5-26-19 Table Rock Lake/Lampe Mo,. Report

[crazy4fishin]

On 6/7/2019 at 11:27 AM, Champ188 said:

Advanced anglers know this but for the benefit of all levels, the first thing to do when preparing a Redfin is to remove all of the existing split rings and hooks and toss them. They aren't worth saving for anything.

Next, I turn the bait over and wipe the rear belly area of the main section with an alcohol to make sure it's clean. Then I take two SuspenStrips and lay them on either side of the molding seam, touching and ending precisely at the tail -- not lapping over into the joint area. I press them down as well as possible, then take two SuspenDots and center them over the seam where the two strips are touching. The reason for weighting the rear area of the main body like this is to raise the nose of the bait when it sits in the water, therefore encouraging it to wake on the surface rather than dive. 

After I get my strips and dots in place, I paint over them with pearl-colored nail polish. This not only makes the bait look better,  but most importantly keeps you strips/dots from peeling off. Might have to reapply the nail polish from time to time but it's worth the effort. For the record, the pearl polish is for the Smoky Joe colored Fin. The only other color I throw is blue back/chrome and you can use clear nail polish to seal your strips/dots on it. 

I'm not 100% sure of the size of split rings I use … but I think No. 3. Just be sure they are thin enough to work freely within the line tie and the hook hangers. My favorite hook combination is a Gammy EWG No. 2  the front (you can open the bends a bit if you wish) and the same hook on the back with hand-tied chicken feathers. I don't like the Gammy pre-tied feather hooks but the Mustad Ultra Point KVD hook with white feathers works good in No. 2 size. 

Lastly, I always throw the bait on top-quality 17-pound mono. I've tried 20 but my personal favorite is 17 pound. I haven't tried braid and have no reason to do so. Obviously, you guys can try anything you want. This is just my system.

Lastly, I always use a snap to connect to the split ring on front of the lure. That way, I get complete freedom for the bait to wobble and wake. 

I've been on the couch for a very long week with lower back issues so I didn't bother with step by step pics, but here's one of a finished version. 

This is one of those "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day...teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime (not Bass)....win the lottery and he has someone fish for him" 😊

Well done Champ - Now I have to figure out if one of these fin things will work in these 'ole Nebraska ponds!!

C4F 

[vernon]

45 minutes ago, crazy4fishin said:

This is one of those "Give a man a fish and he eats for a day...teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime (not Bass)....win the lottery and he has someone fish for him" 😊

Well done Champ - Now I have to figure out if one of these fin things will work in these 'ole Nebraska ponds!!

C4F 

No chance that they'll work up there.  I would recommend that you just send them all to me for the purpose of proper disposal.

I know a guy........... 😉

[magicwormman]

2 hours ago, vernon said:

No chance that they'll work up there.  I would recommend that you just send them all to me for the purpose of proper disposal.

I know a guy........... 😉

I'm the guy! $2.50 each and I don't care how they work! I know a guy.................................................................

[vernon]

16 hours ago, magicwormman said:

I'm the guy! $2.50 each and I don't care how they work! I know a guy.................................................................

YOU are most definitely NOT the guy!

And you don't know the guy I know!

Or at least you don't know him like I know him.

In fact, I don't think he really even likes you....  😜

Two fifty............

[magicwormman]

On 6/11/2019 at 7:02 AM, vernon said:

YOU are most definitely NOT the guy!

And you don't know the guy I know!

Or at least you don't know him like I know him.

In fact, I don't think he really even likes you....  😜

Two fifty............

One day I will prove to you that I am THE GUY!

[vernon]

22 hours ago, magicwormman said:

One day I will prove to you that I am THE GUY!

Somehow I don't doubt it!

In fact, I'm looking forward to it in some sort of perverse way.

But still, two fifty?

Please.......🤑

[troutgnat]

Gentlemen,

It's ironic this post came up the other day as I have been tinkering on this very subject over the last week.  I came across a surplus of Red fins not long ago for insanely cheap.  I took home around 15 for well under $20, some older, some newer in various sizes and colors.  I've been modifying for days, tweaking each to get them right.  I've been all over this forum on this subject over the years taking what info I can from each of you who have graciously offered advice.  If I may add my two cents.  There are numerous methods to this madness as we all know.  Here's what I have taken away from you all and a trick or two I have done that works for me all listed in one place.

OPTIONS you can do:

1)Replace all existing hardware...I've been using the Owner Hyper Wire split ring in size 3 and on the 5" fin I've been replacing the hooks with the Owner Stinger ST-36 in #4

2)Rear treble gets replaced with hand tied feathered treble

3)Use a pair of small round nose pliers and carefully bend the nose eyelet downward (Try this before heating and bending the lip) because sometimes it works and saves you from doing the latter.

4)Heating of and bending the lip downward to a more perpendicular angle(Do not do this with a lighter!,  you get a much better result with a hair dryer or heat gun on low setting)

5)Drill hole and remove the internal BB's.  This in itself takes out a whole lot of weight and will cure many poor tuners.  I found some very small corks and have been using them to plug the hole.  I then trim off the excess, file flat and then seal over top with epoxy.  It makes for a very clean hole and in addition the cork adds a little flotation to the front of bait.

6)As Champ suggested putting the suspend strips and dots to the rear of bait in front of joint section.

*Side note:  For those who are wondering, I've already done the research.  A suspend dot weighs .20 grams.  A suspend strip weighs .25 grams.  Champ is using 2 ea. of these.  That is a total of .90 grams of weight.

7)There is nothing wrong with Champs method above.  I am just stating another method I've been toying with.  I have been drilling another hole(still playing with the perfect size drill bit for hole) in the same location, to the rear of forward section just in front of joint and using inverted small worm weights filed down and epoxied into place.  Experimenting with other weight options too.  Any suggestions please forward them on.

Keep the suggestions coming.  This is good information for all of us.

-

 

[troutgnat]

Well I will have to come back for finished pics of the modification as it will not allow me to upload anymore right now.

 

 

 

[troutgnat]

While were on the subject of Red fins...Does anyone throw the BIG 7" size for bass.  You know, looking for that exceptional lunker bite?

[magicwormman]

6 hours ago, troutgnat said:

While were on the subject of Red fins...Does anyone throw the BIG 7" size for bass.  You know, looking for that exceptional lunker bite?

No, I fish mainly on the Rock and there are not many lunkers left! I do know they are popular in the North for the big toothy critters!