BigBendFishing.Net

Is anyone fishing the Mister Twister's 4.25 inch DART?
What color is best?
How do they work for flounder fishing?
What is the best way to fish them?

Thanks

I've used the Exude jerk baits in the past (they have good action) but fish DOA 5.5 CAL jerk baits exclusively now. They work well for reds and trout. Haven't caught any flounder, although I'm sure they'd eat one. Cobia, too.

I rig them with a Eagle Claw L2222 3/0 circle hook with the point coming up through the chin and out the top of the head. My hook-up rates have been much better with this set-up than rigged weedless with a worm hook. I also use a loop knot to maximize the action. Work them with short twitches of the rod tip to dart the lure just below the surface. The neutral buoyancy allows for a very slow sink rate, which makes them very effective around rock grass and other structure. Trout especially will strike at the head and 90% of the time the hook is in the corner of the jaw. With the inverted point, this rig is also fairly weedless. The 5.5 version CAL is heavy enough to cast long distances to cover a lot of water. The only caution is to not set the hook like a normal J-hook. Let the fish hook themselves and then continue the fight as you would normally. They can also be rigged with jig heads, worm hooks (plain or with a pinch weight) or swim-bait weighted hooks.

I typically use New Penny in clear water and Glow in stained. The Stark Naked pattern is another good color choice. The CALs are impregnated with scent (aquaculture-raised) so they are a good blend of action, feel and taste. Very reasonable cost as well and they last for several fish unless a blue or mack decides to eat it. Most of the tackle shops, such as Kevin's, Shields Marina or Bluewater Outriggers, carry CALS or you can order on-line through the DOA web site for the full range of colors. DOA sponsors the NFGFC and this web site (through my donations), along with the Coastal Conservation Association and other worthy causes.

How's that for details?

THAT WAS GOOD!

You are a good salesman and I'm going to try it just like you said.

Nothing like first hand NEWS!

Would a weighted hook be better for flounder? That would get the bait down to him. Or would another rig be better? A jig head or something?

Thanks again.

Why mess with success? My clients and I have caught reds over the slot with the circle hook rig and trout up to 4 pounds. It definitely works.

If you'd like to try for flounder, the small CAL shads is probably a better option. Rig on a 1/8- or 1/4-ounce jig head and bounce slowly off the bottom. I'm using chartreuse jigs more and more lately, but I've also caught many a fish with red heads. The trick is contrast between the jig and plastic color. If a fish can't see the lure, it can't eat it. I've also caught plenty of flounder with the DOA standard 1/4-ounce shrimp.

Truth in advertising, DOA Lures is one of my sponsors, but I was using them long before because they work. The shrimp was ranked among the top 25 lures of all time by Salt Water Sportsman, the oldest and largest saltwater magazine in the world (approaching its 80th anniversary).

[quote="silverking"]Why mess with success? My clients and I have caught reds over the slot with the circle hook rig and trout up to 4 pounds. It definitely works.[quote]

I'll be sure to try just as you said. Thanks!

Can't wait!

Thanks for the outstanding info silverking! I've been fishing the same rig and was thinking the other day, if I only had one lure for inshore fishing that would be it. And when you lose the lure it doesn't hurt your wallet near as much.

Silverking and others please correct me if I'm wrong. My fishing study topic in my spare time this week has been flounder. I think most of us catch flounder incidentally when fishing for trout or reds, but I've got an itching to experiment with a couple things with them. I'm developing my own secret flounder rig to compete with the other secret rig mentioned in another thread. Stay tuned.

Flounder's smaller mouth and bottom dwelling dictate the logical advice of silverking. I met a guy that was a commercial flounder fisherman on rod and reel in Alabama years ago. He said plastics are better with flakes, for what it's worth. But they are probably not that picky if the bait moves through their ambush point.

In watching flounder feed, they often seem to take a bait and move a couple feet then inhale it. I bet many flounder strikes are missed because the hook is set too quickly.

They also have spanish-esque teeth and can cut light mono easily. So a good flounder rig has to take that in consideration.

I bet if you'll go back to where you caught the flounder previously mentioned when the tide is moving and run one of these along the bottom on the eddy side of any structure, you'll probably catch them consistently. Just my thoughts, others may disagree.

Hello All,

I'm a first time poster here, though I've followed the board off and on for a couple of years. This flounder thread piqued my interest 'cause I love to eat 'em but rarely catch 'em. I grew up in Suwannee County, about as far as you can get in Florida from the coast, and it's taken me thirty years of living in Tallahassee to learn to catch a few trout and reds. But I can't seem to learn much about Flounder.

I usually fish out of St. Marks on the east flats (with occasional excursions into the East River or Big Pass). When I try to bounce something on the bottom down there all I get is grass and frustration.

Any additional thoughts from the masters on how, where to try the flatties would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, guys. Great resource.

Paul

Flounder, like trout, are ambush predators, albeit on the bottom vs. mid- to upper-water column. Your idea of them around structure (deeper sand potholes, creek mouths and near rock grass/oyster bars) confirms my findings. I have had them come up to eat DOA shrimp (including holographic with flakes), but root beer and white with red/pink tails are also good doormat colors. They mainly feed on mud minnows and finger mullet, so the CAL shad tails on a jig head are a good imitation and get into the strike zone. I've caught them on muddy bottom in stained water as well as crystal-clear flats over sand.

I can't remember losing a flounder to a cut leader, but they do require patience. When I feel a tap, I count several long seconds before gently sweeping the rod tip up to set the hook.

I love to catch flounder. They fight very well. And even though I release many fish, a good-sized flounder usually has a one-way conversation with the filet knife aboard my boat. Filets with crab meat stuffing and baked rank among my favorite seafood. Good luck with your own "research" lordsfisher and SS-342.

"Filets with crab meat stuffing and baked rank among my favorite seafood. "

OK Silverking, you're full of good secrets! Tell us more about the crab meat stuffing and baked flounder. That sounds more than interesting, like real good eating!
----Is crab meat stuffing sold in grocery stories? Or, do you make yours?
----What temp and for how long?
----Is it used like a coating the same as mealing fish?

We baked one dressed but whole with a butter sauce baste. Took the flounder out of the over when the dark skin bubbled and pulled it off. Continued to bake and baste until done and was it good!

Thanks

OK, one more post and then I really need to get on a story assignment.

I keep it simple in the kitchen. I buy the crab meat stuffing at Publix (in the freezer section), let it thaw some and then fold/wrap it in between the filets. Grind a little black pepper over the top, add a pat or two of butter and a squirt of lemon juice. Bake at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes depending on size of the filets.

Serve with fresh, steamed green beans, crusty bread and a crisp white wine. Enjoy!

Now I'm hungry. Time for lunch.

I posted a simple recipe just like Silvers in the recipe section for stuffed flounder that I found. It is hard to beat and easy as can be.

Thanks SK, That was a great post about the Cal jerk shad.

I love the Cal swimming soft plastics, never got into the shrimp (even though I know they are a great bait). I just started fishing a super fluke for bass and like the fact that they ease into the water silently, are weedless and have a great action (when I am patient engough to fish it slow). I have found them equally lethal on the flats. I have been looking for the Cal version, I will check again at Kevins. Thanks again for the info.

Another qustion on jerk baits.

I bought a few bags of the Cal jerk baits at Kevin's the other day. I attempted to fish them weightless with an offset worm hook and a swivel about 8" from the hook. I tried both braid and Fourocarbon leaders.

The problem I was having was that the jerk bait would do a spiral or roll when jerked. I could not for the life of me get the left to right darting action that I am used to with the smaller Fluke. I tried other brands of jerk baits with the same problem (I did notice that the cal seemed a little more bouyant). I added a small split shot weight just above the hook, which helped a little but did not eliminate the roll. I really like the color choices and size of the cal, so I want to make them work weightless.

I am thinking that I need a weighted hook or maybe switch to the loop knot as SilverKing mentioned.
Any suggestions?

Swivel might be part of the problem, Aqua. Did you add that to stop line twist. Those baits are so light that the added swivel might be just enough to throw off the balance and cause the rolling.

Haven't had that issue with the loop knot. And I don't use a swivel but do let the line unwind occasionally off the rod tip. Seems to help minimize twist.

Caught trout and even a flounder the other day (between blows) on the CAL new penny 5.5 bait with the EC circle hook rigged through the nose. Slight twitch of the rod tip and pause, repeat, using a ML spinning rod with limber tip. Worked well. From some other reports here, white (or glow) has also been a good color lately.

I havent tried a circle hook, do you have a pic of one rigged? Do you go through alot of them this way? Seems like they would tear off easy but definitely gonna try this next trip.