Red Fin Suggestions and Advice Desired

[rps]

Since Spring I've noted the posts that arite of red fins. After Don House contributed to Bill's recent post, Table Rock Report - Summer Blues, I went to the archives and looked up red fin. Interesting stuff.

If you have read any of my posts, you realize I am a commited Spook fan. My left thumb tendonitis speaks eloquently to how much I love the Spook. However, I realize that some days the fish do not share my preference. I regularly fish a Chug Bug and throw buzz baits. However, I have never "waked" a red fin. I've fished the floating Rapala and Bagley minnow as a twitch bait topwaters and shallow runners, but not as a wake baits.

Just now I used Bass Pro points to order a Bomber Long A, a Storm Minnowstick, and a Cordell Redfin, all in the jointed models. I chose Smoky Joe, silver/black, and silver/blue colors. I figured I would fiddle with each to come up with an inexpensive bait I could wake.

So here is where my request for advice/instruction/suggestions comes into play. I read that some people add weight to the tail of the first section and floats to the front. I saw Don's melted bill trick. I am sure others do different things. Just tell me how you do it, and I will try things until I find a way that works for me. When I do, I will post what I learned.

As you share, be as specific as you can because I haven't seen a modified bait. For example, I know about suspend dots, but where do you buy what brand of float strips and where do you put them on the lure? Another example - I often change out hooks on baits. Too few of the companies use true quality trebles. Do you suggest round bend or EWG? Regular or 2X?

Am I correct that like the Spook, retrieves may vary from steady to stop/start to twich/pause/reel?

I imagine you do not use flourocarbon for this bait as it sinks, but would it be easier to keep the line out of the water if you used superline?

Clue me in here people. Talk to me like I'm interested but ignorant because I am.

[Bill Babler]

Your colors are good. Change the hooks to Gamey's, and smaller split rings that hold them. Dump the big split ring on the nose and put a speed clip on your main line, or use the smallest lightest split ring you can find, and there you have it.

Fish the bait with your rod tip at a 45 to the water elevated, on a slightly heaver rod than you fish your spook. I like a 6ft or 6 1/2 for the spook, and at least a 7 footer for the fin.

Some guys are using line from 12 to 20. I prefer 14 maxi.

Don't Stop, Start, Jerk, Pause or do anything to the bait, other than a slow retrieve. You just want the tail to wiggle-diggle, so it looks like a snake coming thru the water. Any action you try and give the bait is a complete waste of time and for the most part, will mess up the wiggle-diggle.

Never set the hook, until you feel the weight of the fish, or you will come home empty handed. They will miss this bait a bunch, but just keep it coming.

If a fish rises on the bait and misses, keep it coming, don't stop!!!! most of the time if you pause, they will just melt off the bait. If you keep it coming either the same fish, or his running buddy will gobble it. This is very important.

For the most part fins work excellent for chasers, bluff ends, or deep trees. I would stay with your spook for visable cedar, and shallow topwater

points or flats fishing.

They are just a tool and a bit tempermental at times.

Don may be able to melt a bill, but unless you have lots of money to spend on redfins, I would keep the matches in my pocket, as they are not cheap. A little to much heat and curtains will fall.

I am sure that Don has some that he has spent several hours on getting them just the way he likes-em. These are like Gold. I am also sure, just like me, he has some to sell really, really cheap.

Good Luck

[Don House]

Well guys, A very nice old man up on Truman Lake show me this trick a few years back when I was heavy into tournament fishing, they work very well. Smaller bait profile matches the hatch on Truman and Table Rock very well.

But don't melt or try to bend the bills on a red fin.. Bad choice, I wasted a lot of good money trying this one.. They will break.. I've tried too thick of a bill they heat up and crack.

What I did was to go out and buy the cheaper double jointed and single stick bait from rapala 4" and 6" floating, I liked the color choices better, (Tennessee Shad and Silver Minnow) and then these guys have a smaller plastic bill on them, you can heat these up and bend the bill down to get the Wiggle-Diggle affect really nice. I have some old picture on this site somewhere maybe I can find them if you would like.

Red Fins work very well down here as Bill has shown, so it is just a matter of choice or just playing around to see if you can make a better mouse trap..

Good Fishing Everyone

[Bobby P.]

I prefer the storm jointed thunderstick. Storm quit making the jointed thunderstick a few years ago. However, you can find them on ebay for about $12-$15 each(new in the box). I prefer the silver with black back. One overcast morning in May on both sides of point #2 my buddy picked up a 5 1/2 pounder and I picked up an 8 pounder on that lure. What a blast. I also suggest you add a dressed hook to the back. I read Bill and Don's posts and agree with what they said too, eventhough they make me look like a complete amature.

[Scarecrow]

When the guys talk about fish exploding on the bait and missing it, they are so true. Don't pause, but keep it moving. Fishing with the Freak 2 months ago and he had 2 fish explode on the same bait 6 different times before one finally ate it. A real rush to see. Keep the motion and bring the commotion!

[rps]

After I came in from the lake today, I checked the mail and found my order of jointed minnows had arrived. 1 Jointed Redfin, 1 Storm Jointed Thunderstick (BPro sent the Thunderstick, Bobby P), and 1 Jointed Long A. Floated all three as is in the sink. The Long A barely floated the tip of its nose. It did come with the best hooks and the smallest O rings. I did not modify it. On the other two I removed the saltwater style hooks and striper size O rings. I substituted size 2 Gamakatsu round bends for the hooks and used much smaller stainless steel O rings that I use when I make my twin spins.

I took all three to the lake bank and threw them in a calm spot (the wind is blowing today) using my 7 foot Falcon with a 6:1 reel and 10# Suffix. The Long A will not stay on the surface at any speed, although it only goes down 6" or less and has great action. Both the Storm and the Redfin are now officially wake baits. Oddly, the Redfin will not run true when reeled fast enough to pull it under. It is as if the lighter hooks and O rings have ruined its balance - maybe it just needs "tuning". After I throw it into several bluffs, we'll see how it runs. Have I ever mentioned how great a caster I am in the early mornings?

I will now try these baits as alternative to my beloved Spook. Although the way morning topwater has been the last week, I may not be able to report further for some time. (See my new post about this mornings fantastic topwater fishing - NOT.)

[rps]

Tried out the silver black jointed Thunderstick Saturday morning. Per advice, I concentrated on bluff ends and rocky points with timber. It runs great, although less wind would have made the V wake more noticeable. Five bass hooked up - all small - and several others missed. I saw numerous followers. The fish did not seem very active on top so I assume it would have been a tough day with my Spook as well. Next time I am out I will try the actual red fin.

[Bill Babler]

rps, I have over 100 redfins, I have maybe two dozen that run like magic. No one said this was a cheap alterative. They are just a tool and in some situations will outpreform the spook. Usually early in the year.

It's all just fun and money, don't take it to bad if you buy a few that don't work. As I stated both Don and I have tons of them for sale. No matter what you do, it just will not happen. Good Luck

[Ham]

I'm trying to learn the wake bait thing as well. Yesterday, I tried it off and throughout my day on Lake Norfork (it was my 2nd trip to the lake).

I've looked back and forth doing searches with various key words about waking but IF I overlooked something and ask a previously answered question Please forgive me.

I'll be fishing Bull Shoals and Norfork mainly. I'm going to guess this is primarily a Spring and fall technique since the fish in the summer and winter will be very deep.

I'm there on line and rod selection.

I was going to stick with shad like colors.

I caught one and hung another, but I had a lot more follows than takes. Is this normal?

I had a big ole saltwater sized jointed Redfin. I really struggled to keep it throwing a wake and wiggling good. I understand that not all baits of the smae make and model work equally well and I had that bait along for stripers, but tried it for waking since I had flat calm and plenty of shaded bluff banks to throw at. I also got bit on a Bandit Foot loose while waking it.

I tried a variety of different sized spooks, but no takers.

Has anyone tried the the high dollar import stuff? If they worked, one at $15 bucks might be cheaper than buying 4 of the "cheap" ones before you get one that works.

I'm not buying anything until 2008, but I'll look through all the stuff I have looking for other baits that might work in this role, I've already tried a half dozen that did not.

[Don House]

Ham, I have found a new one that I'm playing around with.. It's made by Jack-All Lures out of Japan.. The Bait is called a Dagored Prop bait.. They have it in 7 colors, it's very easy to use and being a guide that helps me out alot, like I say it can be worked by anyone and casting it is a breeze, very interesting design. I gave one to Mr. B for him to play with also, we will see what the big guy thinks about them.

Yes, they are expensive 15 bucks a pop, but you may be right in the long run worth it.. Check them out and give one a try...

Good Fishing

Capt. Don