regular old lead colored jig.
Hooked on The Aquatic Narcotic
17’ Key West
“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day…Teach a man to fish, he’ll probably be in your spot next time.”
LKJ
Don’t pass up some top water action. A baby zara spook in chrome/black.
Also a Mann’s Baby 1 minus - same color. If not hot on topwater.
A gold spoon with curly tail grub or Redripper -gold spoon with red plastic trailer legs.
My favorite still gulp(new penney or natural)on jighead too. At times a mudminner on a green/white bucktail.
J Ford
Any plastic will do great on a 1/4 jig head. Colors should stay realistic (IMO) I don’t go with real flashy out there pink and orange, but thats just me.
I typically throw on a pearl white, new penny, or blackish colors. Z-man holds up the best, gulp is scented, but has to be replaced every catch.
“In every species of fish I’ve angled for, it is the ones that have got away that thrill me the most, the ones that keep fresh in my memory. So I say it is good to lose fish. If we didn’t, much of the thrill of angling would be gone.” Ray Bergman
quote:
gulp is scented, but has to be replaced every catch.
I often catch 20 or 30 fish on the same Gulp shrimp. Unless there are pinfish or crabs around that tear them up, they last as long as anything else, to me.
I think it’s more about being confident in the bait you use, rather than the specific bait or color, within reason.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Thanks for all the replies! Do the red jig heads work ok? Looks like I have a lot of stuff to buy. I have only used jerk shads and last week the reds in the flats wouldn’t even look at it. Heading out tomorrow to stock up. Thanks again and let me know if there is anything else I need to get.
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
Red heads work fine, that’s what I use the most. Sometimes white if the water is real clear, sometimes just plain lead is best, no color but lead gray. We usually start the day off with everyone fishing a different color jig head and body. Most days everybody will catch about the same amount of fish if they are biting good. Sometimes one color will prevail and we all switch to what’s working, but not often. Location, timing, presentation and confidence is a lot more important than brand or color of the bait.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Seawest, are you tying the line right to the jig head? If so, you may want to use a clear leader. Some people use fluorocarbon but i just use 20 lb clear ande mono and attach the braid and mono with a double uni knot. Especially if you are fishing braid.
Also…tie the jig head to your leader with a loop knot…it gives the bait a little wiggle room. Had a buddy fishing with me a few years back, and he was using some type of synch knot and we were fishing the same lure/head and I was getting way more bites/fish than him…I wont use another knot when using a jig head or flutter style hook…it makes a world of difference on a doa shrimp too!
'a stranger is just a friend i havent met yet’jt