Red Fin & Bomber Long A

[Guest]

After watching the MLF, Ive decided that I need to learn to fish a Red Fin & Bomber Long A.

I have zero experience with this technique.

What tips, pointers, modifications have to be done so the bait stays on top? Everytime I try it the bait wants to dive. What am I doing wrong?

Since most of my spinning rods are tied up with Neds, Im probably going to use the baitcasters since they're collecting dust.

Are there any particular colors or brands that outperform others?

(Its dead of winter, Im bored & I need an excuse to buy more tackle)

[cbass12]

I watched that last night too and got really excited about trying it in April. Patiently waiting for some responses on this one!!

[Ham]

IF and when you can get the search function to work, there's lots and lots that has already been posted about this.

[abkeenan]

IF and when you can get the search function to work, there's lots and lots that has already been posted about this.

A TON. There are guys that swear that you have to mod them to keep them from diving and then their is the other team of guys that say don't mess with them and fish them out of the pack AS IS. But Team "Leave it alone" will also tell you you might get one or two out of 10 that run right and the other 8 or 9 are destined for the trash bin or tinker tank.

I have a handful of Redfins I bought about 5 years ago. Tried them. Hated them (because they dive, are finicky and must be fished at the correct speed or action isn't right). I then decided to play with them by using a hair drier to get the bill just hot enough to make it pliable and change the angle on the bill making it more perpendicular to the bait (Say from 30 degrees out of the pack ballpark to 70-90 degrees). Was an absolute failure and couldn't get them to run right. They have been sitting in a box ever since but about 2 weeks ago I got the urge and fighting spirit to tame the Redfin beast and maybe this weekend I am going to completely remove the bills and insert new circuit bills which are lighter and hopefully get the front end of the bait to ride higher in the water hence not dive. Will be trying multiple shapes and size bills and see what works and what doesn't. Also might play with where the bill is inserted (same as original bill placement or move it forward more towards the nose/line tie (think Buckeye Wakeup)). Hopefully SOMETHING works or else this will be the death of the Redfin for me and I will just have to settle for the Jackall Mikey.

[dtrs5kprs]

Short version:

1) Remove the factory hooks and rings and throw away

2) Replace with lighter rings and hooks- I use a size 4 EWG up front, and a feathered EWG #2 on the back. The deathtrap hooks are probably more popular yet, but I have a ton of Gammies on hand.

3) Add a little weight to the belly at the rear of the front half (behind the front hook, right at the back of that section)- strips or dots. Usually two dots is pretty close for me.

4) Use a snap or light ring at the nose.

5) Throw it on braid! Discovered this accidentally when I set up spinning and spincast rods for the kids for redfins. Braid drags and helps keep it up. Power Pro 50# has been the best, but 30# throws better/farther. Braid has rescued a couple from the trash bin for me, and hookups are outstanding. I may have even thrown one on a spincast reel myself a few times because it is so darn easy, and the slow retrieve prevents over winding.

All you need are smokey joe and chrome/whatever. Throw, wind, repeat.

[Bass Enforcer]

Ok. I will start this out by saying if you have the jointed red fins I'll buy them if you don't like them. They are a fabulous table rock lake bite. I have fished them a lot and during spring and summer I will ALWAYS have one tied on and sitting on the front deck. They are an awesome morning wake bait. Some advice I will offer and I'm sure others can add to this are:you have to use monofilament line. I use 10lb. I always replace both hooks. I can't remember the size but I'm sure someone can answer that, as most everybody I know does the same modifications. The back hook needs to be replaced with a feathered hook. I also replace the split ring to a smaller wire. It's about the same size in terms of the overall circumference,but the wire thickness is thinner. As far as the diving you complain of, it's probably because you are reeling too fast. Slow down, the speed that you are looking for creates a small "V-shaped wake" behind the lure. Allow the fish to load up and then just do a dragging hook sweep to bury the hook and enjoy the pictures of the fish you just caught. If you are a table rock guy at all, you have certainly heard of this bait and most all will have them tied on just as I do. Another thing to remember...once the chop gets on the water, for the most part "at least my experience is" a wake bait isn't the best choice. It messes with its action. Places to throw it can be any time you see the fish boiling/feeding. Throw it just beyond it and reel slowly through them. Or over submerged tree tops. Don't fall victim to the early hook set. Let'em load up. Great topic as this is again one of my favorite bites that I look forward to. Good luck and enjoy! Hope this helps.

[abkeenan]

Short version:

1) Remove the factory hooks and rings and throw away

2) Replace with lighter rings and hooks- I use a size 4 EWG up front, and a feathered EWG #2 on the back. The deathtrap hooks are probably more popular yet, but I have a ton of Gammies on hand.

3) Add a little weight to the belly at the rear of the front half (behind the front hook, right at the back of that section)- strips or dots. Usually two dots is pretty close for me.

4) Use a snap or light ring at the nose.

5) Throw it on braid! Discovered this accidentally when I set up spinning and spincast rods for the kids for redfins. Braid drags and helps keep it up. Power Pro 50# has been the best, but 30# throws better/farther. Braid has rescued a couple from the trash bin for me, and hookups are outstanding. I may have even thrown one on a spincast reel myself a few times because it is so darn easy, and the slow retrieve prevents over winding.

All you need are smokey joe and chrome/whatever. Throw, wind, repeat.

Did all those things on your checklist other than using braid and adding weight to the read portion of the front half of the bait. Still to no avail. I WILL figure it out though eventually.

[dtrs5kprs]

Did all those things on your checklist other than using braid and adding weight to the read portion of the front half of the bait. Still to no avail. I WILL figure it out though eventually.

The braid makes a big difference. I expected the kids to struggle with it diving, but as long as they had the rod angle right, the fins just chugged along. We even had some pretty good days running it in a little wind. It throws great in wind with a big spincast reel. I might lose a few cool points, but have you seen that little worm I throw? Style points are not big to me.

It is entirely possible you just got a bunch that will not run as you would like them to. I tend to buy them six or more at a time, maybe once every two or three years. Even that is no guarantee.

[Ham]

^{I really hate that I have to change the rod angle as I wind the Redfin back to the boat to keep it from diving on me. I tend to like other baits better than the Redfin.}

[abkeenan]

^{I really hate that I have to change the rod angle as I wind the Redfin back to the boat to keep it from diving on me. I tend to like other baits better than the Redfin.}

Exactly.