What "old time" lure do you still routinely throw and why?

[Smallieguy87]

Yeah, I'd take the Mepps over the Rooster Tail the majority of the time because of exactly what you said...Rooster Tails are not amenable to a fast retrieve, or in my experience areas with faster current where the heavier (in relation to the size of the lure) Mepp's tends to shine.

But weirdly enough I've noticed times when the fish seem noticeably preferential to one or the other, with those being distributed about equal between the two...of course there are plenty of confounding variables that probably explain more of that, but I've got to pretend like I have some clue what's going on down there.

I usually add a split shot about a foot up the line for casting and added depth with Rooster Tails, except in small creek situations. And it seems to help the spinner work properly with slightly faster retrieves, though that could be my imagination.This is one technique I am pretty sure increases my catch rate, and rather dramatically in deeper, faster reaches. It can help with Mepp's too, but it doesn't seem as critical. Plus I am often fishing the extra deep version of the latter, which eliminates the need.

Thanks for sharing that trick! I'll give it a shot. I haven't used anything from panther Martin yet but I've heard some good things. I've found the larger the rooster tail the less I have issues as well. I've found the larger rooster tails don't have that problem as often but still do it more then I'd like so I think that may lend some merit to that added split trick.

[Al Agnew]

So here's a question- how do you fish the Heddon baby lucky 13? Like a popper/chugger, or more like a crank?

Old Ozark secret...you put a skirt on the belly hook and use it exactly like a crankbait. It will have a wide, regular wobble that waves the skirt back and forth, and run 1-2 feet deep on a normal speed retrieve. You can also use it as a wake bait by reeling a little slower and holding your rod tip higher. Without the skirt, it has a very wide and very irregular wobble that is very inconsistent, and is probably better used as a topwater without the skirt. The skirt acts as a balance point to make it a totally different lure. You may have to experiment with the length and bulk of the skirt to get it working right.

[Al Agnew]

I haven't used in-line spinners since I was a kid, except for trout. No doubt they catch fish, and they are always a good multi-species lure. But to be honest I can't imagine using them anymore in smallmouth streams, because there are so many other lures that will catch fish as well or better and are far more snagless. I don't want to be limited in where I can chuck a lure. But to each his own...

[Smallieguy87]

I haven't used in-line spinners since I was a kid, except for trout. No doubt they catch fish, and they are always a good multi-species lure. But to be honest I can't imagine using them anymore in smallmouth streams, because there are so many other lures that will catch fish as well or better and are far more snagless. I don't want to be limited in where I can chuck a lure. But to each his own...

I agree with you on that one. I do feel there are better lures for targeting smallmouth but I always keep a few handy just in case. If all else fails they usually tear up the goggle eye and sunfish of all types!

[drew03cmc]

Old Ozark secret...you put a skirt on the belly hook and use it exactly like a crankbait. It will have a wide, regular wobble that waves the skirt back and forth, and run 1-2 feet deep on a normal speed retrieve. You can also use it as a wake bait by reeling a little slower and holding your rod tip higher. Without the skirt, it has a very wide and very irregular wobble that is very inconsistent, and is probably better used as a topwater without the skirt. The skirt acts as a balance point to make it a totally different lure. You may have to experiment with the length and bulk of the skirt to get it working right.

I have looked at the Baby Lucky 13 and asked myself, "Self," I says, "where be the diving lip?"

Now that the skirt is mentioned, it makes sense. Do you skirt guys have any favorite brands, lengths or types? I ask because, in my mind, a spinnerbaits skirt is too long, but I could be wrong.

[ozark trout fisher]

I haven't used in-line spinners since I was a kid, except for trout. No doubt they catch fish, and they are always a good multi-species lure. But to be honest I can't imagine using them anymore in smallmouth streams, because there are so many other lures that will catch fish as well or better and are far more snagless. I don't want to be limited in where I can chuck a lure. But to each his own...

I will say I'm usually in a generalist frame of mind when fishing Rooster tails, etc. There are better lures when I'm purely targeting smallmouth. But I challenge you to come up with a better all species method on Ozark streams that doesn't involve live bait.

Slightly tangential point: I think the more we specialize in one species all the time the more we get tunnel vision and lose our curiosity. I (more or less) specifically target smallmouth the majority of the time I'm fishing Ozark streams....but every once in awhile you've got to take a minute to catch a longear or a goggle eye or even the various "trash fish" if you are going to get an accurate feel for what's really going on down there. So there will always be a place for Rooster Tails, Mepp's, etc in my tackle box for those moments.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I will say I'm usually in a generalist frame of mind when fishing Rooster tails, etc. There are better lures when I'm purely targeting smallmouth. But I challenge you to come up with a better all species method on Ozark streams that doesn't involve live bait.

My God man! Have you not been paying any attention?

We are smack in the middle of Ned Nation!

This forum is Ned Nirvana! All we use now is the Ned!

There are only like a dozen threads speaking it's high praise at this moment.

I hear there is talk of changing the name of this forum to Ozark Ned Anglers.

I can't even believe you put that challenge out there!

[Al Agnew]

Actually I'd rate the Beetle Spin as being just as good a multi-species lure...and it's a lot more snagless and trouble-free; you don't have to worry about line twist. And as far as the dreaded Ned rig, I suspect that a plain marabou crappie jig, if fished as much as some seem to be fishing the Ned, would catch about as many fish if you're looking for pure numbers and not much size.

Skirts for belly hooks...just gotta experiment. Some are too bulky, some seem a bit too long. Old timers used the rubber skirts that had rubber inserts and were very short. I've had just as good luck with silicone skirts, the ones with rubber o-rings. You can start out long and trim shorter if necessary. Put the skirt on reversed, so that it blossums out when at rest, instead of being completely streamlined when cranking. And tie it on with some heavy monofilament instead of depending upon the o-ring to hold it in place.

[fishinwrench]

The tiniest of electrical tie straps (zip strips) are the bomb for spinnerbait skirts. Just get the smallest ones they make in clear.

[drew03cmc]

The tiniest of electrical tie straps (zip strips) are the bomb for spinnerbait skirts. Just get the smallest ones they make in clear.

Now that is ingenuity.